The speed of your modem (e.g. 56K) represents the speed at which
the modem is capable of transmitting information. The FCC restricts the actual transmission to slightly slower speeds. Your modem may be capable of faster speeds of transmission from modem to computer. This does not affect the rate of communication between modems, but, if both modems are capable of such compression, a connection can have a higher effective speed if the sending system compresses the data as it is sent from the sending computer to the sending modem and if the receiving system decompresses the data as it is sent from the receiving modem to the receiv- ing computer. Thus, it is possible to “connect” at higher speeds. You should always try to connect at the highest rate of connection available to you. The modems will negotiate the connection and establish the actual rate of transmission of information (the key is the compatibility of the modems – the standards in this industry are fairly well-established and thus compati- bility is pretty much the norm).
To connect to anything with your modem, you will usually need to sign on with some provider (unless you have log-in rights with some network already - e.g. at work) or dial-in to another computer already set to receive such connections. Online service providers will allow you to connect to an extensive computer environment. You can use such providers to send and receive e-mail (electronic mail), chat with other computer users, look up information in their databases, participate in electronic discussions with multiple parties, and even download software. The major service providers usually charge a monthly fee for connection time. Some services they pro- vide may entail an additional charge. Since such electronic connections are an important resource for computer users, Windows comes with its own software for making such connections, as well as with software from some of the major service providers (in the Online Services folder). You can also use your modem in conjunction with financial software to perform your banking and pay your bills electronically. Such software can also be used to track investments by logging into providers who transmit market data. In addition, you can use commercial tax preparation programs to send your
Series User’s Manual