Online South Pacific Modem Access::Fastest and Most Reliable ISP in Papua New Guinea

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56kbps Modem Access and V.90

The Online South Pacific network supports 56K modems at all of its dial-up access points. Many users are interested in upgrading to this latest technology, so we have compiled this FAQ to address commonly asked questions.

1. What is a 56K modem?
2. What speed do 56K modems actually go?
3. What if I live in the country?
4. What is V.90?
5. What if I already have a K56Flex or x2 56Kbps modem?
6. What do I need to get a 56K connection?
7. Does Online South Pacific support the other 56K modem standards?
8. Will it cost me more per-hour to use 56K?
9. Can I upload files to the Net at 56K?
10. Which type of 56K modem should I buy?
11. Should I buy a 56K modem now, or wait?
12. Getting further help.

1. What is a 56K modem?
56K modems are the latest modem technology. It wasn't all that long ago that modems operating at 14.4kbps and 28.8kbps speeds were considered the top of the range. 56K modem technology takes advantage of digital telephone technology to squeeze extra bandwidth from existing copper telephone wires.

2. What speed do 56K modems actually go?
The speed rating of 56K modems, as with all high-speed modems, is a little misleading. 56K is the fastest that the modem can receive data under 'optimum conditions'. However, few users ever experience 'optimum conditions' in real-life, and as such they may only achieve top speeds in the 40K-48K range. But even that is an improvement on the next fastest modems, the 33.6kbpsmodems. Moreover, 56K modems can only achieve such high speeds during downloads. Uploading is limited to the slower speeds obtained by 36.6kbps modems.

Most users experience speeds in the 40K - 48K range, depending on the quality of their telephone line* and how far they are from the nearest telephone exchange.

* Modems sold as 56K (V.90, K56Flex and X2) are capable of line speeds up to 52kbit/s, but the telephone network is designed for voice calls and has a guaranteed data speed of 2.4kbit/s. In practice, most customers achieve modem speeds significantly higher than 2.4kbit/s, but rarely 52kbit/s.

3. What if I live in the country?
The majority of Online South Pacific telephone exchanges now support digital telephony, and line quality should be sufficient to allow connection in the mid-40K range.

What about those two 'types' of 56K modems, called X2 and K56Flex?
When 56K modem technology was first released, there were two competing standards: X2 and K56Flex. This polarised the modem industry in much the same way as the VCR standards war between VHS and Beta polarised the video industry.

Thankfully, there is now an agreed standard, V.90, which is supported by all Online South Pacific dial-up access points.

If you purchased an earlier modem that uses the X2 or K56Flex standard, contact the manufacturer to enquire whether it can be upgraded to the v.90 standard. In many cases, this can be achieved with a simple software upgrade.

4. What is V.90?
V.90 is the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standard for modem connections up to 56Kbps. All 56K modems now support this standard, so there is no longer any requirement to choose between competing standards.

Online South Pacific supports V.90 modems at all of its dial-up access points

5. What if I already have a K56Flex or x2 56Kbps modem?
The original 56K modems are still compatible with Online South Pacific's dial-up access point hardware. However, it is recommended that users take steps to upgrade their modem to the approved V.90 modem standard, otherwise you may not reap the full benefits of a high speed modem.

In some cases, upgrading requires a physical hardware upgrade, which most modem manufacturers perform at little or no charge. In the majority of cases, the upgrade merely requires a 'firmware' upgrade (i.e. an upgrade of the modem's internal software). These firmware upgrades can generally be downloaded from the manufacturer's Web site.

Consult the modem manufacturer's Web site for more details.

6. What do I need to get a 56K connection?
56K modems do not require any special equipment. They operate in the same way as standard modems.

7. Does Online South Pacific support the other 56K modem standards?
The Online South Pacific dial-up access originally supported K56Flex modems. They still support this standard.

However, if you have yet to buy a 56K modem, Online South Pacific strongly recommends that you invest in a v.90 compatible modem.

8. Will it cost me more per-hour to use 56K?
No. Online South Pacific does not differentiate between users in terms of their modem access speed.

9. Can I upload files to the Net at 56K?
No. 56K modems are only able to achieve fast downloads. Uploads are still limited to 36Kbps.

10. Which type of 56K modem should I buy?
Online South Pacific is 'modem neutral'. We do not recommend any specific brand of modem. Users should make their buying decisions based on which modem best suits their needs and budget.

11. Should I buy a 56K modem now, or wait?
This depends on how you use the Internet. If the majority of your time is spent downloading email or using online chats, then upgrading from a 28.8K or 33.6K modem is not going to make an appreciable difference. But if you spend a fair bit of time browsing the Web, or accessing bandwidth-intensive services, such as online multimedia, then a 56K modem is justified.

Remember, the faster you can download information, the quicker you can achieve your online goals, which will make for less time spent online.

12. Getting further help.
If you would like further information about 56K modems, details of modem reviews, links to the latest modem drivers and upgrades, visit the 56K.COM Web site.

Should you have any other questions, please call our Customer Support on 3200633.

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