----------------- V.90 UPDATE & FAQ ----------------- As of about 5:30 PM Friday, October 9, all BCPL.NET modems on 410-296-5500 are capable of accepting 56K connections using the new V.90 standard as well as the older K56FLEX standard. If you have a K56FLEX or X2 modem that has not yet been upgraded to V.90, now may be the time to do it. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about upgrading to V.90. Q: Must I upgrade my K56FLEX modem to V.90 now that BCPL.NET has upgraded to V.90? A: That is up to you. Our modems can automatically sense whether your modem is V.90 or K56FLEX, and can negotiate the connection accordingly. If you are happy with the performance you get from K56FLEX connections, then there is no compelling reason to upgrade to V.90. Q: I currently have an X2 modem. Should I upgrade to V.90? A: Probably. The fastest connection you can get to BCPL.NET with an X2-only modem is 33600 bps. If you upgrade your modem will be able to make V.90 connections, increasing your theoretical maximum connection speed to 53000 bps. Q: I don't have a 56K modem. Now that BCPL.NET has upgraded to V.90, will I have to buy a new modem in order to remain compatible with your modems? A: Probably not. Our modems can handle connections from slower modems just as they always have. There is no reason to buy a new modem if you are satisfied with your current connection speeds. However if you are in the market for a new modem anyway then you should get one that is capable of V.90 in order to take advantage of the higher connection speeds made possible by the V.90 protocol. Q: I am disappointed in the connection speeds I'm getting with my K56FLEX modem. Will upgrading my modem to V.90 improve things? A: Maybe yes, maybe no. Connection speed between 56K modems is affected by line quality, your distance from the local Bell Atlantic switching office, how many analog/digital conversions there are between you and BCPL.NET's modems, and other telco issues that neither you nor we can control. Upgrading from K56FLEX to V.90 won't change any of that. Some users do report faster connection speeds with V.90 than with K56FLEX, using the same modem. In my own case my Global Village modem connects to BCPL.NET at a consistent 42000 bps using K56FLEX. Since upgrading both my modem and BCPL.NET's modems to V.90 I have been getting 45333 bps connections almost every time. Your mileage may vary... Q: Will I run into trouble in the future if I don't upgrade my K56FLEX modem to V.90? A: Probably not, but at least make sure you are using the latest K56FLEX firmware version available for your modem. The K56FLEX standard has undergone several revisions in the year or so since it was introduced. BCPL.NET's modems are using the latest version of the K56FLEX standard. Your K56FLEX modem may have problems if it is using an older version. Don't assume that you have the latest version just because you bought the modem very recently. We have seen many cases where modems are running outdated firmware straight off the dealer's shelf. See your modem manual to find out how to determine your current firmware version and how to get and install the latest version. You can also find information on firmware upgrades for most modem brands on the Web at http://www.56k.com. Of course, if you go to the trouble of upgrading your K56FLEX firmware you might as well go all the way and upgrade to V.90 firmware. The procedure is the same in either case. Q: I am about to buy a new 56K modem. Which type should I buy: X2, K56FLEX, or V.90? A: You should definitely buy a V.90 modem. Any reputable brand will do as long as it is already V.90 capable or at least upgradable to V.90. That includes virtually every 56K modem on the market so it gives you a wide range of choices. Don't make the mistake of buying based only on price. As with anything else, you get what you pay for. Do some research before you buy. You'll find links to reviews of most 56K modems on the Web at http://www.56k.com. Q: I have Internet access through several other ISPs in addition to BCPL.NET. How can I make sure my 56K modem will work at 56K with all of them? A: Most ISPs who offer 56K service have upgraded to V.90 or will do so in the near future, so you definitely want a modem that can make V.90 connections. K56FLEX has always been more popular than X2 among ISPs, so a modem that can auto-switch between V.90 and K56FLEX will give you the best chance of compatibility with multiple ISPs. If some of your ISPs are V.90, some K56FLEX-only, and some X2-only, then you will have to decide which you want to be able to make 56K connections to and buy accordingly. 56K modems come in V.90/K56FLEX models and V.90/X2 models. No modem currently on the market can use all three 56K protocols. Where you may run into trouble is if your modem cannot auto-switch between V.90 and K56FLEX or between V.90 and X2. Most V.90 modems currently on the market can do that, but older K56FLEX or X2 modems that have been upgraded to V.90 may not be able to. This severely limits their usefulness if you connect to multiple ISPs, some of whom have not yet upgraded to V.90. Q: How can I tell if my modem is capable of being upgraded to V.90? A: Read the manual that came with your modem, and/or click on the "V.90 Upgrades" link at http:// www.56k.com. If your manual doesn't say and there is no information on your modem at www.56k.com, then you will have to contact the modem manufacturer. If yours is an internal modem that came with your PC, then you may not have a manual and may not be able to tell who the manufacturer is. If so, click on the "Who made my modem?" link at http://www.56k.com, or contact the vendor from whom you bought the computer. Q: If my modem is upgradable, exactly how do I do it? A: That depends on the design of your modem. In the case of most standard modems it is simply a matter of using a "flash" utility provided by the manufacturer to install new firmware code in the modem, and perhaps installing a new modem driver on a PC or a new CCL (connection control language) file on a Macintosh. In the case of an HSP (host signal processor) modem, more popularly called a "WinModem" or "software modem", it will involve installing new modem software on your computer. In either case it isn't difficult to do. Just follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. If you run into trouble, contact the manufacturer's technical support department. 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