Dumping the WinModem will improve your frame rate quite a bit.. GPL
doesn't require tremendous bandwidth unless you're hosting races. The
critical thing when you're just racing online is to keep the CPU free
for GPL (it's greedy that way) and to not lose packets of information
between you and the server.
Unless you've got a consistently awesome connection, you'll find that
a v.90/56k modem will tend to "drop out" from time to time if you try
to run it full speed with VROC. This protocol has a "side-band" (for
lack of a better word) conversation going on between the two modems
and they will "retrain" from time to time (i.e. stop what they should
be doing and figure out if they're talking optimally to each other)
which screws your Q and S ratings while racing.
This is why it is so critical to create a second dial-up network
connection (DUN) on your computer which is identical to your normal
one except that the max speed setting is necked down to 28.8k or 33.6k
and doesn't have compression or error correction turned on as those
protocols don't retrain.
Alternatively, if you've got an old 28.8 or 33.6 modem card lying
about from past upgrades, plug it in your box and assign it a
different, unused COM port. You can then keep the WinModem for
non-GPL activities and just create another DUN that references the old
modem, using it when racing online. You can "daisy-chain" the telco
connection by running a phone cord from the "Line" jack of the new
modem to the "Phone" jack of the existing modem, thereby saving the
hassle of a splitter and another cord running along the wall.
Another nice thing I found is that "RF Phone Line Filter" that Radio
Shack sells for about $25.00. It really does improve your connection
quality!
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Brett C. Cammack
That's Racing! Motorsports
Pompano Beach, FL
