A 56k modem offers the fastest possible connection for users who dial up to the internet using standard phone lines. This page discusses 56k technology, gives our recommendations for those who wish to upgrade to 56k, and answers frequently asked questions about 56k modems.

• About 56k modems
• Standard wars: X2 and K56Flex
• V.90 Standard
• Will 56k work for me? What do I need?
• What modem does Arctic.net recommend?
• What modems are not recommended?
• Frequently asked questions...

History of 56k Modems
 

Modem speeds are limited by the nature of phone lines. Whereas data on your computer is digital (represented by ones and zeroes), a standard phone line is analog. Analog format is simpler than digital and is good enough for voice communications, but it is not ideal for transferring data. If the data is sent too fast over the analog phone line, some data will be lost and the connection will be unreliable.

56k modems work by assuming that your ISP is using digital phone lines in its network. Even though your phone line is analog, the modem is able to gain some of the advantages of a digital connection and provide higher speeds.

Standard wars: X2 and K56Flex
 

When 56k modems first came on the market, there were two competing 'standards.' US Robotics created a modem protocol called X2, and Lucent/Rockwell developed K56Flex. ISPs were forced to choose only one of these two standards to support, which caused many problems for consumers. If you had one kind of modem and your ISP chose to support the other, you were unable to connect at speeds over 33.6k, and there were likely to be other problems with compatibility.

V.90 Standard
 

In February of 1998, ITU, the international standards organization, introduced a new 56K modem standard called V.90, which supplanted the older technologies. If you have a X2 or K56Flex modem, you may be able to upgrade to V.90 by contacting your modem manufacturer. The upgrade will be in the form of a software download.

Will 56k work for me? What do I need?
 

You need a 56k modem, an ISP that supports 56k, such as Arctic.net, and a phone line. However, there are several factors that may prevent you from getting the full benefit of 56k technology:

• 56k modem technology assumes there will be only one conversion from analog to digital lines when you dial your ISP. If there is more than one analog/digital conversion in the network, the modem will not function fully and will likely not be able to connect any faster than 33.6k.
• If your phone line is 'noisy' (and it might be noise that you can't hear with your own ears, but which will bother your modem), this will also reduce connection speeds. 56k modems are not a cure all for poor connections. If you get a poor connection with your lower-speed modem you will most likely get a poor connection with your 56k modem.
• If you are on a Slick (SLC96), you will not benefit from 56k technology.
• If you have to dial a number to get an outside line then you are likely hooked to a PBX phone system. This will likely prevent a full 56k connection.

What modem does Arctic.net recommend?
 

We recommend the US Robotics 56K V.90 Sportster modem. Our internal tests have found this modem to outperform many of its competitors. We have also found Aopen hardware modems (not software or 'controllerless') to be reliable.

What modems are not recommended?
 

We suggest that you follow two guidelines when making your modem purchase:

1. Do not buy a no-name brand. The money you save if you buy a modem from an unknown manufacturer may be lost in hours of frustration. It is often very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to get tech support from a no-name manufacturer.

    

2. Stay away from software-driven modems, often called 'WinModems.' They are cheaper than regular modems, but are generally more unreliable. Many computer manufacturers are building computers with these types of modems. You should ask your computer manufacturer to install something other than a WinModem.

Frequently asked questions:
 

The most frequently asked of the frequently asked questions is:

Why am I not connecting at 56k!?

Not everyone will be able to benefit fully from 56k technology. Many factors affect whether you can connect at 56k. Most of these relate to the quality of your phone connection or your setup with the phone company and are not factors which are under the control of Arctic.net, unless you have phone service through Telalaska. The Arctic.net technical support staff will do their best to assist you in connecting at a higher speed, but we can make no guarantees. The questions below cover most of the possible problems with a 56k connection.

• I have a X2 modem, will I connect at 56k speeds with Arctic.net?

  Arctic.net supports V.90. If your modem manufacturer has a V.90 upgrade to your modem, installing this upgrade should make your X2 modem fully compatible with our hardware. If you cannot upgrade, your maximum speed with a X2 modem will be 33.6k.
   

• I was connecting at 26.4 with my 33.6 modem. Will I benefit from 56k technology?

  If you are getting 26.4 with a lower speed modem, you will not benefit from 56K.
   

• Will a poor quality phone line affect my chances at getting 56k connections?

  Yes, it will. Remember that you are transferring data through your phone line. Any imperfection will affect your connection speed in a negative way. You may want to have your local telephone company come out to do a line test, but remember that the telephone company probably doesn't guarantee data traffic on a voice line.
   

• The telephone company said I am on a Slick (SLC96) - will this affect my chances of connecting at higher speeds?

  SLC96 nullifies 56k capabilities. You will not benefit from 56k technology on SLC96.
   

• My phone line is on a PBX phone system. Can I still connect at higher speeds?

  If you have to dial a number to get an outside line, then you are probably hooked to a PBX phone system. This will likely prevent your connection at 56k speeds.
   

• What's the difference between a hardware and a software modem?

  A hardware modem is a self-contained unit - all the functions that the modem performs are already set up within the modem's electronics. Software modems (also called 'WinModems') or 'controllerless' modems use software or your computer's processor to emulate some or all of the modem functions. Software modems are cheaper than hardware modems and use a bit less battery power in laptops, but they demand more of your computer's resources (memory and processing time), and they have a greater reputation for instability than hardware modems.

   

Please visit the sites below for more information on 56K technology.

Modem manufacturers:

• U.S. Robotics
   
• Aopen modems
   

Reference sites:

• 56K.COM
   
• V.90.COM - Modem Standard
   
• Modemhelp.com