How to Speed Up Dial-up Internet on an Acer Aspire

by Dan Howard
There are many reasons why a 56K dial-up modem may experience slower transfer rates.

There are many reasons why a 56K dial-up modem may experience slower transfer rates.

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Decades after their invention, dial-up modems still provide users with Internet access at speeds up to 56 kilobytes per second (56K). Most Acer Aspire laptops are equipped with a 56K modem for use with a dial-up Internet service provider. Frequently a 56K modem will transfer data at speeds that are slower than advertised; if your Acer's modem is transferring at lower speeds, it may be due to limitations of your modem connection, speed of local phone lines or the modem's device driver settings.

Step 1

Verify your dial-up provider supports full 56K access. Occasionally Internet service providers require an additional fee or require use of a different phone number to achieve full 56K transmission speeds. Contact your provider to determine whether you need to sign up for an additional service for faster transfer.

Step 2

Simplify the connection between your modem and the telephone outlet. Remove any splitters or other devices that share the same telephone line, as such intermediaries can limit the amount of bandwidth allocated to your modem.

Step 3

Navigate to the Acer driver download website and acquire updated drivers for your laptop's modem. Choose "Notebook" from the list, select the "Aspire" product line and then click the model number that corresponds to your Aspire laptop. Doing so will bring you to a list of updated drivers for your laptop's devices. Click the "Modem Driver" link to download and install an updated driver to your Aspire laptop. Updating the device driver can improve driver efficiency and transfer performance.

Step 4

Determine whether your home phone line supports 56K modem speeds if the above fixes do not help. Test the connection performance of a computer that has previously been observed operating at 56K speeds. If the computer operates at lower speeds over your phone lines, it is likely your local phone connection doesn't support 56K transfer rates.

About the Author

Dan Howard is a sports and fitness aficionado who holds a master's degree in psychology. Howard's postgraduate research on the brain and learning has appeared in several academic books and peer-reviewed psychology journals.

Photo Credits

  • Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images