Rockwell 56k

[Cross Chris]

I have an internal no-brand Rockwell 56k modem claimimg V.90 support. My internet connection speeds are consistently 44,000, sometimes 45,200, sometimes 41,000. Speeds seem ok.
My WirePlay performance is total pants (the modem doesn't help much either http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif!). On Half-Life my ping rate is always over 400 when everyone else is in the 100-200 range. On QII again I get 200-300 while everyone else in in the low 100's.
How can I test if I am actually using V.90?
How can I tune it to get better rates?

[sflatt]

Cross,

How do you access Wireplay (direct or via ISP) ?

Can you tell us what WIN95/98 detects your modem as ? And does this have any mention of PCI or HCF within the modem name. This may be relevant with a no-name internal job.

Lastly, perhaps you could try checking some of your Wireplay DUN settings. Mine are shown here :-

http://www.funkateers.co.uk/techweb/modems/dse56epro/index.htm

Obviously some whill be different as we use different modems, but pay particular attention to the COM port speed and wether you have software compression turned on.

Cheers
Slime

[Grant[DSH]Av2]

Hi SLIME i did everything you showed but when i went to hyperterminal it said error i have checked that i have the latest drivers for my modem [ROCKWELL HCF 56K PCI MODEM] is there something wrong

[sflatt]

Chris,

O.K - the ATI commands will be different.
Try (using Hyperterminal) :-

ATI4
ATI6

You should get a different response to each.
pleas epost them back here.

BTW - what spec PC do you have and are you dialling WP direct ?

Cheers
Slime

Cheers
Slime

[CovenAnt]

hi Cross

you haven't by any chance got a packard Bell platinum, cos I have and it came with the same modem, which is in fact a winmodem and I had the same pings so...

I went and bought a diamond supraexpress 56e PRO and that fixed it...

if it is a winmodem I suggest you do the same as however I set it up I got those sort of pings myself.

Cov

(sorry Slime I ain't following you, just loads of weird coincidences!!)

[This message has been edited by CovenAnt (edited 28-05-99).]

[Caine]

I have a 56k rockwell winmodem and get pings around 190-220 in HL. Its upbranded but I found the brand through the fcc code. If you look on the chip itself and get the FCC code you can find the make.
This might help you upgrade the firmware or at least get some new drivers. Use a serch to get the FCC database.

[This message has been edited by Caine (edited 28-05-99).]

[hgbobalob]

Does it say v.90 ready or v.90? if it says v.90 ready head over to your modems home page and download the flash upgrade make sure you get the right one tho...

[Flares]

Goto http://www.wellmodem.com for the latest firmware and driver updates for various rockwell chipset variants. To check which variant you have, run the modem diagnostics program in the control panel and look for a serial number which corresponds to the files listed on the Well Modem site.
Worked for me, i generally log onto Wireplay Direct at 48000 to 49333 and get between 140 to 220 pings on TFC.
Turn error control off in your Wireplay Direct DUN settings and set your max com speed in your modem settings to 115200.
Finally, below is an initialisation string to force a particular connection speed (add it to your modem properties/advanced/extra settings box), however, be aware that just because u may be able to force a connection of up to 53333, for instance, doesn't mean your gaming speeds will improve, due to variables such as line noise etc, causing instability,dropped packets, etc.

AT+MS=12,1,49333,49333,1,0,33600

I hope my ramblings make some sense!

Flares.

[sflatt]

O.K - lots of other good tips posted. However, i would bet that you'll never get that modem working much beter than it is today. I also had a PCI modem and it was crap for gaming (500+ pings).

If all of the advise on this thread does'nt help ya - try borrowing a mates 28.8/33.6 modem - i bet it gives yu better performance straight away (as it won't be a software modem).

If so, i think you might have to bite the bullet and buy a better (branded) modem some time.

Cheers
Slime

[Cross Chris]

Here are my ATI responses:
ATI4 Rockwell HCF 56K Data, Fax, Speakerphone
ATI6 DP Rev BA
ATI6 V90 SPX RAM Ver 24
ATI6 V90 CTL RAM Ver 24
ATI6 K56FLEX SPX RAM Ver 44
ATI6 K56FLEX CTL RAM Ver 47
I tried the www.wellmodem.com but I just got 'page not found'

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Chris

[arcx]

I can't help much but I had exactly your problem. In the end I had to go out and buy another modem – 3COM 56K Voice Faxmodem. This brought my ping in Quakeworld from approx 350-400 down to 150-200. Another note – at around the same time I had BT check the line and they increased the gain on the line (from 0 to 3), which may of helped. (Ring 0800 800150). Try that first.

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[Wazoo]

I have a Hayes Ext 56Kflex modem, which i have just Flash upgraded to V.90,
oh dear,
oh dear,
oh dear,

I used to get pings of 140-160 on Quakeworld, but now they are above 300!!

On Barrysworld, i now get pings of 120. mmm, something weird going on here.

[CovenAnt]

this has happened to quite a few people.. make sure your flash upgrade is the most recent (from the manufacturers webby).

V.90 seems a bit twitchy with WP and works ok on other ISP's but once you have the right flash you should be ok... try hunting around m8.

Cov

[T Pex]

lo m8

well i have exact same modem m8

and i only connect at 33600 no faster!

im always in 500 pings on q2 and hl m8

but i seem 2 get a good game untill it crashes! every1 acuses me of plug pulin but i dont! i just crash connection just stops weird ever haps 2 u m8?

[Flares]

To all,
Sorry, below is the correct url for the lastest Rockwell drivers and firmware.
http://www.wellmodem.com.tw/products.htm

Flares

[Cross Chris]

Got the new drivers from that site, I'll try them out. I shall be getting my BT Home Highway ISDN soon - try hetting me with a rocket then! all of you swines who were laughing as my guts were sprayed over the walls of q2dm8. See, you can tell I'm really cross now.


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Chris

[CovenAnt]

blimey, like i said I had the same modem.. it's crap, you'll not get a ping under 250 unless you're very lucky...

get another or better still hurry up on ISDN and get happy fragging...

http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/wink.gif

Cov

[CovenAnt]

Like I have said throughout this thread.. it is a WINDMODEM, you WILL NOT get a good ping with this modem.

I had one, I tried everything, but you cannot change the fact it is a winmodem and not designed for gaming. If you want to game with a good ping then buy a different modem, personally I recommend the Diamond Supraexpress 56e PRO. I'm not going to say this again as ppl do not want to listen, in fact my post was blatantly ignored early in this thread.
(not by you ICE)

grumpy Cov

Soz but I'm in work on saturday and I'm in a bad mood, I have enough users here ignoring advice!

[ICE RS 10]

Hi all

I own an Internal 56k Rockwell PCI56RVP modem.
My connection to wireplay is usually 49333bps but inside the games such as quake world my ping is over 900!!! when everyone elses is under 200

I have been to http://www.wellmodem.com.tw/products.htm but i can't find drivers for my model of rockwell modem.
Surely there is a way to get a good ping without getting rid of this modem.

Does anyone know where i can get new drivers for my modem????
PLEASE HELP>> THIS PING IS DRIVING ME INSANE!!!!

[ICE RS 10]

Hi again all.

In my last message i told u that i was getting pings of over 900 in quake world and Halflife.

Last night i decided to remove the modem and reinstall it and now i always get pings between 100 and 150!!!

I hope my solution proves usefull to anybody who is having the same type of problem with pings.

Cya

[CovenAnt]

whoops I look like an ar*e.. ahh well, good on you m8, must be a diff rockwell I suppose... soz, bit heated being at work yesterday, and guess what, I'm in today as well... ffs it's a sunday http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/frown.gif

Cov

[Cross Chris]

I installed the new drivers, no difference. I still don't understand why, if the modem supports V.90 why it should be any slower than any other V.90 modem. Can somebody explain. Surely the V.90 standard dictates a particular protocol and as long as the wire has enough bandwidth then it should use it up to the capacity the protocol supports. Or am I just being naive and idealistic? :-)


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Chris

[Slime]

Chris,

The key here is not wether the modem uses V34 or V90 but it's about the quality and capacity of your modem.

It sounds like you got your modem as part of an OEM prebuilt package (they usually install poor modems). Your modem is either a PCI or Winmodem. These modems generally use software to help the modulation process (sending+receiving). On a "good" modem this would be done by a dedicated hardware chip.

The problem is that this software requires your CPU to be used to handle the communications process, as well as everything else. This is fine when you are just surfing and sending emails as that is all the CPU needs to worry about.

However (i am getting to the point now !) when you need your CPU to run Half Life multiplayer AND the sending+receiving stuff, something has to give, and it's usually your ping/rate.

This is why we sadly recommend the "brand" name modems (USR, 3COM, PACE etc etc) as they use decent quality (well supported) equipment that will let your CPU concentrate on what you want it to be doing i.e killing and maiming !!

"All modems are equal but some (gaming) modems are more equal than others"

Cheers
Slime

[Millennium]

I have a MRI modem which is *apparently* V90 (eheh), but it ain't as good as a Pace internal V90, I know that. I've upgraded firmware etc and use Askflash to upgrade to V90, all to no avail; pings stay at about 200-250 in Quake, TFC and Tribes.

Ah well. Any thoughts, whoever else has a MRI modem?

[Slime]

Millennium,

Sorry, never heard of MRI (don't you get an MRI scan in hospital ??).

But, just wondering what "Askflash" is.
Some kind of a generic utility, or something that comes with the MRI modem.

Just wondering and all that......
Cheers
Slime

[Cross Chris]

Thanks, Slime, that's the first reasonable eplaination I've had on why an internal PCI modem may not work as fast as an extrnal one.
My BT Highway was installed today so I'm probably going to hoik the modem out of the machine when I get my USR ISDN LANModem configured for WirePlay.(Probably take another 3 weeks http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif ).
By the way, is there a 'how to' sheet anywhere on dialling WirePlay through an ISDN router?

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Chris

[Slime]

Chris,

Sorry mate - i can't talk to you now your an LPB, non-modem using traitor http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/teeth.gif

Errr, and i don't know nuffink about HH or ISDN - sorry.

Cheers
Slime

[Rizzo]

My friend haa a Diamond SupraExpress 56K but gets a ping of 800, he downloaded the latest drivers but it only reduced it to 700. What else can he do?

I have a Zoom 56K External voice/faxmodem (Ok crap make but they own Hayes now) and I get a ping of 200-300 depending on server and numbers (I dial direct to Wireplay). What can I do to tweak performance???

Has anyone heard about Cable modems? They are quite new and trials have been held and Cable companies are now beginning to support them, it gives 512K constant connection for just £40 a month (so I'm told), can anyone give me info on it or point me towards info.

Thanks

Rizzo

[Slime]

Chris (and others),

If you think there should be an ISDN/HH forum ,please add your vote here mate :-

http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000698.html

I think there should be as lots of guys are changing over to HH+ISDN and it's hard to get good info.

Cheers
Slime