My ISP is OzEmail. I run windows 98, I have a Netcomm Roadster II 56k SVD and I live in Nicholls. Although I have a 56k modem, according to the Windows dialog box in the bottom of the page I only connect at 28000bps. I am into gaming such as Quake and Halflife and my ping times are 270+. Recently my friend used my modem and ISP account in Spence on his computer, he connected at 56000bps and his ping times were in the low 200’s. What is going on? Why am I connecting at 28000bps and have consistently higher ping times. I have installed all the latest drivers, used different initialisation strings, ensured my modem connect at 56k speed but to no avail. Can you help me? Would different suburbs have such a dramatic effect on ping times?

The problem here is the “isolation” of Gungahlin from a fully digital exchange. Telstra are only required to guarantee a 2400 bps connect speed. Until Gungahlin has direct access to a fully digital exchange (and not a hybrid analog/digital one) the 56K is not possible.