I have a fast 56K modem, but I never connect to the Internet at 56,000 bps (bits per second).

Sometimes I connect at 33,600 bps, or even 28,000 bps. What is going on? Many Internet users are asking this quetsion.

And it is electrical noise on your local phone line that affects your modem's connection more than anything else does.

Your phone line is usually made of copper telephone cables that are insulated with rubber. If the rubber insulation becomes frayed, the copper wire will pick up electrical noise.

Electrical noise can come from electric wiring in your house, household appliances that are plugged in, rain, or even other phone lines. You've encountered electrical noise on your phone line if you've ever heard other people's conversations or static during a phone call.

You may have electrical noise on your phone line even if you can't hear any static when you talk on the phone.

Electrical noise affects how quickly your modem can talk to your ISP. Any electrical noise slows down the signals that your modem sends and receives.

Some signals may get lost and must be sent again. Even an occasional electrical pop that you can't hear affects your connection.

So the weather, the number of people on the phone in your neighbourhood, and the appliances on at your house can all affect the speed at which your modem connects to the Internet, because all these things create more electrical noise.

Electrical noise also prevents your modem from ever connecting to the Internet at its top advertised speed.

Although your modem says 56K, your connection isn't that fast, because of a speed limit set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The reason for this regulation? Sending a signal down a telephone wire requires electrical power.

But the more power you use, the greater the chance of electrical noise.

To prevent electrical noise, the FCC limits the amount of power that can be sent over phone lines.

And this cap on signal strength limits data throughout -- your connection speed -- to a maximum of 53,000 bps, regardless of what your modem says.

BTC can repair frayed installation on your phone lines, but troubleshooting problems with phone lines can take some time.

When you report suspected problems with your phone line to BTC, be sure to tell them that the phone line is being used for Internet connections.

Ask BTC to measure the line level in -dbm. This should be no higher than -20dbm.

Anything higher than -24 dbm will probably prevent any connection attempt from being successful.

Before you ask BTC to check your phone line, make sure that your connection speed is displayed correctly.

If you are not using the modem driver software that came with your modem, the Microsoft Dialer window may not display the correct connection speed.

To see if you are using the right modem driver, open the Modems control panel and make sure that the driver displayed matches your modem model.

If the driver listed is different than your modem model, refer to the instructions and disks that came with your modem.

Remember, when you use phone lines to get on to the Information Superhighway, your speed will vary! Michelle Schwartz works on the help desk of Logic Communications. Her column runs every first and third Wednesday and is aimed at assisting Internet users.

She can be contacted at michelle y christers.net