Good modem for 1mb Pipex?

Hi

I currently use Pipex, a 1mb connection, and generally it's fantastic, I
achieve low pings when playing games and, permitting the connection supports
it at the other end, I can download at about 110kbps.

But I have a few issues, sometimes when viewing websites I don't get images
etc showing up as instantly as I would expect. Sometimes I have to wait a
few seconds before I actually see anything. I often stuggle with Usenet as
well, it runs incredibly slowly at times when simply retrieving messages
(although I think this is a Pipex issue). Now and then I also fail to get a
net signal and I have to reboot before my modem will pick up the 'DSL
layer', as it calls it.

I'm wondering if my modem could be holding me back a bit? It's a PCI
Speedstream 3060 modem from Efficient Networks, and it doesn't actually seem
to be even getting driver support anymore.

So, would I see any benefits from buying a newer modem? Exactly how have
broadband modems improved? Can anyone recommend something to me?

Thanks!

--
-
I know the wheels go round and round, but whats the story prior to that
movement?

On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 17:30:37 +0100, "Jamie_Manic" <mmmm...pork rind>
wrote:

>Hi
>
>I currently use Pipex, a 1mb connection, and generally it's fantastic, I
>achieve low pings when playing games and, permitting the connection supports
>it at the other end, I can download at about 110kbps.
>
>But I have a few issues, sometimes when viewing websites I don't get images
>etc showing up as instantly as I would expect. Sometimes I have to wait a
>few seconds before I actually see anything. I often stuggle with Usenet as
>well, it runs incredibly slowly at times when simply retrieving messages
>(although I think this is a Pipex issue). Now and then I also fail to get a
>net signal and I have to reboot before my modem will pick up the 'DSL
>layer', as it calls it.
>
>I'm wondering if my modem could be holding me back a bit? It's a PCI
>Speedstream 3060 modem from Efficient Networks, and it doesn't actually seem
>to be even getting driver support anymore.
>
>So, would I see any benefits from buying a newer modem? Exactly how have
>broadband modems improved? Can anyone recommend something to me?
>
>Thanks!

Try downloading a big file from a local ftp site, like ftp.demon.net
using a proper ftp client, if you don't get a solid 1Mbps transfer
rate then you need to look at your modem or PC settings (mtu, rwin,
etc).
Not picking up the 'DSL layer' sounds like a modem problem. A nice new
Netgear or Vigor modem/router will stay connected and just be 'there'
every time you boot-up, maybe that's an option?
Pipex newsgroups - ok for text if you use news-text.dial.pipex.com,
crap for anything else.

HTH

--
steve <AT> steveevans <DOT> org

"Steve Evans" <no@spam> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sun, 25 Jul 2004 17:30:37 +0100, "Jamie_Manic" <mmmm...pork rind>
> wrote:
>
> >Hi
> >
> >I currently use Pipex, a 1mb connection, and generally it's fantastic, I
> >achieve low pings when playing games and, permitting the connection
supports
> >it at the other end, I can download at about 110kbps.
> >
> >But I have a few issues, sometimes when viewing websites I don't get
images
> >etc showing up as instantly as I would expect. Sometimes I have to wait a
> >few seconds before I actually see anything. I often stuggle with Usenet
as
> >well, it runs incredibly slowly at times when simply retrieving messages
> >(although I think this is a Pipex issue). Now and then I also fail to get
a
> >net signal and I have to reboot before my modem will pick up the 'DSL
> >layer', as it calls it.
> >
> >I'm wondering if my modem could be holding me back a bit? It's a PCI
> >Speedstream 3060 modem from Efficient Networks, and it doesn't actually
seem
> >to be even getting driver support anymore.
> >
> >So, would I see any benefits from buying a newer modem? Exactly how have
> >broadband modems improved? Can anyone recommend something to me?
> >
> >Thanks!
>
> Try downloading a big file from a local ftp site, like ftp.demon.net
> using a proper ftp client, if you don't get a solid 1Mbps transfer
> rate then you need to look at your modem or PC settings (mtu, rwin,
> etc).

Yeah, files coming down at about 115k/s, top speed, everything ok there.

> Not picking up the 'DSL layer' sounds like a modem problem.

Yeah I think you're right.

> A nice new
> Netgear or Vigor modem/router will stay connected and just be 'there'
> every time you boot-up, maybe that's an option?

Possibly yeah, I'll have to do some reseach into them and how they operate.

> Pipex newsgroups - ok for text if you use news-text.dial.pipex.com,
> crap for anything else.

Excellent tip! Now I can read news!

>> A nice new
>> Netgear or Vigor modem/router will stay connected and just be 'there'
>> every time you boot-up, maybe that's an option?
>
> Possibly yeah, I'll have to do some reseach into them and how they
> operate.
>
>> Pipex newsgroups - ok for text if you use news-text.dial.pipex.com,
>> crap for anything else.
>
> Excellent tip! Now I can read news!

Shouldn't that be news-text.dsl.pipex.com if you are using broadband?