2-7-95                   Line Noise

     If the characters that appear on the screen after you connect are  ALL
illegible,  then the following does NOT apply. If Some parts of  words  are
readable,  then the following probably is the problem, especially if it  is
worse at higher speeds. It may stop altogether at lower speeds.

     Commonly  called line noise, problems with downloading or the spurious 
characters or  garbage  that appear  on  the  screen are usually from the 
central office  of  the  phone company. It can make a big difference 
whether you call Out or someone calls In.  Also  there is a difference 
between calling  different  areas  (area codes  or exchanges) as different 
equipment will be involved.  Calling  the phone  company will rarely do any 
good, because the problem is not on  your line. It is also much more likely 
to happen on local connections than  long distance. Older cities are more 
likely to have problems.

     However,  because  the problem is not rare, (in fact  common  in  some
places),  operators of BBS and other modem users have come up with a  cheap
simple  solution  which works most of the time. If you have  been  using  a
1200/2400bps  modem OK, and the new modem is V32bis (9600 or faster),  then
try  at 2400bps to see if the problem disappears. If it does,  it's  almost
surely line noise (more apparent the faster the modem).

     You  can  make (or have made) a 'noise filter'. The  modem  doing  the
rec'ving  must be the one with the filter. Parts are less than  $2.50.  You
plug  into the modem with a "T" adapter  (about $2.50 at Radio Shack)  will
let  you put the 'filter' on and still use the phone in that jack. (I  have
never  seen  a  'noise filter' for sale. The only device I  ever  saw  that
claimed to stop noise, cost more than $45 and did nothing at all).


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                                   Don Hinds - Zoom Tech
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