56K, as a new technology still has many quirks and "gotchas". A modem may connect to one ISP's equipment just fine and not another's depending on the modem and brand of equipment the ISP is using. A useful resource for these problems is Modem Central (www.56k.com) which has a 56K Buyer's Rules list that may help in choosing a modem and ISP. BridgerNET supports K56flex and the newer V.90 standard but not the X2 standard which only works with U.S. Robotics equipment on both ends (most newer U.S. Robotics equipment supports V.90 in addition to X2 and these modems will work with our systems). 56K connections require exceptionally clean phone lines and the slightest line noise can cause random disconnects, slow data transfers and other connectivity problems. In general, you must live within 3 miles of the USWest Central Office (CO) to get anything above 33,600bps connections at all. The most troublesome modems are the so-called "Winmodems" that use your computer's processing power to emulate the hardware functions of a normal controller-based modem. Regardless of your modem brand, it is very important that you have the latest software and firmware for your modem (refer to your modem documentation and or manufacturer's website for more information). Because V.90 is an evolving standard, having older software and/or firmware can prevent connections or cause connectivity problems with our 56K modem pool (which is running the latest software/firmware). If you have been experiencing problems with the 56K modem pool (787-1106), contact Tech Support for your computer or modem (e.g. Gateway if you got your computer from Gateway) and have them help you with software/firmware upgrades. If you are sure you are using the latest software/firmware, call BridgerNET at 753-2030 to open a trouble ticket.

A checklist for troubleshooting disconnect problems:

• Disable call waiting
• Upgrade firmware, init strings, and drivers
• Try unplugging any devices from the back of the modem
• Try unplugging other telephone equipment in the house
• Try lowering the port speed
• Lower the connect speed with K56flex or K56flex/V.90 modems
• Lower the connect speed with X2 modems by putting one of the following commands in the modem's extra settings: &N24 or &N21 or &N18

1. Double-click the "My Computer" icon on the desktop
2. Double-click "Dial-up Networking"
3. Click ONCE on the BridgerNET icon and from the File menu select "Properties"
4. Click the "Configure" button near the bottom of the window that opened
5. Click on the "Connection" tab
6. Click on the "Advanced" button near the bottom
7. Put the command string in the "Extra settings" box.

If you are computer savvy, you can look up the command to show line quality (in your modem documentation, often AT&V1 for Rockwell chipset modems) and use HyperTerminal to connect to our 56K pool and issue the command to get a line quality report. Please, do not attempt this if you aren't sure what to do.

IBS/BridgerNET
2519 N. 330 E.
North Logan, UT 84341-1574