Expert: Cezar L. Palconet - 10/31/2011

Question
Hi.
Let's suppose i'm on a dial up connection. And a server some where has a broadband. If I make the server send data to my computer(some how change the server to client), will the data(any format text, pix, vid) be delivered at the speed of the server(broadband) or will my dial up have an effect and slow it down? THANKS !!!

Answer
Hi, heni

The highest that will ever be possible with an analog phone line speed, is only  56Kbit/s, using V.90 or 92 there are compression protocols like the V.42 or 44 which can increased the perceived speed.

A dialup connection speed is largely limited by the noise, thus sometimes having latency period of 250 ms or more, this makes sessions involving  online games and near real time tele-conferencing impossible.

The schema that you have described, may increase the perceived speed but it will still be lossy and of poor quality to be of any practical use, in images and videos.  This may not have any significant perceivable effects on text only, but with the current applications like Microsoft office suites, this may prove to be of little to no real improvement.

The problem rest that analog telephone lines, even though they are digitally switched and transported,once the data signal reach the telco equipment. it will be reverted back to its maximum of 56 kbit/s.

regards.