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(except public holidays)
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Toll Free: 1800 629 835
Fax: 9639 2175

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Windows 2000: Tweaking the connection

Modem initialisation strings and more...

  1. Click the Start button
  2. Click Settings
  3. Click Control Panel
  4. Double click the Phone and Modem Options shortcut
  5. Click the Modems tab
  6. If you have more than one modem installed, select the modem that you wish to adjust
  7. Click the Properties button
  8. Click the Advanced tab
  9. Here you can type in commands (strings) to instruct your modem to behave differently

    Initialisation (modem) strings

    Modem command (strings) combinations are infinite. It is important to find the correct command(s) for your modem. At Vicnet Help we will first try a variety of common generic commands (strings), however for optimal modem performance, it is best to research modem command (strings) database sites such as www.modemhelp.org for a command (string) specific to your modem.

  10. Type a modem string into the Extra initialization commands box
  11. Click the OK button
  12. Click the OK button
  13. The next time you dial your Vicnet Dial-Up Networking connection setting, your modem will attempt to you use your chosen command (string).

    Another good tweak to use is to set the baud rate ("bps" or "speed") of your modem to a realistic setting.

  14. Click the Start button
  15. Click Settings
  16. Click Control Panel
  17. Double click the Network and Dial-Up Connections shortcut
  18. Click your Vicnet Dial-Up Networking connection setting
  19. Click the File menu
  20. Click Properties
  21. Click Configure...
  22. Within the Maximum speed (bps) box, select 57600
  23. Why do we recommend 56k (57600)?

    • The modems you connect to at Vicnet support 56k (57600) or more specifically the v.90 standard. Whilst it is possible to connect with your Dial-up Networking connection set to 115200, you will not get that speed from a Vicnet connection.
    • The Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) in Australia does not actually support 56k (57600). Technically speeds of 19.2k are the fastest data speeds Telstra will guarantee.
    • Your modem is unlikely to support higher baud rates. Often poor equipment such as most internal modems or poor environments, such as long phone extension cords or fax machines plugged into the same socket as your modem, mean that only a 33.6k (38400) speed is realistic - even with a 56k modem.
  24. Click the OK button
  25. Click the OK button

Your Vicnet Dial-Up Networking connection setting will no longer attempt to connect at speeds higher than 56k (57600 baud).