Modems - pls heeelp

[Roving]

I have a P1 200MMX, 32 mb ram, 2.1 gb hard drive. I currently have a V34 33,600bps MRi internal modem. I get connected to games (Unreal on WP and Baldur's Gate modem to modem) and then get thrown out when the action starts. I have already got BT to increase gain on line - does not help. I have some questions if anyone has the time.

Will buying a 56K V90 help?
I have PCI and ISA ports free - which type is better to use (existing modem is in a ISA port)? PCI seems cheaper.
What is best budget priced modem?
Where do I go for sensible deal?

Any help much appreciated - Tigs you seem to be the man, what's your thoughts...Roving (AKA Mark)

[sflatt]

Roving,

I'm sure Tigs will add his thoughts sometime...but here's my two penneth (how do you spell that ?) in the meantime :-

>Will buying a 56K V90 help?
Certainly can't help if you have the money.

I have PCI and ISA ports free - which type is better to use (existing modem is in a ISA port)? PCI seems cheaper.
> IMHO ISA definately. If you want to play games online then please avoid PCI modems as some of them use software to do the comms, which can be a drag on your processor and leave you with unplayable pings. This is why PCI's are cheaper, as they don't always have as many chips on the boards, thereby saving money.

> What is best budget priced modem?
Maybe someone else can give some suggestions.
(i hope this doesn't sound patronising) but you get what you pay for though. If you're going to play online a lot then please dont buy the cheapest no-name modem you can find. You won't find much support and it's performance will probably reflect the price.

BTW - If you use Wireplay lots then i wouldn't currently buy a Hayes. Their V.90 code and WP's currently don't talk to each other very well.

If you pushed me (and you really want an internal modem) then i'd say either a Pace V.90 or Diamond Supra 56i. Lots of reports of both working fine with WP.

> Where do I go for sensible deal?
Errrr - pass as i'm very unimaginitve and tend to go down the high street.

Cheers
Slime

[tiger]

wow, fame at last http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

erm, I find it a little odd that you get thrown out when the action starts, as far as I know that shouldn't happen no matter what the modem your using is. You haven't somewhere, got an option set to disconnect after a set number of minutes or seconds if the modem (or, more likely, an application like web browser or connection manager) thinks it's not being used have you ?

The only other thing it might be is a major incompatibility in the modem code, either your end or WP's, which, as they should both be using a defined standard compliant code would be a little odd ..... http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

Buying a v.90 modem would potentially increase the speed you connect at, and hence reduce the latency and ping in game, it might also sort out the connection by having newer drivers, that would be my first option, get the latest drivers and firmware code for the modem you have at the moment and see if they sort out the problem.

Bidget priced modem (ie cheap and nasty modems) are just that (cheap and nasty) from most peoples experience. Your best bet is to go with what Slime suggests and get either a pace v90 internal or diamond 56i as between us we've got those two setup and working for quite a few people recently. They may be towards the 100 quid or so price bracket but they ted to be a lot less hassle than cheaper modems.

As for the PCI/ISA debate, I think my pace is PCI, but I'm not as well versed in this a SLime is so he's probably right saying to go for an ISA one. it really depends on your budget and what you want to pay for, there's no need to go above 120 quid for a decent modem though.

As to where to get them from ... here a couple of suggestions (sorry they're not links but I'm at my parents house not home so I don't have the links to hand), although you can probably find them using Yahoo search easily enough :

Simply Computers (online computer hardware/softwarevendor).
Insight computers (as above)

you could probably also find more by going to the computers->hardware->vendors section of Yahoo and having a look there.

Hope that's some help to you mate http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

tigs

PS Slime ... it's pen'orth (penny's worth with the middle chopped out http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif)

T

[sflatt]

Tiger,

Pen'orth, oh that looks better - http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

Slime

[sflatt]

Tiger,

Pen'orth, oh that looks better - http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

Slime

[MEANBOY64]

roving my man, if u wanna cheap but reliable modem then look no further that a
diamond supra express 56epro. They r dead easy 2 fit [took me five mins 2 get it up and running on wirplay] the modem is between £70-80 at pc World i got mine 4 £70. i get stable-ish pings of 170-210 which i find good enough 4 gaming.

[Roving]

You guys are the dog's cojones, I'm moved to tears - no really. I think I learnt more from your answers than about £30 of support line calls.

OK here's the next step...

I'm going to just make sure I do not have any 'time out after 60 secs' type configs (ta Tigs). If it's not that I'll buy a Diamond Supra 56ep thingy. I saw you guys have a cool config type website to get settings right. I'm assuming that I will get all latest drivers and 'firmware' (whatever that is) with the modem. Then...

Watch out for new improved Roving in Air Attack, Unreal and Baldur's Gate. Will they ever support Toca 2?

Thanks again for help guys (or are you girls - hum - strokes chin)...Roving

[Roving]

Sorry Tigs - could have been more accurate describing my problem...

Have never been thrown out of Air Attack

Have never got in to Unreal (but may not have latest patches)

BUT...when playing Baldur's Gate modem to modem with my mate we connect, set up characters, but when we get to start loading game (the scenery etc) it times out. He has a Diamond Supra 56 V90. Sorry it's not a WP problem but it matters to me.

Roving

[tiger]

Ahh,

it all becomes clear, this is a common problem with Baldur's Gate network code. Velvet me and athanateus tried to get it working for about 4 hours at Insomnia so it's probably just the ****ty BG network code screwing you about not you modem http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

There's beeen quite a few posts about this on the Baldur's Gate board

tigs

[Roving]

Thanks Tigs you may have saved me a biiiiig disappointment. On one occasion we were gaming on BG modem to modem for about 20 mins before getting thrown out, but we have not successfully connected since.

It may be a combination of crappy BG code AND my mate having a V90 and me having a 33,600bps piece of history.

I'll now go to BG forum to investigate further. Lordy I deserve some fun after all this!

Roving