New Modems Arrive at USF Campuses
Glenn Cabler
A joint venture between three USF departments, Academic Computing,
Information Technologies and Health Sciences, is in the process of upgrading
the USF general use modem pools to the emerging 56K protocol.
Three modem pools on the Tampa campus will be combined into one large pool and
approximately 56 modems will be added bringing the total to 368. The
Faculty/Staff modem pool on the Tampa campus will increase by 22 for a total
of 46 modems. The St. Petersburg campus will see an increase of 44 new modems
for a total of 92. And the Lakeland campus will add 7 modems for a total of
23. The Sarasota modem pool will be upgraded at a later date as there is a
problem interfacing the new modems with current GTE equipment in that area.
The 56K protocol promises to nearly double the speed at which users can access
the USF Network and the Internet from the comfort of their homes. This
technology not only increases the speed of information delivery to Internet
users, but also opens new opportunities for the developing technologies in
distance learning at USF. With speeds approaching 56Kbps,video presentations
over dial-up connections begin to develop into areality for those at home.
At this time a 56K protocol standard has not been adopted by the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This new standard is projected
to be in place around the end of 1998. There are currently two predominate
56K protocols being released into the marketplace, K56flex andX2. The K56flex
and X2 protocols are incompatible.
The new USF modem pools, which are now available for use except on the
Sarasota campus, are currently running at a maximum speed of 33.6Kbps and will
be upgraded to the K56flex protocol in February. When the K56flex protocol is
installed, those with modems at home running the X2 protocol will only be able
to connect at a maximum speed of 33.6Kbps. When the 56K protocol standard is
ratified by the ITU, the new USF modem pools will be upgraded to meet that
standard. At that time, most X2 modem manufacturers will provide upgrades for
those with modems at home running the X2 protocol so they will be compatible
with the new 56K protocol standard when it is installed on the USF modem pools.
As has always been the case with data modem connections, actual connection
speeds will vary from home to home depending the quality of your residential
telephone line. Some residential telephone lines produce background noise
(static, voice overlays, etc.) that interfere with the sending of computer
data packets and reduce the actual connection speeds.The local telephone
company may be able to correct some line noise problems, but they do not
guarantee high speed data connections on residential phone lines. Initial
testing of the K56flex protocol modems at USF showed average connections
speeds at around 48Kbps. Testing in one residence with two telephone lines
resulted in connections speeds of 46Kbps on one line and 38Kbps on the other
line.
In order to upgrade to the new modems, which use a different type of telephone
line on the modem pool end, it was necessary to change the telephone numbers of
any USF modem pools that are upgraded to 56K. Residential phone lines do not
have to be changed for use with 56K modems.
Those working from home may take advantage of the new modems by dialing one of
the following numbers: 978-3407 (Tampa), 978-3082 (Faculty/Staff, Tampa),
669-0111 (Lakeland), and 550-0260 (St. Petersburg).
On January 14, 1998, the following modem pool telephone numbers will
be discontinued: 903-4000 (Tampa), 615-4360 (Health Sciences, Tampa),
903-4020 (Faculty/Staff, Tampa), 284-4360 (Lakeland), and
892-4360 (St. Petersburg).
More information about the modem upgrades can be found on Academic Computing's
Dial-up Web page located under the "Dialup Resources" link at:
http://www.net.usf.edu
Debra Sellers (CHE)
Glenn Cabler (gl...@usf.edu) wrote:
: Those working from home may take advantage of the new modems by dialing one of
: the following numbers: 978-3407 (Tampa), 978-3082 (Faculty/Staff, Tampa),
: 669-0111 (Lakeland), and 550-0260 (St. Petersburg).
I tried to dial in PPP with the trumpet winsock that came with USF ppp
software on the 978-3407 number and I didn't get an IP address. Is PPP
available now on these new numbers? PPP works just fine on the 903-4000
number for me.
Just curious.
Debbie
*******************************************************************************
Debbie Sellers Public Health Graduate Student
sel...@chuma.cas.usf.edu University of South Florida
Dogbert: I've decided that I will no longer argue with idiots. Instead, I
will simply dismiss them with a wave of my paw and a "Bah."
Dilbert: Just because someone disagrees with you doesn't mean they're an
idiot.
Dogbert: <waving paw> Bah.
*******************************************************************************
Glenn Cabler
PPP is available on the new modem pools.
If you are using the PAP feature in Trumpet Winsock, disable it and try the
manual login proceedure. Be sure to reset your modem to factory settings
(at&f or whaterever the appropriate command is to reset your modem) before
entering the atdt command.
Also, what brand/model/speed modem are your using?
Glenn Cabler
Academic Computing
In article <692i0s$6ak$1...@news.usf.edu> sel...@chuma.cas.usf.edu (Debra