Need cornputer advice...

[Dennis C.]

I use a dial-up system. It usually logs on at somewhere between 40 to 49K "RPM". At the bottom right hand corner of my screen are 2 tiny TV screens next to each other. They light up when I am up or down loading. The lights go off on the tiny TV screens when nothing is happening.

So, here is my dilemma and question. This up and down load process seems to want to stop and start whenever it gets in the mood. The tiny TV set lights go off and my cornputer stops doing its thing for a few seconds or 45 seconds or whatever it's in the mood for. Is this normal? If not, what is the cause? My cornputer, my modem, my ISP or just my lousy attitude? Help please. This can be very upsetting particularily when trying to make a last minute bid on eBay. Some times if I click again on what I want done, like refresh, it may come back to life. If I go to a different windows program, it seems to wake up??? I dunno... Thanks in advance. Dennis

[William B.]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

IMO, get a cable moden, well worth the money and frees up the phone line. I can make ebay bids with 10 sec. to go.

[William B.]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

IMO, get a cable moden, well worth the money and frees up the phone line. I can make ebay bids with 10 sec. to go.

[Michael H.]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

I agree completely with Bill. If you're serious about internet and ebay, there's no other way. At the minimum, DSL, but I feel the extra few dollars a month are well spent for cable. If you have a 2nd phone because of the dialup service, you can drop that and use the money you saved for cable.

Michael

[Michael H.]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

I agree completely with Bill. If you're serious about internet and ebay, there's no other way. At the minimum, DSL, but I feel the extra few dollars a month are well spent for cable. If you have a 2nd phone because of the dialup service, you can drop that and use the money you saved for cable.

Michael

[Clem Z.]

that is what i did and i am sure glad

i dropped the extra phone line and went cable modem because at my age waiting is not a option.

[Clem Z.]

that is what i did and i am sure glad

i dropped the extra phone line and went cable modem because at my age waiting is not a option.

[Tom R.]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

Dennis:

Dial-up is at the bottom of the internet food chain...everybody else gets priority. So when someone/entity is dumping lots of data...dial-up gets short-changed and that's what you're experiencing.

Another example is like going to the drag strip with base engine solid axle car and running against special hi-performance C2s and C3s...you ain't gonna keep up!

[Tom R.]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

Dennis:

Dial-up is at the bottom of the internet food chain...everybody else gets priority. So when someone/entity is dumping lots of data...dial-up gets short-changed and that's what you're experiencing.

Another example is like going to the drag strip with base engine solid axle car and running against special hi-performance C2s and C3s...you ain't gonna keep up!

[Gordon Peterson #4961]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

Dennis -

I agree, the traditional modem doesn't cut it anymore. It's been so long since I connected that way, I'm afraid I can't help you with what you're seeing. But I do remember being VERY frustrated when coming down to the wire on a bid.

My comment involves cable modem vs. DSL modem. Both are fast, but there is a difference. I went with cable initially. I live at the end of a long street i.e. I'm literally at the end of the cable! And when my neighbors' kids down the street would start playing on-line games and downloading music, my connection would start to really crawl. I complained. Turns out, it's a bandwidth thing. So I switched to DSL and now my connection is always fast.

Pete

[Gordon Peterson #4961]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

Dennis -

I agree, the traditional modem doesn't cut it anymore. It's been so long since I connected that way, I'm afraid I can't help you with what you're seeing. But I do remember being VERY frustrated when coming down to the wire on a bid.

My comment involves cable modem vs. DSL modem. Both are fast, but there is a difference. I went with cable initially. I live at the end of a long street i.e. I'm literally at the end of the cable! And when my neighbors' kids down the street would start playing on-line games and downloading music, my connection would start to really crawl. I complained. Turns out, it's a bandwidth thing. So I switched to DSL and now my connection is always fast.

Pete

[Joe L.]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

Dennis, Michael and Bill----

I agree, too. However, cable (or, even, DSL) is not an option for everyone. In a place like Lyle, WA, as beautiful and serene as it is there, I don't know if either of these would be available. Anyway, it's the sort of location where cable-based internet or DSL would commonly not be available, so I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case.

Dennis, if either of these broadband options are available, I'd recommend that you get one of them. I've used a cable-based internet at home as long as I've been on-line here (about 6+ years). Whenever I have to use a dial-up type connection (like when I'm away and using a friend's or relative's computer) I go nuts. In fact, I'll often go and use a public, pay-per-minute system (like at Kinkos) rather than use a "free" dial up. The "phenomena" that you described are exactly the sort of the things that I find frustrating about dial-up. After using a broadband connection it's particularly difficult to "regress" to dial-up.

One down-side to most broadband connections (i.e cable or DSL) is that you have no remote access. So, if you travel with a laptop (which I do not and, likely, will not), then you have to have (and pay for) a dial-up connection through another ISP just for those times when you're travelling. Dial-up connections are completely "portable" and can "go with you" wherever you go.

[Joe L.]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

Dennis, Michael and Bill----

I agree, too. However, cable (or, even, DSL) is not an option for everyone. In a place like Lyle, WA, as beautiful and serene as it is there, I don't know if either of these would be available. Anyway, it's the sort of location where cable-based internet or DSL would commonly not be available, so I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case.

Dennis, if either of these broadband options are available, I'd recommend that you get one of them. I've used a cable-based internet at home as long as I've been on-line here (about 6+ years). Whenever I have to use a dial-up type connection (like when I'm away and using a friend's or relative's computer) I go nuts. In fact, I'll often go and use a public, pay-per-minute system (like at Kinkos) rather than use a "free" dial up. The "phenomena" that you described are exactly the sort of the things that I find frustrating about dial-up. After using a broadband connection it's particularly difficult to "regress" to dial-up.

One down-side to most broadband connections (i.e cable or DSL) is that you have no remote access. So, if you travel with a laptop (which I do not and, likely, will not), then you have to have (and pay for) a dial-up connection through another ISP just for those times when you're travelling. Dial-up connections are completely "portable" and can "go with you" wherever you go.

[Michael H.]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

Dennis,

One more thing you may want to try if you decide to stay with dial-up. See what your ACTUAL connection speed is using the link below. It will give you the real numbers. If lower than 20Kbs, I would look for another server.

http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/

[Michael H.]

Re: Need cornputer advice...

Dennis,

One more thing you may want to try if you decide to stay with dial-up. See what your ACTUAL connection speed is using the link below. It will give you the real numbers. If lower than 20Kbs, I would look for another server.

http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/