Tips for Faster Internet Access As the world of information moves faster, time is more important than ever before. The need for faster computers and more rapid internet access to quickly download pages from the Net increases every hour. Yet relatively few people look beyond finding the least expensive computer and modem possible and choosing the cheapest ISP to dial-up and surf.
Cheaper isn’t always better. And, it’s almost NEVER better when data transfer is involved. A new generation of very-low-cost providers are offering Internet service at remarkably low prices, but with low-levels of service to match. With up to 20 users sharing a modem, this Internet Party-Line service can be a real time-waster. And, with even the best hardware sitting on your desktop, low-quality ISP service will squander most of its potential. Cheap, low-quality, ISP service is the weak link in the communications chain.
However, if you have had the foresight to select a high-quality ISP, such as FW7 Dial-up Service (What a surprise for us to suggest this It really is an excellent service, though. We’ll explain why below.) You may discover that by making some adjustments to your hardware setup, configuration of your Internet browser and Windows®or MacOS® you can make your surfing experience far faster and considerably more enjoyable. (In fairness, these tips will also explain WHY and HOW higher-quality dial-up service can result in far faster Internet speeds.)
Try these tips and tricks even if you already have fast Internet access. And, you’ll be surprised at the difference it will make in downloading pages from the Net.
* Use a V.90 Standard Modem, or better still the new V.92 modems. Winmodems and Softmodems are cheaper, but much slower in performance. Many FW7 access numbers are connected to V.92 compatible modems and routers that will cause your data transfer speeds to shift into high gear, increasing throughput rates by up to 250%. Budget Internet providers keep costs down by using modems and routers from one or two generations back.
Without V.90 and V.92 technology to connect to, even the fastest computer will underperform when surfing. Budget providers often add to the problem by piling on double or even triple the number of recommended subscribers per modem, and browser speeds slow to a crawl. If you’re using a new, high-speed computer yet your surfing speed is still slow, that strongly is suggests that the equipment on the ISPs end is obsolete. With a quality provider, a new V.90 or V.92 modem, and fast computer, your surfing speeds will soar.
* Make a habit of logging on during off-peak hours – The majority of ISP’S get quite busy during lunchtimes, early evening, when people first arrive home from work, and just after midnight. Keep a record of your surfing activities throughout the day, for at least 2 weeks, i.e., to see which connect times are fastest. And, then target those times for your Internet activity, when possible.
* Use a shorter phone lead – Replacing the length of your phone lead from socket to your modem for a shorter one will enhance the quality of access. Electricity moves at the speed of light. But, even at these fast speeds, every 11 inches of wire causes one nanosecond of delay. Keep data cables short!
* Zap Line noise. Interference, line noise and static on phone lines often forces modems to resend corrupted data packets. The phone company can also test your phone line for you and take whatever steps are necessary to minimize interference. Quieter lines transfer data much faster.
* Use a dedicated modem line if possible. Have a second line installed just for modem use. Even if the phone line itself is quiet, every phone that is connected to it can introduce its own noise. As mentioned above, quieter lines transfer data much faster.
* Pile on more computing power – More computing power ensures that the formatting used on Web pages (Flash, Java, HTML etc…) are processed much faster once they are downloaded.
* Try a USB Modem – A USB port has a greater bandwidth than a serial port commonly used by external modems. USB ports offer 12MB, which is quantum levels above the 56k needed for a connection. This eliminates a potential Com Port bottleneck.
* Consider installing more RAM – Your PC doesn’t have enough RAM, if you can hear the hard disk chirping away with it’s access light flashing as you browse the Net. It is probably using it’s virtual memory to compensate for low RAM levels. Such hard disk accessing will slow browsing down considerably.
* Never use a Line-Splitter on the phone line that you connect to your modem. And, never, never, ever connect a fax machine or a telephone directly to the cable that connects to your modem. Avoid noise for faster connections.
* Consider browsing many pages at once – You may find that downloading two, three or even four pages at any one time will load just as fast as each one individually, depending on the capabilities of server that is hosting the information. Experiment.
* Try eliminating Multimedia Options, such as Java, animation, and audio. These can slow down downloading times for a page. If you can manage without them, go to Internet Explorer’s® Tools menu , then Settings then Internet Options then Advanced, then go to the Multimedia section and uncheck an of the options that you don’t really need.
* Avoid using Windows® Wallpaper – and keep desktop icons to a minimum. And, close any unneeded applications that may be open. These can slow down your system, especially on older PC’s.
* Use the Autocomplete function to enable Explorer remember certain user names and passwords for Web Sites. Do this in Windows® by going to the Tools menu , then Internet Options, then Content, then Autocomplete, then check the user names and passwords on forms option. You can also use this function to ‘autocomplete’ Web site addresses.
* Adjust your Com port speed setting – If you have an external serial modem, it’s worth checking that the COM Port is set up correctly. IN Windows® go to Settings then Control Panel then System. Click on the Device Manager Tab, then scroll down to the Ports section. Click on the plus sign to the left to expand the list, and double-click the correct Com port. Next, select the Port Settings tab. If the bits per second setting is a low number like 9,600 your PC’s performance is being squandered! Set it to 115200 and see if there’s any improvement in performance . If not, lower the setting step-by-step until you obtain the best results.
* Try optimizing your speed settings – If your Dial-Up Networking is set to a maximum speed of 115200 in Windows® Control Panel, ensure that the box for Only Connect At This Speed is not checked.
* Increase your Windows® dialing speed (the rate at which your computer dials your ISP’s phone number). Go to Settings, then Control Panel, then Modem, then Modem Properties, then Advanced, then Extra Settings, enter the following string in the dialog box: S11=50. This will switch your modem from 100 millisecond to 50 millisecond dialing.
* Be sure your Windows® and Internet Software is current – Download the latest drivers to improve performance.
* Create a new Dial-Up Shortcut – in your Start Menu, by dragging the relevant icon from the Dial-Up Networking folder in the Control Panel.
* Be sure that your user name and password are automatically entered – in your dial-up settings, when dialing in, to save retyping them in manually each time. If Dial-up networking refuses to save your changes, create a brand new Dial-up Icon and enter the correct, username, password, and phone number. This new Dial-up Icon should “remember” all three of these items correctly.
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