Cyber Hotline

[Russ Kidd]

Does anyone use Cyber Hotline as their ISP?  I finally signed up today because I couldn't resist the $8.25 monthly fee any longer.  I probably should have posted this before I signed up, but they do give you 15 days to change your mind.

I have a slight problem already, but it may be my modem.  I have a six-year-old 56k Global Village modem with V.90 standard.  Here's what happens:  On the dial-up, I get the usual line-connecting series of sounds, but right at the end of the series just before it connects (just after the "shhhhhhhhhhhhhh"), the "de-doooo de-doooo de" repeats, followed by another "shhhhhhhhhhhhhh" (but softer this time).  Then the communication speed displays at something like 26,400 bps (with Earthlink, my previous ISP, it usually showed about 50,000 bps).

Any thoughts on what might be happening?  And if I need a new modem, do you have any recommendations?

Russ

[krissel]

If your modem worked fine before today, I would suspect the some problem with the ISP connection or settings incompatibility.

Since you mentioned an old modem I am assuming you are running on perhaps a version of OS 9? Do you use Remote Access or something like FreePPP (which I recommend for the ability to create several sets of connection preferences with differing Modem strings and speeds.)?

There are many settings to check depending on your method of connection, internet config, TCP/IP, modem control panel, etc. Your init strings may need tweaking. Are you sure you dumped any old prefs that may be interferring?
 
You are connecting but at a slower speed, yes?

This may be of some help:

Troubleshooting slow connections

I would also ask the ISP if they can recommend any settings that would help.
You might also ask for a line check between your house and their server. Your previous ISP may have had a closer or cleaner line. In addition, if the line adds just one more analog connection between you and them, you will be automatically limited to 32/33. I suffer from that situation.

[Bill]

By chance does your 9600 machine have an internal modem?

Other than all that Krissel mentioned,I'm thinking one of two ...
If it does have an internal modem you could cross check what that does opposed to the external.
If they're the same speed .... could it be that the machine is not recognizing the external?


MAN is that a shot in the dark!! <gr>


Think I'm going off the deep end again. Cus that idea is way out in left field.

[Russ Kidd]

Sorry for the lack of info I gave you in my original post.  I tend to be pretty wordy, so I'm always hesitant to bore everyone with long explanations.

I have a 9600, 350 mhz with 128 mb RAM, OS 9.0.4.  Yes, Krissel, I'm connecting, but at a slower speed, and I use Remote Access.  No, Bill, it doesn't have an internal modem.

Here's a quick track record of my modem problems:

I've always used Earthlink.  The modem worked fine until one day I decided to copy the latest Earthlink update to my hard drive from a CD they sent me.  Ever since then, the modem has sporadically made poor connections on dial-up.  Instead of the usual series of dial-up modem sounds, there's more silence than usual and instead of the final "shhhhhhhhhhhhh" before it connects, there's a staticky kind of crackly irregular buzz.  Then the connection is made, but the communication speed is always some odd number like 43,667 bps.  I assume that something from that Earthlink update I installed caused the problem.  I never contacted Earthlink because I was at least getting a connection and I hate spending my time dealing with customer no-service people.

Beginning yesterday, I'm now using Cyber Hotline as my ISP, and every time on dial-up, the series of sounds is what I mentioned in my original post.  Plus, the communication speed is always less than 28k.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Russ

[krissel]

Russ, I have the same machine except I put in a Sonnet G4 700 and tons of ram.

 I use a dualmode Zoom modem that I've had for almost five years. About 6 months ago I applied a firmware update to the modem and it totaly screwed it up. I contacted Zoom since they had a 7 year warrantee on this model. Send it to them and for a $15 postage/handling charge they fixed the problem and it works perfectly again.

You might inquire with the manufacturer if they have any such program.

[Russ Kidd]

Krissel, tell me more about the Sonnet G4 700 and the extra ram you put in.  Pardon my naivete, but is that a processor?  And how much ram do you have now?

What would something like that cost?

I'd love to speed up my 9600 because I do audio recording, which needs lots of speed and ram.

Thanks for the modem suggestion.

Russ

[krissel]

The Crescendo/PCI G4 700 or 800 megahertz are processors made by Sonnet for legacy Macs like our 9600. It gives you all the benefits of more speed and the ability to run Jaguar on our old machines. It's a bit tricky but if you go to HERE, you can read all about how it is done.

I had 10.1.5 on my straight 9600/350 but with 1.5 G of RAM and it ran really well. When I upgraded with the processor and new video card I ran in to a SCSI termination issue which I haven't yet taken the time to resolve so I am back to running 9.1 but not unhappily. Things are snappier and I run just about everything I could imagine needing.The other night I had 13 programs going , including Photoshop, Image Ready, Go-Live, Explorer, Fetch, BB-Edit, etc.

You can find a price comparison for the 700 version HERE. If you click on the "Technical specification" on the right side of the window you will get a popup that tells you more about the processor. Or you can go to Sonnet's website to read more. The only difference between them is a slight bump in speed with the 800 and an additional $90 more.

RAM is the most important thing for your machine. It is dirt cheap these days compared to what I paid when I first started buying chips for the 9600. This is a page with some prices. You need the 128 FWP or EDO. Our machines can take 12 of them for a total of 1.5G.  RAM prices
If you are not going to run X, then interleaving is OK. Actually I had mine interleaved and it ran fine anyway.

I also put in a new 32 MB video card. But if you aren't doing a lot of high intensity graphics work or playing games, the Twin Turbo that came with the machine is OK. One note, if you do get one of the G4's from Sonnet, then you MUST get a different video card cause the Twin Turbo is incompatible with the Sonnet G4s. I found that out after a week of hell.

BTW, I also have USB and Firewire cards and run a combo USB/Firewire external hard drive which would be good for your music storage.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask.

[Russ Kidd]

Wow, thanks, Krissel.  That sounds great.  And thanks for so many links and the time you took to help.

Russ