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Speed up your Internet dial-up connection with a
second phone line and a second modem
When it comes to
surfing the Web, speed is everything. With more and more Web sites moving
beyond the static HTML pages of the early years of the Web and offering
streaming multimedia, it's becoming essential that you have a high bandwidth
connection. As such, many folks are moving away from their 56K modems and
enlisting the aid of more powerful connection technologies, such as DSL (Digital
Subscriber Lines) or cable modems which offer a dramatic increase in connection
speeds when compared to a 56K modem.
Unfortunately, neither
DSL nor cable modems are available in all areas of the country. So what can you
do to increase your bandwidth if you live in an area not yet serviced by these
new technologies? Well, you can investigate MultiLink, a technology borrowed
from ISDN and ported over to Windows 98. It allows you to use two 56K modems as
one and effectively double your connection speed. Of course, using MultiLink is
a bit more involved than just connecting two modems to your system, but it's not
too difficult.
Note:
DSL and cable modems allow users to send and receive data in terms of megabits,
or millions of bits, per second (Mbps). However, keep in mind that DSL and cable
modem connection systems vary widely and have different speeds for downstream
and upstream connections. As such, it's difficult to give exact connection
speeds. Suffice it to say that they offer a dramatic increase in connection
speeds when compared to a 56K modem, which transmits information at kilobits,
per second (Kbps).
The first thing that
you need in order to be able to take advantage of MultiLink is an ISP that
supports the MultiLink PPP technology. Without this support, you're dead in the
water. LanZing Internet does offer this service as an option.
The second thing you
need to use MultiLink is the software. If you're running Windows 98 or ME,
you're all set as far as software goes because MultiLink comes with the
operating system. However, if you're running Windows 95, you need to download
and install the Dial Up Networking 1.3 Performance & Security Update located at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/downloads/contents/wurecommended/s_wunetworking/dun13win95
which includes the MultiLink software.
The next thing you need
to have is two modems. While you can use two different speed modems, using two
of the same speed will yield more satisfactory results. You can use any
combination of internal and external modems.
Finally, you need to
have two separate phone lines. You'll need one phone line for each modem.
Learning about Multilink
If you have all the
required equipment, you're set to go. However, before we get started, let's take
a few moments to learn more about MultiLink.
As I mentioned,
MultiLink allows you to use two separate modems as if they were a single modem.
The MultiLink software configures your modems to collaborate in such a way that
your connection speed is doubled. For example, if you have two 56K modems you'll
essentially get a connection speed of 112K.
In order to attain this
type of speed, MultiLink intercepts data packets heading for the Internet,
splits them in two, and sends each half of the packet to a separate modem. Each
modem then sends a half packet to the ISP. When the half packets reach the ISP,
the server software reassembles the original data packet and sends it out to the
Internet. On the return trip, a data packet heading from the Internet to your
computer is intercepted by your ISP's server, which then splits it in two, and
then sends each half-packet back to one of your modems.
The end result of all
this behind-the-scenes magic is that your connection can handle Internet data in
half the time. This then equates to doubling your modem speed.
Note:
As you may know, current FCC regulations limit a 56K modem's connection speed to
53 Kbps. Furthermore, a speed of 53 Kbps is only possible if there is just one
analog switch between your modem and the phone company. If your connection goes
through more than one analog switch, which is very likely, your modem's data
transfer rate drops. As such, most people using a 56K modem typically get a
connection somewhere between 45 Kbps and 50 Kbps. This means that combining two
56K modems with MultiLink will yield a connection speed of somewhere between 90
Kbps and 100 Kbps.
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