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Speed Tweaks: The Basics
"I feel the need. The need for speed"
Maverick, Top Gun.
When it comes to online speed, too much is never enough. This has lead to an online version of the Quest for the Holy Grail. Devotees are convinced that some tweak, some program, some "uncapping" process must unlock a modem's true power and allow connections at ludicrous speed.
Yes and no. There are things you can do to improve your high-speed connection, but there are different results for different people. Some will see dramatic improvements, others might see small gains and a few can see their performance worsen.
This article doesn't describe how to "uncap" your modem. Those settings are usually kept on a central computer which you can't access. It will show you how to change your computer's own settings to take advantage of a high-speed modem's unique abilities.
Most computers are set at the factory to use an office Ethernet network or a dial-up modem. High-speed modems work best with different settings.
Your computer's default settings are like explaining things to a stranger on a phone. You have to use short phrases and make sure they understand you. "Turn right at the light. Are you with me? Drive two blocks. OK? Now make a left. Got it?"
A high-speed connection is more like sending a letter to an old friend. You can ramble on at length and don't need to confirm each individual sentence, just the letter as a whole.
There are two ways of changing these settings. The simplest way is to let a program do it. There are a number of them out there. Here are some for Windows machines, all of which allow an easy way of undoing your changes.
- BroadbandWizard - This program is kind of like a high-speed toolbox. Besides changing your registry it includes a built-in speed test and a log that monitors your connection over time. Trial version available. Note: We have a business relationship with this company.
- Accelerate 2000 - Highly recommended. From webroot, a well known shareware software company that produces several recognized tools. Trial version available.
- InternetTurbo 99 - Includes ping utilities, registry backup, and supports America Online connections. Includes a comprehensive help file. Trial version available.
- BlazeNet - Program that handles all versions of Windows including Windows 2000. Wizard like interface. Free trial for 30 days.
And one for the Macintosh:
- OT Advanced Tuner - Shareware to tune the Open Transport Layer of your Macintosh.
Many more programs can be found by searching on the shareware sites available on the Internet. Look for programs that can change your system configuration or registry. Some sites, like speedguide.net offer Visual Basic scripts that will do the same thing.
That's the easy way...now for those who like to do things themselves.
