Modems - Do they go bad?
by Virginia Dahms - Kestrel Technologies, Inc.

Yes they do, and a bad or dying modem can cause you to be dropped from your Internet connection, connect at slow speeds, or gradually not connect at all. Cheap internal modems, no matter what their age can go bad all of sudden, or gradually. If you've had a voltage surge (lightning, for instance) while your phone line is attached to your modem, it could have been toasted and will never perform as it did when it was new.

The modem is the piece of equipment that converts "computer speak" into "telephone speak" and back into computer speak" at the other end, or modulates and demodulates the signals.

If you've purchased a pre-configured PC (personal computer) within the last 3 years, your computer probably has a Win Modem in it.  A pre-configured machine is an "off-the-shelf" model that you buy from discount stores or through discount mail-order or Home Shopping Network or similar sources. It has a certain set of "features" that you can't choose and come "standard" with your machine. It's different than a custom-built machine.

Win modems require a Windows operating system to function properly and are limited in their ability to connect successfully to many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) or negotiate older telephone lines.  You may find yourself getting dropped off of your Internet connection with increasing frequency as your Win modem ages.  Win modems get their "brains" (driver software) from the operating system instead of having a separate "firmware" driver which is installed off of a CD-ROM or a floppy disk, unless you take steps to find the manufacturer's web site and download and update your modem driver.  Few people do this, or even know how to install it once they've done it.

If anything goes wrong with a Win modem, it can be difficult to fix, difficult to diagnose, and very tricky to reconfigure. Since they are internal card modems that connect to your mother board, your machine has to be taken apart to get to them. Win modems can be purchased for about $10 on the discount market. You definitely get what you pay for or maybe not even that.

What do we recommend instead? We strongly urge you to consider investing in a good quality external 56 K dual-mode modem that comes with its own firmware driver on a CD-ROM or floppy disk, an insulated cable, and its own power supply. They cost about $80 -$100 and are worth twice the price in performance.  The two we recommend are the Rockwell® model (left) and the Zoom® model (right).  You can find these via mail order, or they are available in local computer specialty shops or at our shop.

External modems are more robust, they work better on "dirty" phone lines and on rural phone lines, they'll last longer, and will be more resistant to electrical surges.  Since they aren't directly connected to your mother board, there is usually much less damage to your machine, should you encounter an electrical surge.  If an external modem isn't working, you can see from the lights on its case and don't have to climb inside the computer to diagnose the problem. Try one! It might change your life.

We usually stock the black Rockwell external modem (above). For an investment of $85 ($80 plus sales tax in Illinois), you may be able to alleviate many of your Internet connection headaches with a good-quality Rockwell external 56K modem. We're on the east side of the Courthouse Square in Monticello, Illinois. Call us at (217) 762-3232.

Yes they do, and a bad or dying modem can cause you to be dropped from your Internet connection, connect at slow speeds, or gradually not connect at all. Cheap internal modems, no matter what their age can go bad all of sudden, or gradually. If you've had a voltage surge (lightning, for instance) while you're phone line is attached to your modem, it could have been toasted and will never perform as it did when it was new.

The Modem is the piece of equipment that converts "computer speak" into "telephone speak" and back into computer speak" at the other end, or modulates and demodulates the signals.

If you've purchased a pre-configured PC (personal computer) within the last 3 years, your computer probably has a Win Modem in it.  A pre-configured machine is an "off-the-shelf" model that you buy from discount stores or through discount mail-order or Home Shopping Network or similar sources. It has a certain set of "features" that you can't choose and come "standard" with your machine. It's different than a custom-built machine.

Win modems require a Windows operating system to function properly and are limited in their ability to connect successfully to many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) or negotiate older telephone lines.  You may find yourself getting dropped off of your Internet connection with increasing frequency as your Win modem ages.  Win modems get their "brains" (driver software) from the operating system instead of having a separate "firmware" driver which is installed off of a CD-ROM or a floppy disk, unless you take steps to find the manufacturer's web site and download and update your modem driver.  Few people do this, or even know how to install it once they've done it.

If anything goes wrong with a Win modem, it can be difficult to fix, difficult to diagnose, and very tricky to reconfigure. Since they are internal card modems that connect to your mother board, your machine has to be taken apart to get to them. Win modems can be purchased for about $10 on the discount market. You definitley get what you pay for or maybe not even that. There are US Robotics Win modems that are incompatible with WinXP and will disconnect you in 30 minutes no matter what.

What do I recommend instead? I strongly urge you to consider investing in a good quality external modem that comes with its own firmware driver on a CD-ROM or floppy disk. They cost about $80 -$100 and are worth twice the price in performance.  The two I recommend are the Rockwell® model and the Zoom® model.  You can find these via mail order, or they are available in local computer specialty shops.

External modems are more robust, they work better on "dirty" phone lines and on rural phone lines, they'll last longer, and will be more resistant to electrical surges.  Since they aren't directly connected to your mother board, there is usually much less damage to your machine, should you encounter an electrical surge.  If an external modem isn't working, you can see from the lights on its case and don't have to climb inside the computer to diagnose the problem. Try one! It might change your life.

Kestrel Technologies, Inc. usually stocks external modems. For an investment of $85 ($80 plus sales tax), you may be able to alleviate many of your Internet connection headaches with a good-quality Rockwell external 56K modem. You may find these units for less over the Internet, too. We're on the east side of the Courthouse Square in Monticello, Illinois. Call us at (217) 762-3232.

Kestel Technologies, Inc. • (217) 762-3232 • help@bement.net