March 21, 2003

What does the condition of your phone line have to do with the Internet?  A lot actually.

I have seen a lot of phone line problems here since we seem to have really bad phone lines on Maui.  Modems are very particular in the fact that they require a very good electrical connection.  Sometimes there is electrical noise on the line which the phone can't pick up, but the modem will not tolerate.  The real problem here is the phone company does not guarantee lines for digital service, therefore if you're having problems with your modem, they really don't care.

 One of the biggest problems here is the lack of need phone lines.  To make up for this, they have units which will switch available lines when you need one.  A good example is a condominium complex or shopping center.  Let's say there are 100 units.  Even if the total complex averages 2 lines per unit, the maximum number of units you would normally expect to be in use at one time is, lets say for example, 30.  Now, they only run 30 sets of wires into the complex and the switching unit takes care of supplying the service to anyone who requests it.  So, if everyone tried to get on at the same time, only 30 people would be able to get a phone line. 

Some parts of Kihei, the north end for example, are in the same situation.  There aren't enough lines to go around so they do the same thing.  Problem is, modems don't work right with these units, so the end result is either a connection which doesn't work correctly or, doesn't work at all.  When your modem is connecting to your Internet service provider, you'll hear some tones as it is connecting.  There should be one series of tones and when they finish, with a 56K modem, you'll probably see a connection speed of somewhere between 40,000 and 51,000 bits per second (the copper phone lines will not support a full 56K speed).  If it takes longer to connect and you get a second series of tones, you'll connect at 33.6K and the next set will be 28.8K. Each time the speed slows considerably and performance is severely impacted.  If you are having problems and the phone company can't, or won't, fix the problems, your only alternative is ADSL or Road Runner.  ADSL is very limited in coverage area and more than likely, if your line is bad, it won't work on your line anyway.  Road Runner speeds are 2 to 3 times the speed of the ADSL and you only commit month to month rather than a year at a time.  The house I am renting has a terrible phone line.  It is so bad, if I am finally able to connect, the connection is so poor I can't even browse on the Internet. 

You won't get any sympathy from the phone company because they only are concerned about the phone working.  If you have a dedicated phone line for your computer, Road Runner will be about the same per month as your are paying for the second line and an ISP, and it is many times faster.

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