DSL ISPs Cable Companies Dialup Internet Service Providers
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56K Basics
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3 things you need to use 56KYou need three things to take advantage of 56K technology:
#1 The first one is easy. There are plenty of 56K modems on the market, with more arriving every day. #2 Once you have your 56K modem, you need a place to call. Nearly a thousand Internet service providers have pledged support for one of the 56K technologies, but only a small percentage of them actually offer 56K access at this time. America Online - with 8 million members - has test modems in only a handful of U.S. cities. (Use AOL keyword "x2" for details.) This situation should improve dramatically through the course of 1997. #3 The third requirement is the one that will prevent some people from using 56K. For 56K to work, you can only have one analog-to-digital conversion between your home or office and the Internet service provider (ISP). If there's more than one, you can't use 56K, and your connection will be limited to V.34 speeds (a maxumim of 28.8 or 33.6K). 3Com/U.S. Robotics has a test line that allows you to dial in with your existing V.34 modem and find out if your phone line supports x2. The phone number to call and other details can be found at the page below. 3Com strongly recommends calling the test line multiple times to get an accurate reading. If your phone line passes that test, you can probably use a 56K modem. It isn't guaranteed, though. The long distance call to the U.S. Robotics test line may be routed through different circuits than a call to your local ISP. The only 100% guaranteed test is to borrow a 56K modem and dial into your local ISP from your home or office. If you haven't tested the connection with a 56K modem, you should buy your modem from a dealer with a generous return policy.
Links U.S. Robotics x2 Compatibility Test Page
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