v.90 Tech Center
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 NSWE
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 NSWE
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 NSWE 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.
Related Information
Here you can find links that Tech Support has researched in the past.
v.90.Com - Exclusive
information on v.90 from how it works, to upgrading to v.90.
56K.COM - Exclusive follow-ups
on 56K.
Download the needed Dial-up Networking v1.2
Additional Help from User Response Input
The following is valuable information received by our Tech Support from our
retail customers, and vendors we have worked with via e-mail and phone calls. We
welcome your input as well so we can all benefit from each other's knowledge
from this new technology!
Users with the Diamond Supra Max 55i v.90 Voice PCI modem or related ISA
Supras now have a fix for the above model. The driver shipped with this
relatively new modem about three months ago (when it first appeared on the
market) is the driver used with their previous version for Windows 95. On
Windows 98 it has issues verifying the password and that results in connect
problems. The updated driver will be packaged soon with new Diamond Supra Maxs
but can be downloaded from their web site at www.diamondmm.com.
Download the driver HCF_122.exe.
We found a fix for the Telepath modem connection problems using v.90. Check
it out.
They now have an upgrade available that works with the PM3s. Our users have been
getting 49K and up connects.
Upgraded to System 8.5 and v.90 (Zoom is a K56 flex). Problem of getting
disconnected or getting connected. Zoom Tech support was very nice. They sent
some suggestions including a procedure to test the line for noise. Did the
exercise and thought it was a good tool to have around when troubleshooting
connections. They also have two modem scripts at their web site www.zoomtel.com.
Selected the new script and I'm getting better performance and reliably getting
connected.
Most of the problems that we have seen are related to different versions of
v.90 between the client and the server. The v.90 versions are for the most up to
date for each modem:
Flex: 2.085
X2: 114.704.2
v.90: 2.061
If people using x2 modems can not log in using v.90, they can disable it with
the init string:
AT&F1S32=82
