FAQ

	Why is win 95/98 so slow to log in?
	Why can't Win95 "negotiate a compatible set of network protocols"?
	Why can't I connect at V.90 speeds?
	Are there any resources on the Internet for modem help?
	Get to know telephone lines better, then maybe your problems may be fixable!

Why is win 95/98 so slow to log in?

Some Win95 users seem to have very slow logon times, as long as two or three minutes. The symptom is that Windows 95 will dial the number, successfully verify username and password, and then seem to hang for a very long time at the 'Logging on to Network' phase before completing the connection. The cause is Win95 is attempting to negotiate a connection with several network clients and protocols that are enabled by default for Dial-Up Networking. However, for use with Internet Service Providers, no network clients and protocols are required except the standard Internet TCP/IP protocol. The presence of unneeded network clients is normally harmless and the only effect is to slow down the login process as Win95 has to negotiate each of the network clients and protocols.

Since Internet Service Providers only support the TCP/IP protocol, we suggest disabling Win95's attempt to negotiate these network clients and protocols. To do so, open the "Dial-Up Networking" window in the "My Computer" folder, RIGHT click on the connection icon then select "Properties". In the properties configuration window that appears click the "Server Type" button and make certain that the "Log on to network", "NetBEUI" and "IPX/SPX Compatible" boxes are NOT checked. Click OK to save any changes required and close the properties configuration window. Your login should now take only a few seconds.

Your connection may have only recently began exhibiting the 'Win95 slow logon' problem. We are not sure what affects the normal negotiation timeout process. There are several different references in the Microsoft technical support knowledge base. Our guess is that variable timing delays (called 'race' conditions) introduced by a particular computer configuration, modem type, connection data rate, telephone line quality and load on our communications servers can all play a part. Finally, you may have installed software or otherwise inadvertently changed your Win95 configuration to cause additional unneeded network clients or protocols to be loaded.

Why can't Win95 "negotiate a compatible set of network protocols"?

We have observed that a small number of Win95 users seem to have occasional problems connecting. The symptom is that Windows 95 will dial the number, successfully login and then immediately fail during the PPP negotiation phase with a message similar to: "Dial up networking could not negotiate a compatible set of network protocols you specified in the server type setting". Often rebooting the computer can clear the problem. Sometimes doing nothing but waiting a few minutes and then redialing will cause the problem to disappear. For some users, they must remove and then add back the "TCP/IP" networking protocol to clear the problem.

The primary cause for difficulty seems to be related to the NetBEUI, IPX/SPX, and TCP/IP protocols that are used by default for a Dial-Up Networking "connectoid". ("Connectoid" is Microsoft's name for the Dialup Networking configuration that you created to connect.)

However, for use with Internet Service Providers, nothing should be bound to the Dial-Up Networking Adapter but the standard Internet TCP/IP protocol. Something will occasionally cause Win95 to bind other protocols to the adapter as well. This is normally harmless and the only effect is to slow down the login process as Win95 has to timeout on the unsupported protocols. Apparently, occasionally this process fails and the error message "Dial up networking could not negotiate a compatible set of network protocols you specified in the server type setting" error appears.

We are not sure what causes the normal timeout process to fail. Our guess is that variable timing delays (called 'race' conditions) introduced by a particular computer configuration, modem type, connection data rate, telephone line quality and load on our communications servers can all play a part.

Since Internet Service Providers only support the TCP/IP protocol, we suggest removing the NetBEUI and IPX/SPX protocols so that Dial-Up Networking cannot un-intentionally bind to them.

To change your Win95 settings to be compatible with Internet Service providers, make certain the NetBEUI and IPX/SPX protocols from the Control Panel folder - Network section have been removed. We also suggest the additional step of removing the Microsoft TCP/IP protocol, even though it will be added again later.

Once the protocols have been removed, restart Win95 and follow our instructions for configuring Win95 to connect. When configuration is complete open the "Dial-Up Networking" window, right click on the connection icon then select "Properties". In the properties configuration window that appears, click the "Server Type" button and make certain that the "Log on to network", "NetBEUI" and "IPX/SPX Compatible" boxes are NOT checked.

If the "Dial up networking could not negotiate a compatible set of network protocols you specified in the server type setting" error continues to appear, examine your modem type setting in the modems icon of the control panel. The error may occur if Windows 95 was unable to correctly identify your modem brand and model or it was otherwise set incorrectly.

We suggest contacting the manufacturer of the modem for advice on how best to configure Win95 and the modem to interoperate. If unable to contact the manufacturer or you don't know who the manufacturer of the modem is, we have had good luck with just setting the modem type to be one of the appropriate "(Standard Modem Types)" choices in the modems icon of the control panel.

Why can't I connect at V.90 speeds?

Even though all our locations support V.90, this does not guarantee that you will get V.90 speeds. Connection speeds are dependent on many things including:

1) Phone line quality. check your phone line to see if it qualifies for V.90 speeds at: http://www.usr.com/products/line-test.asp.

2) Modem compatibility. The better the modem, the better the chance that your equipment and the ISP's will connect reliably and without failures. "Software modems" are known for their problems and are the least expensive modems on the market. Although this is not an endorsement, we have had good luck with U.S. Robotics or 3COM modems.

3) Modem Firmware. Do you have an X2 modem made by US-Robotics? Try upgrading it to V.90. This should fix the problem.

4) Operating system. Yes, this does matter. If you have Windows 95, you should upgrade your DUN to 1.3 off the Microsoft website.

These are just a few things that determine your connection speed. Others include: distance of the POP that you are dialing into, computer hardware (old 386's), modem drivers (update them), etc.

Are there any resources on the Internet for modem help?

Yes, there are many. Try using www.google.com as a source to find them. We have found one site that answers many questions people have at http://www.modemhelp.com

Get to know telephone lines better - your problems may be fixable!

This document is a combination of data from engineers at Supra, a telephone call with an engineer who works for AT&T, electronic mail from other people involved with the modem industry, and the knowledge and education relating to data communication and transmission lines of our iQuickNet.com engineers.

BRIDGE-TAPS & HALF-TAPS

These are "extra" wires connected to the wire pair coming to your home from the local telephone exchange. Often these are the result of normal service and repair procedures that occur over the years. These don't normally create a problem for VOICE use (although they have been traced to things like radio stations or buzz-type noises being heard in the background during calls in some cases). Devices using complex signaling tones and patterns (such as modems), however, can be greatly affected by these "extra" signals on the phone line. Extra wires act like antennas and pick up noises from a wide range of sources.

LOADS (Step-Up Transformers)

These are commonly used to increase the volume of voices on phone lines that run over long distances. They cause distortion of the rated 300hz to 3000hz band pass, and can cause the frequencies to be shifted up or down from their original values. The volume of these frequencies is not increased proportionately. In some cases, the line can become poor enough that TOUCH-TONE dialing may not be supported, and only PULSE dialing is possible. LOADS are most commonly used in older, rural settings, but still exist in urban installations. LOADS also serve a means of introducing high levels of noise onto the line, both by increasing the level of noise on the line along with the voice level and by picking up environmental noise from the area directly around the transformer itself (other transformers, power supplies, high voltage power lines, etc.).

LINE LOSS

This is the composite of all of the types of loss on your phone line which include the following:

	Pure Loss This is natural loss in the phone line caused by the resistance of the wire and connections between the exchange and your home.
	Return Loss This is a measurement of the signal loss on the line. This is affected by the line itself (see above) and the devices you have connected to it. It is basically a measurement of the impedance match between the exchange and the line and the devices you have connected (problems in any part will affect the over-all measurement).
	Frequency Distortion and Attenuation. This is basically the loss of volume and shift in frequency on the line. Problems often arise in high-speed data transfers because only part (or in very poor conditions, none) of the original signal gets transferred faithfully to the receiving end. In some cases, many frequencies have been "reflected" back on to each other, further damaging the signal.

SOURCES OF SIGNAL DAMAGE

	Quantization noise Digital links have quantization noise which is inherent in analog/digital converters (ADC/DAC).
	Thermal Noise This is naturally occurring noise sourced from normal electrical decay and energy transformation. Local loops (cable runs between your house/office and the exchange), if properly engineered, have a thermal noise of 22 dBrn. But it is not uncommon to find it at higher levels. (22 dBrn in "reference noise" is equal to -68 dBm.)
	Digital Compression Compressing the signal to get a higher number of voice signals on one carrier. (This is fine for voice, as the human ear does not notice the small gaps in the signal this creates, but modems can't deal well with gaps in the data received.)
	Power line hum Low frequency noise (roughly 50Hz) conducted into the phone line as it passes power lines. (Also it is possible for power hum to be passed into the phone line from power sources in the phone system itself.)
	Phase Jitter The shifting or bouncing of the carrier signal in relation to time.
	Crosstalk Noise or sounds from other lines in the phone system. (In very bad conditions this can be loud enough you can hear other lines ringing and even hear other voice or data signals.)
	RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) High frequency electrical signals conducted into the phone lines. (In very bad cases radio stations or other radio transmissions can be heard.) If you can figure out the source of the signal (like the name of the radio station), then you should contact them in regard to curing this problem. In the US, FCC regulations require the person in charge on the transmission to fix this problem at his expense. (In the case of a radio station, contact the station engineer. He can normally construct a filter to remove the signal from your phone line.).

Common Tests to ask the phone company to run:

	Frequency Test (also called Frequency "Slope" or Frequency "Twist" test) This test shows both total loss in signal, and the amount of difference in signal loss at different frequencies. A 1mW 1Khz signal is measured for total loss (in dBm) and then compared to readings taken from signals at 400hz and 2800Hz. For a VOICE line, the high and low frequency values should be within a +3dBm to -5dBm range of the value of the center frequency (a DATA grade line should be closer to the reading of the center value). In conditions where this problem is quite bad, you will hear the voices as being "tinny" and it may be more difficult to recognize voices over those lines.
	Loss and/or Return Loss Test This will test the loss of a signal transmitted from one end of the line to the other. (In the case of a Return Loss Test, it tests the loss of a signal transmitted into the line and reflected back from the other end. -45dBm is a reasonable level, -60dBm is not acceptable.
	MOLDS test Modem Online Diagnostic System. This is a test which Telstra can perform for you. You ring Telstra (Residential 132203) and book an appointment - Telstra will then call you back with a phone number for your modem to dial. After sending test data through to your computer for approximately two minutes at speeds of up to 33.6kbps, their computer will tell you the maximum speeds your modem reached, the amount of times it had to re-request information, signal attenuation etc.

Common Problems, Tests, and Repairs for end users to address:

Try the modem/fax with ALL other devices removed from the line.
This tests for two common problems:

Noise
From devices like cordless, cellular and "neon-display" phones most commonly, but also can be sourced by any telephone line device such as answering and fax machines.
Signal Loss
From devices that "pull" power off the phone line. Phones and devices that take power from the line when not actively in use for dialing memory, status lights, and lighted displays (although most lighted display only take power when the handset is picked up) will lower the power and signal levels on the line negatively affecting the signal to noise ratio.

Check the condition of the phone wiring in your home

	"High Twist" or "Data Grade" ("twisted pair") phone cable, rather than standard "low twist" or non-twisted phone cable, wire is better for high-speed data transfer.
	"Silver Satin" cable (that flat cable that runs between the phone device and the phone jack) should be kept short (under 8 feet). It is better to put in a new phone jack (preferably wired with "High Twist" cable), than to connect the modem via a long "silver satin" type extension cable.
	Insulation should be in good condition.
	Wiring runs should be kept out of direct sunlight and weathering
	Remove wiring runs no longer in use (this does not mean to rip out any phone outlet you aren't using, but it is a good idea to remove wiring that has already been disabled or covered up by remodeling -many older homes and rentals have phone lines that go nowhere!)

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