Modems

[ahgute]

I would like to change the modem in my pc, do modems generally come with installation cds or will the pc detect the new modem & installed it automatically?

[ed klein]

The computer will detect at start-up the new modem (hardware) but your new modem will come with a CD to add the new drivers for the modem.

Some web sites like Robotics also have software programs to add the new drivers, and like any software program there are updates.

I would get a good brand of dial-up modem like ROBOTICS were you can customize the dial-up speed in the string input.

ROBOTICS has a good web site to give you the codes for input into the extra string so your dial-up modem can perform like you want it to.

Don't get a fax modem, generally they run slower, and your modem won't run at 56K unless you live next door to the telephone company.

The closer you live to the telephone company the faster your dial-up modem will run. I am 6 miles away as the crow flies and the fastest I can get is 37,296 bits per second. The ROBOTICS modem that I use has really been tweaked.

Any fiber optic cable from the telephone company cable vault to the side of your house will also help greatly in the line speed.

[doctorhardware]

It also depends on the OS, XP will usually load the drivers for the modem. I have several US Robotics modems that I have. The only time that they are used now is when I have to send a fax. The fastest speed that I get here is, 19k on a good day. The average was usually 9600 bps.