A real way to double your dial up speed

[thermo4]

Hi,

I'd like to share with you information about boosting internet speed via Dial Up connection. It has been posted on other board. I haven't  tried yet and I dunno if it's work in LOS

Here we go:

"There are all kinds of so-called "accelerator" software, but there benefits are dubious. I have been helping various low-income people and people without access to DSL or cable in their areas to set their computers up for for REAL and efficient faster connections.

The method can be found at http://find.pcworld.com/36569. And you can read about the related .v92 standards and also see if your ISP supports them, at http://v92.com

It really works. I have helped a number of people set their computers up for this, and they have all doubled their connection speeds.

The following is the basic text from pcworld. Go there for the many added links related to this:

Special Report:

Bonding: 112K, 168K, and beyond

What's the next stop beyond 56K? Most people are looking to digital technologies like ADSL, cable modems, and ISDN. Each of these systems offers higher speed and lower latency than 56K, but price and availability can prove to be major obstacles. In some geographic regions, analog phone lines will be the only available access technology for years to come.

For all the failings of analog phone lines, they're plentiful and cheap. Using an unsung technology called bonding, analog phone lines can deliver performance in excess of 100K or even 200K.

How it works

To understand how bonding modems work, we have to start by calling them by their real name: inverse multiplexing modems. A regular multiplexer ("mux") takes one signal and splits it into multiple signals. Electronics stores use multiplexers to show the same movie on a wall of televisions.

An inverse multiplexer takes multiple signals and bonds them into a single, usually stronger signal. Inverse multiplexing modems can bond multiple analog phone lines to double, triple, or quadruple the speed of a regular modem. The process is also referred to as multilink, channel aggregation, channel bonding, load balancing, and many other terms, but I'll refer to it here as bonding.

The idea behind bonding isn't new. RFC 1717, written in 1994, defines Multilink PPP, which is now used in virtually all modern ISDN equipment. It was later osboleted by RFC 1990. Multilink PPP allows ISDN devices to bond two 64K channels into a logical 128K channel. Another bonding protocol, appropriately called BONDING (an acronym for Bandwidth On Demand Interoperability Group), has likewise been around for years in ISDN equipment.

More sophisticated versions of Multilink PPP allow for intelligent phone line management. To conserve phone lines for voice calls, the equipment may only bring up a second or third line when extra bandwidth is needed, and drop the extra lines when the need for extra bandwidth passes. Examples of these improved include Ascend's MPP+ and the multi-vendor BACP (Bandwidth Allocation Control Protocol).

112K or 56K twice?

There's a fine point that should be brought up in the beginning. Bonding two 56K channels together provides up to 112K of bandwidth, but that 112K of bandwidth may or may not be the same as a 112K modem.

For instance, the Ramp Networks WebRamp M3 can bond three lines for a total bandwidth of 168K. However, each process (downloading a file via FTP, loading a Web page, sending an email message, etc.) is limited to 56K.

On the other hand, Boca Research's 112K Dynamic Duo bonds the two lines into a logical 112K connection. When shopping for bonding modems, make sure you know how the unit manages bandwidth.

Bonding: the technology of today

The first bonding analog modem to receive windespread attention was Transend's 67.2K modem. How is 67.2K possible, you ask? Isn't there just 64K of bandwidth in a voice circuit? Right you are! As noted in the press release and the InfoWorld story, the Transend modem is bonding two phone lines with two 33.6 connections.

If you're going to bond analog phone lines, why not use 56K modems instead of 33.6 modems? Answer: it's already been done. Angia Communications' TwinConnect modems were one of the first to use a pair of 56K modem connections for speeds of up to 112K for a single user.

The Ramp Networks WebRamp M3 uses three lines to reach speeds of up to 168K. MidCore's software uses four lines for speeds in excess of 200K. PCWEEK and TechWeb have stories. Note that these are network products, intended to provide access to multiple users, as opposed to providing high bandwidth to a single user. When used by a single user, each process (FTP, web surfing, etc.) is limited to 56K.

Diamond Multimedia's Shotgun technology bonds two phone lines intelligently to allow for voice calls and to mimimize use of the second line. When a second line is needed, it's brought up. When the additional bandwidth isn't needed, the second line is dropped. If you have call waiting, the Voice Priority feature will drop one line to allow the incoming call to ring through. Shotgun technology is built into the dual-modem SupraSonic II. Owners of existing SupraExpress 56K modems can download a free Shotgun upgrade and bond a second modem to their existing modem. The second modem doesn't have to be a Diamond Multimedia modem, or even a 56K modem, though the Voice Priority feature may not work when using any model other than the SupraSonic II.

Windows 98 will offer the option to bond multiple modems for use with Dial-Up Networking connections to the Internet. You can have this option today by downloading Microsoft's DUN 1.2 upgrade for Windows 95. For setup instructions, see Matt's Windows 95 Load Balancing page.

Who ya gonna call?

The big question about bonding modems is finding an ISP that supports this oddball configuration. For corporations, this isn't a problem. They can equip each office and each telecommuter with compatible modems. This is an especially attractive option in areas of the country where ISDN, frame relay, cable modems, and DSL are either unavailable or exorbitantly expensive.

That's all good and well for corporations, but consumers need support from their local ISPs. Today's ISPs don't support bonding except by special arrangement. That could change. Most ISPs today use Ascend MAX or U.S. Robotics Total Control terminal servers. Both are perfectly capable of inverse multiplexing. Almost no one is taking advantage of the built-in capability today, but it's in there, like a sleeping giant ready to awake when the ISP market changes.

Hardware

You don't have to buy a new modem to take advantage of bonding. Several software solutions are available that work with any modems. However, you do have the option of buying a modem specifically designed for bonding.

Diamond Multimedia's Shotgun technology licenses Ascend's Multichannel Protocol Plus (MP+) to offer speeds up to 112K and intelligent use of the second phone line. The current Ascend MAX firmware supports Shotgun technology, though few ISPs have enabled the technology.

The Boca Research Dynamic Duo incorporates two modems on a single card. Like the Shotgun technology, the Dynamic Duo is designed to let incoming calls through by dropping one phone line without losing the Internet connection.

Software

Recent versions of Windows 95 and all versions of Windows 98 support the option of using additional modems. (Users of early versions of Windows 95 can download the Dial-Up Networking upgrade. Look for version 1.2 or later.) Because it's free, this is the first thing to try. Many people have had trouble getting Dial-Up Networking to bond modems or ISDN devices, however.

Linux users can use the Equalizer driver.

Mac users may want to consider FCR Software's LinkUPP Turbo.

ISP issues

Bonding technology does offer some challenges to ISPs, not the least of which is billing, already a complicated problem for ISPs.

One major issue is that one phone line may connect to one modem chassis, while subsequent calls connect to a different chassis. This situation is referred to as spanning or stacking. This was already a problem with bonded ISDN calls, so vendors of ISP modem equipment have had time and incentive to address this issue. Some vendors (including Ascend, Cisco, and Livingston) have already fixed the problem in newer code releases.

For more information on spanning, see Diamond Multimedia's ISP page and the Computer Retail Week article below.

Wrap-up

ADSL, cable modems, and ISDN put consumers at the mercy of price and availability. Because bonding modems work with regular analog phone lines, consumers are free to add an extra phone line when they need it. Bonding modems have the potential to be more popular than ADSL or cable modems for mass market Internet access in the short term, and are are likely to find a secure niche for high-speed telecommuting and remote office access, particularly in areas where the telecommunications infrastructure doesn't support digital technologies."

Please use this thread if you will have any expierence with it.

Good luck

[MaiChai]

A lot of information. In simple terms we just need to two phone lines and two modems in a single PC? We pay twice as much on the call (but they are cheap anyway). Phone lines are cheap (providing you can get one installed). Sounds much cheaper than any of the broadband solutions currently on offer in LOS.

Does it work reliably in practice?

Do any of the Thai ISPs support it?

Does it work without any special software on winXP?

I would consider another line just to get more bandwidth.

[thermo4]

As I say, I haven't tried it (no such possibilities). But this guy who posted this, works with that in Mexico and it really works.

I dunno what about Thai ISP. Maybe some1 should ask

If it doesn't work with XP u can always make dual boot with 98.

So, who's first ???  

[phazey]

This is how I would get more speed....

1) modem choice. get rid of anything that says "softmodem", they are crap(usually internal). The only modem i have ever used, in both Thailand and Burma is a USR Courier. pricy, but solid as a rock. Highly Recommended.

2) Any shell account providers in thailand ? A great way to increase speed is "SSH tunneling". Basically you would log into a box thats live on the internet, and Tunnel your web connection through that - most ISP's do provide a proxy on their side to tunnel through to. Using an SSH2 compatible client for windows (recommend "puTTY.exe" here) it will perform on the fly compression - albeit this will only compress text/html and not images - web speed is greatly improved.

3) if you have more control to a box online, ie: installing stuff and running services, then the software "RaBBit2" for *nix's is good. this will convert images to low quality/small size, remove ads, then compress the whole lot into a .zip file and send you. Your Browser (IE/Netscape) will uncompress on the fly and display the page - the difference visually is not too noticable unless you like superior image quality - but it's all about speed, ain't it

4) get a multithreaded browser. This will download multiple parts of a web page so the "apparent" speed will seem to increase. Recommend either Opera or Mozilla Firebird here.

5) for location where the line quality is questionable DISABLE v.90/92 or any other high speed protocols your modem supports and drop down to 33.6kbps or 28.8kbps. I know what you are already thinking. Here's the beef. When you are running at a higher speed, say 44k, your modem does not actually run at this speed all the time. It will "retrain" when it comes across too many line errors. When i was using the Courier, i could see these errors come in and the modem would pause whilst it sorts itself out, usually a 30 second wait and a retrain to a lower speed. Lowering the speed manually to a non-hispeed protocol will eliminate these pauses. You can do this by entering the relevent "Init string" into your modem properties "extra commands/settings" dialogue in the modem control panel. Again, apparent speed is greatly improved.

Hope this helps, and if i think of any more, i'll pass it on.

Cheers

./P

[phazey]

Just to answer a few up there ^^

Modem bundling is natively supported in XP with no additional software required. When you have two modems installed, just go to the properties of your dial-up connection, and you will see a window with modems and check boxes next to them. check the modems you want to use and dialup - simple.

You might need 2x accounts for your ISP, or the ability to have concurrant logins. 2x phone bills also.

Cheers

./P

[Bud Zumwalt]

???

Do the hotels offering Internet hook ups for lap tops, usually have DSL? What about the Woodlin Inn, anyone know? I think all I need is the plug adapter, my Sony has power converter already.

Bud

[monty]

Multilink does work with most providers in thailand, my experience with loxinfo is rather good. All their regular packages support multilink, except the unlimited ones(where you have to dial 1222).

Multilink is supported from Win98SE upwards.

As for the practical results, my connection is indicated at between 88 and 95 kB/sec. However the practical speed increase is around 50%. Download speeds at around 7 or 8 kB/sec are common. Your webpages do load faster and you can look at most streaming video or audio (up to a 32kb/sec stream)without the hick-ups you have with just one modem. For the price, connecting is an extra 3 Baht for the second modem, and your internet hours are going down double. At current prices a 1 hour connection would be 35 Baht per hour using Loxinfo's webnet packages.

For now I've just upgraded to IPTV, the sattelite broadband link, with which I'm really happy!

[randyksf]

I am in the process of doing the same thing. Way back in 1996 US Robotics came out with this type of modem. It rocked.

This is nothing new, with DSL just killed the idea But for Bangkok I think it's the best solution around. XP makes it simple and quick.

Waiting on the second line. This might take a little bit of time.