The introduction of fast, new 56K modems has generated a lot of excitement and press, and it seemed as if everybody was interested in their promise of low-cost, high-speed Internet access. Modem manufacturers claimed that their 56K modems would double the access speed achieved by 28.8K modems at a fraction of the cost of ISDN access.

But because two different and incompatible technologies were introduced – and the true speeds of the 56K modems have not measured up to all the early hype – eager, speed-hungry Internet users have been left with many questions. We hope to answer some of them here.

If your modem is a 56K Flex-DO NOT FLASH IT TO V90 - Do nothing, you will get better performance with 56k Flex. V90 is simply a patch protocol for x2 modems to make them compatible with 56k systems. If your modem is v90 only, we support the latest list of v90 protocols available.

What are the benefits of 56K?

Speed is the primary benefit. Theoretically, you can access the Internet at twice the speed of your old 28.8K modem. A second benefit is the cost of 56K modems: They cost about as much as 33.6K modems did a year or so ago. And using ISDN or similar data-transmission speeds is initially more costly. Another benefit is the availability of 56K modem access — Caprok.Net offers K56flex Internet access.

Aren't all 56K modems the same?

No. There were two major, mutually exclusive 56K modem standards. Rockwell, Lucent, and a few other companies combined to promote the K56flex standard, while U.S. Robotics (now 3Com) has pushed its proprietary x2 standard. The problem was that x2 technology could only connect to x2 technology, and K56flex could only connect to K56flex. The side whose standard was adopted (Flex) now rules the modem market in the same way that Microsoft rules the desktop computer o/s market.

Does Caprok.Net support K56flex?

Yes and 99% of all serious ISP's do too. (except small analog systems,)

So what happens if I use an old x2 modem to access Caprok? Will it work? Will I get 56K speed?

Yes, it will work. But NO, it won't work at 56K or even close to 56K speeds. If you connect to Caprok.Net through one of our 56K dial-up numbers you will only connect at 28.8 at best.

I've had problems connecting at a true 33.6K with my current modem. Will I achieve a "true" 56K connection?

Unfortunately, probably no. The FCC capped certain types of data-transmission rates at 52K, which affects ALL 56K modems. More importantly, the AVERAGE connection rate of 56K modems is in the mid-40K range; most independent testing puts it between 42K and 46K. So, clearly 56K is not a guaranteed connection rate. Rather, it is the therotical maximum speed that could ever hope to approach while online. The quality of your phone line is also a huge factor among other things. Call support for info.

Are there any more cons to 56K modems?

A couple. You can't upload data with any 56K modem faster than 33.6K. 56k only works on DOWNLOADS. Also, 56K won't work where there are more than 1 analog signal conversions within a link.  (as when communicating between the U.S. and Europe). Or where the local phone lines cannot handle it. (Over 25,000 feet from your towns telco central office.)

Why is Caprok.Net supporting 56K?

Caprok.Net supports 56k technology because, while it is not perfect (and does not give TRUE 56K Internet access), it is now the best way to surf the Net. If you upgrade to a 56K modem, you should notice a real improvement in your Internet access speed – perhaps even a 50 percent improvement over your current access. And we're always excited to see Internet connectivity speeds improve, because the faster you connect, the more you can get out of your Caprok.Net membership. There is currently no faster way to do all the things you want to do on the Internet and the Web that is affordable for almost everyone.

Can I upgrade my existing x2 modem to 56Kflex?

It is possible to upgrade some 28.8 and 33.6K modems to support 56K. This depends on what kind of modem it is and when you bought it. Sometimes the upgrade involves downloading new firmware, sometimes obtaining a new ROM from your modem maker. You may also be required to return the modem to the manufacturer for factory service. Upgrading could be free, but it could cost you as much as $100.  Check with your modems manufacturer for complete details.

ISDN offers advantages over current 56k modems. Information

A recent NetBits article offers a good overview of the 56K issues.