What 56k modem standards does OmniTel Communications support?

The OmniTel Communications dialup network, where capable, supports the ITU V.90 standard. In some locations, OmniTel Communications also offers V.92 access in addition to V.90. Please contact OmniTel Communications Tech Support to inquire if V.92 is available to you. Since OmniTel Communications uses 3Com/Commworks equipment we also continue to support the U.S. Robotics/3Com X2 56k standard. OmniTel Communications does NOT support the 56k KFlex standard. If your KFlex modem is upgrade-able to V.90, then it should work on our system were possible after obtaining a successful update. Otherwise, KFlex users should only expect typical 33.6k type performance. Some V.90 modems may be able to be upgraded to V.92 as well. Please check with the manufacturer of your computer or modem to ask about any V.92 upgrade options.

Why am I told to keep my modem drivers and/or firmware updated?

Because of continued work being done among the enterprise equipment manufacturers such as 3Com/Commworks, Cisco, and Nortel to support the different modem manufactures, firmware found in modems may not be as up-to-date with V.90 or V.92 standards that existence today. This principle even applies to a modem you might walk into a store and buy today; remember it was manufactured and packaged months ago. OmniTel Communications strongly recommends that users check with their own modem/computer manufacturer for any firmware upgrades or driver updates that have been released. Click here for more information on modem drivers and firmware. Firmware updates are usually posted on the equipment's manufacturer website were they can be obtained free of charge. You should check monthly for any new updates to your modem.

What V.92 features does OmniTel Communications support?

Quick Connect - The promise of Quick Connect is that a user's V.92 modem will be able to record and store a certain number of call conditions as it dials up to connect. If the user's modem has stored a line condition that is recognized, then it can utilize the stored information rather than negotiate a line conditions each time a user dials up. The net effect is that the time it takes to complete a dialup call and be online is shortened. NOTE: This feature is outside the control of OmniTel Communications.

PCM Upstream - Faster upload speeds. Send a lot of pictures to the grandparents? Post a lot of pictures on eBay? Perform website maintenance? All these types of online activities stand to benefit from a faster upload speed. While a user almost never knows for sure what their upload speed is, most V.90 connected modems achieve an upload speed of 24k to 26.4k with the limit at 28.8k. PCM Upstream has the potential to offer an upload speed of 48k. Current technology only supports an upload rate maximum of 36k which results in upstream rates of between 26.4k to 33.3k with the limit being 36k. For PCM Upstream to function a user's modem has to negotiate the upload speed separate from the download speed. Therefore, when taken into context with Quick Connect a user's connect time will be about the same as with a standard V.90 modem.

Modem-on-Hold - In this discussion, we will refer to Modem-on-Hold as MOH. A V.92 modem that supports MOH and has the appropriate software installed on the user's PC with CALL-WAITING on their phone service will be able to place an online session on 'hold' while they answer an incoming phone call on the phone attached to the modem. Because dialup service uses shared resources a user can not keep their modem session on hold indefinitely; OmniTel Communications enforces a 3-minute timeout limit. From the moment the PC MOH software alerts the user to an incoming call the timeout clock starts counting down. At the 3-minute mark, if the call has not been completed and hung back up, the modem rack will disconnect the dialup session. Because of the different software designs from each manufacturer to support their use of MOH, OmniTel Communications Technical Support can NOT provide any assistance with the daily use or setup of MOH. Please contact your computer or modem manufacturer for all questions regarding MOH. NOTE: If a downloading session is interrupted due to MOH, there is no guarantee it will resume once you reconnect.

V.44 - An update for the compression of data being downloaded, V.44 is like a garbage compactor. When viewing a web page, V.44 tries to make the original file being transferred to your PC as small as possible. This allows more data to be sent in less time than if it could not be compressed. Some files compress better than others. On average, a user should so a 10% to 30% improvement in the downloading of data from web sites. Even if your phone lines don't seem to give you 'speedy' connections, any connection speed will benefit from V.44.

Do I really get what OmniTel Communications supports?

OmniTel Communications offers 56K access, that means a user is dialing into a bank of modems that support 56K range speeds (33.6K to 53K). Whether or not a user is able to reach those speeds depends on several factors which can be related to problems both inside and outside the home. The following website has excellent help to make the most of your online performance; www.modemsite.com. As for V.92, that is a whole other story. When the ITU defined the V.92 standard and V.44, they decided that a modem manufacturer only had to choose at least two features to claim V.92 capability. Because of this, your modem may only support Quick Connect and MOH, but not V.44 or PCM Upstream. You should contact the modem or computer manufacturer to determine what V.92 features are supported. By OmniTel Communications supporting all features of V.92, we strive to provide you with the best possible Internet experience your modem is capable of.

Where do I go for V.90 or V.92 modem support?

Each modem or computer manufacturer is the sole point at which you should expect support for any V.90 or V.92 issues you may have with upgrading your modem or after any upgrade has been applied. OmniTel Communications is not responsible for issues related to firmware upgrades or the lack of a user's modem to support the V.90 or V.92 standard(s). If you don't know the manufacturer of your modem, click here to tell what type of modem. If you are not able to find out who made your modem or why it isn't able to connect, call the Technical Support department toll-free at 1-877-666-4932 for further assistance. Please keep in mind, that OmniTel Communications didn't make your modem and there is only so much we can do to assist you. However, we will do our best to get you going or at least be able to point you in the right direction.

Macintosh users should check with their modem manufacturer for appropriate modem scripts and/or CCLs.