While we are still
making the transition to the new v.90 technology, we are
providing as much information as we have here at our new
v.90 Tech Center. Our purpose is to make it even easier
to understand the technical aspects of v.90, inform
users on upgrades to the v.90 current versions, and
provide the latest on this rapidly developing new
technology. Those users looking to upgrade their current
modems to v.90 will find this page very useful.
v.90 FAQs (last updated 11/9/98)
Below are the most common questions concerning v.90.
Check here frequently for new solutions to FAQs.
What kind of performance can you expect
with v.90?
What is the basic requirement needed to
upgrade to v.90 standard?
How do I update my K56-Flex or X2 modem
to run v.90?
Will I be able to connect to you at v.90
speed?
Will upgrading to v.90 make my X2 modem
K56-Flex-compatible or make my K56-flex modem X2-
compatible?
If I upgrade my K56-Flex to v.90, will I
still be able to connect to K56-Flex modems at 56K
speeds?
I upgraded my modem to v.90 (or I bought
a modem that is v.90 compatible), but it does not
connect at v.90
My v.90 modem will not connect at all
with the ISP
I am getting disconnected from the
server after a few minutes
What kind of performance can you
expect with v.90?
With a reasonably good phone line, and if you live
within 3 1/2 miles from your central office (local phone
company building), you should get connect speeds between
40K and 53K. Some lines have impairments, such as
digital pads or robbed bit signaling (RBS), which
decrease the highest achievable speeds. However, if you
are getting pretty good v34 connections, you should be
able to significantly benefit from a v.90 modem.
What is the basic requirement needed
to upgrade to v.90 standard?
1. Flash upgradeable firmware. Please check with your
hardware vendor.
2. Most vendors have promised to deliver software
upgrades for v.90Flex.
How do I update my K56-Flex or X2
modem to run v.90?
For most modems, simply download the flash utility
software and upgrade. Other modems may vary. You may
have to confirm if your modem vendor has a v.90 upgrade
for your modem.
Will I be able to connect to you at
v.90 speed?
If you've connected to us using K56Flex, you should
be able to connect to v.90 speed once you upgrade your
modem to v.90.
Will upgrading to v.90 make my X2
modem K56-Flex-compatible or make my K56-flex modem
X2-compatible?
No. v.90, K56 and X2 are three distinct protocols.
If I upgrade my K56-Flex to v.90, will
I still be able to connect to K56-Flex modems at 56K
speeds?
It depends on the EPROM in the model as sufficient
memory space to hold codes for both modulation (K56 and
v.90). Please check with your model vendor.
I upgraded my modem to v.90 (or I bought
a modem that is v.90 compatible), but it does not
connect at v.90.
When people run into this problem, they usually
assume that either their modem doesn't work, or our
modems don't work. Neither is necessarily true. When
your modem first attempts to connect with us, (this is
when you hear the initial tones), our servers then
determine your baud rate. Under ideal circumstances
(meaning that the modem has a clean connection with us),
your v.90 modem will connect with us between 40K and
53K. If you're getting speeds under 40K then you may
want to consider the integrity of your phone line (Read
FAQ, "What kind of performance can you expect with
v.90?").
If you're more than 4 miles away from your local
provider, you may not be getting the integrity our
servers need to establish anything over 40K. In this
case, contact your local provider and ask them to test
your lines and how they function with a data connection.
Another possible solution is to download the latest
firmware that the manufacturer distributes via the
manufacturer's home page. These simple installs should
increase your speeds.
My v.90 modem will not connect at all
with the ISP
Find the error message you received below. Then
follow the steps given to solve the problem.
Error 629
This generally means that you are not entering a user
name or password understood by our servers.
- All Platforms: retype the user name and password in
the script or the Connect to screen in Windows. This
will reset the script, and most of the time fixes the
629 problem.
- You may be cancelled from the ISP or the password or
user name has changed. Call tech support for more
information.
The computer you dialed is not answering...
- Always retry your connection when you first get this
error. In most cases your modem simply did not connect
right the first time.
- There might be busy signals. To find out, manually
dial the local number to see if you hear a busy signal
or related tone. If not, retry your call.
- There may be a problem with connection integrity. If
our server cannot define your modem, it will disconnect
you. This may be caused by your line integrity, or
common v.90 issues. If so, a temporary solution that we
find useful is to use two commas at the end of the local
number. This will connect you at a lower speed, but at
the same time, gain the integrity needed to stay online.
- In rare cases, we found that it might be handy to
re-install your TCP/IP protocol if you are using
Windows. Browse our tech support pages to see how this
is done.
I am getting disconnected from the
server after a few minutes
The only permanent solution that we've found was to
upgrade your Dial-Up Networking to version 1.2. This has
been proven to prevent disconnects.
