Why is my 56K modem running slow and/or disconnecting me?

Sometimes your connection can be slower than expected. The speed at which you connect can be determined by several factors:

1. The speed of the computer from which you are trying to retrieve information

If one specific site you are trying to reach is slow, it may be experiencing excessive traffic, or their servers might be having problems. You could try again at a less busy time.

2. The dialup and modem settings on your computer

Did you follow the Drizzle PPP (dialup) configuration instructions exactly?
If you have a Mac, have you checked to make sure you have the most recent DNS (Domain Name Server) numbers in your TCP/IP control panel?
You may not be using the latest driver for your modem. You'd think that if you buy a modem, it would work until it dies or until you buy a fancy new one, but no! Each modem manufacturer issues updated drivers (the software that runs the modem) on their websites. These drivers are free and easy to download (search for "drivers" and/or "firmware"), and they will almost certainly increase the speed and stability of your connection, and can even make the difference between making a connection and not.
After you've tried flash upgrading your modem, if you still can't connect at rates above 33.6K, or if you're experiencing sudden instability of your connection at those higher rates, you should temporarily disable your modem from connecting above 33.6K. To do this, you will need to enter an INIT string in your modem settings. Each modem manufacturer has its own initialization string for connecting at different speeds. Check the website for your modem manufacturer for these.

3. Your phone lines

Does your telephone connection seem noisy? Many connection speed problems are caused by noisy phone lines both inside and outside your home or business and outside of your control. If you hear static on the line when you attach a regular phone, it is a sure sign that you have a noisy line, but the lack of static is not proof that your phone line is clear enough to establish a high speed connection.
Phone lines that are fine and dandy for voice communication may have technical issues (due to length, load coils, resistive crosses and taps etc.) that require phone company repair or workarounds to successfully transport information via your modem. For example, many users find that their connection speeds drop when the ground and phone lines are wet, or if they are a long distance from the phone company's switching equipment.

An excellent source for information and tips on 56K modems is: http://www.56K.com/

Also, check out our 56K Modem Clinic for more tips.