Dial-up modem connection speed

I haven't used dialup in years (since v90 first came out) but I remember that my connection could vary considerably based on what modem I used and with what ISP.  One of my modems simply could not do better than the low 20s with one ISP and worked fine for everything else.  Another modem worked fine with all of them.

In other words, if possible, try hitting another provider to make sure it's a problem on your end.  Failing that, I'm sure there are pc-card modems out there.

modems works with noise, some others works better with some isp than others, that's why 3com modems are so much expensive, they are suposed to work better with every isp

I had the same problem, being about 8 miles from the local C.O (SBC) where you get your dial tone.  The old cable facilities just won't handle anything faster.  I got DSL and SBC switched me to a fiber facility.  That allowed me to get DSL for my internet use and at the same time doubled my throughput  for my dialup  modem which I use for other uses. I still can only get about 48K but it's better than 20-25K.  Good luck

Thanks for the comments. I guess I'm a little turned off by the fact that my new, more expensive and more powerful laptop doesn't perform as well as my old compaq, especially when the difference is so vivid. I am sure that the phone line is the major problem since I am at the end of a line and for that reason the line will never be upgraded. I am not a big fan of SBC and I think their service stinks. During the winter it took 3 weeks and 3 calls to get a problem solved. I had an old antique connection cover (it wasn't even an access box) where the line entered the house. Rain and snow would freeze in there and out would go the phone. I kept asking SBC to come talk to me about the problem but all I ever got was a call telling me the serviceman had fixed the problem. I finally got it fixed when his cell phone wasn't working and he drove into the yard to tell the problem was fixed and I could show him the real problem. Last week I asked for a serviceman to check a line inside my house. They wouldn't give me a time he would arrive so I sat home all day. At about 4:00 PM I called again and was told he had been there at 10:00 AM and I wasn't home. He went to the wrong address. My house is clearly marked with the address.
When I lived in town about 5 years ago I signed up for SBC DSL. 6 months later they were still telling me that I'd be connected any day now. I wonder where the pride in American products and services went?

do you have a cell phone? is the service good?  you can often get similar to dialup speeds using it as a modem to call your ISP -- depending on your service it's not such a bad deal if you're only using unlimited night time minutes.  it might be worth investigating

I think we are probably two of the last dozen people in the US that do not have cell phones. I seldom ever see a need for one other than it is a great way to bother other people. My wife and I usually travel around together so it is kind of like the man who had a small coal mine on his property. OSHA inspected his mine and cited him for not having two-way communication from the shaft to the entrance. He said I live alone and I work my mine by myself. Who am I going to call at the entrance?