Slow PC & DSL

System:
PC Clone
MS XP Pro/SP3
Intel Pentium 4
DSL/ISP - AT&T
Modem Westell

Dropped my home phone, kept line as DSL.
Upgraded connection speed with ISP. Moved computer
Computer very slow connecting to internet (often better part of a minute sometime more)
Cuing from desktop slow, sometimes just never connects.
Ran XP diagnosis, no anomalies

Talked w/AT&T ISP tech, was told problem due to length of phone line into modem (50 ft?)

I do not understand why that length of phone line would affect my connection. However, it it does, what are viable solutions. Moving outside terminal from present location in back of house is probably a little extreme, and expensive.

Is the Magic Jack system workable for this?

Thanks,
Skysarge

 

No, magic jack wont work as it wont carry the non portion of signal down a telephone line as its designed for telephone not to mention you have to have internet before it magicjack will work. Dsl data is carried on a telephone line, in the unused portions that voice isn't carried over. The longer the phone cord to the modem the greater loose of signal. I have heard of dsl working upto 100 feet, but it depends on the quality of the phone cable. Personaly i wouldn't ever want that much as you loose speed and reliabity doing that.

 

Get shorter cord.
Place modem close to outlet.
Go Wifi, alternatively run a longer Cat5 (or better) cable to your computer. Both cabled and wifi have their advantages and disadvantages.

 

Because electrons have "mass". This means as they are shoved through a conductor (the wire and connections) they bang into each other and into the conductor itself. This creates friction, which, in electrical terms, is "resistance". And resistance degrades the strength and quality of the data stream.

So the longer the cable, the greater the resistance, the more degraded the data stream becomes.

Also, it takes time to travel that great of distance - so much time, that it could introduce unacceptable latency problems, especially when coupled with poor signal strength due to the resistance.

The solution, as noted, is to use top quality cable AND connectors, and/or shorter cables. Note that even the best cables still have resistance so length will always be a factor.
Alternatively, you might consider going wireless.

 

Best option, it seems, is WiFi.
Tech installing tomorrow. Looked like that was best. Reading on all I needed to do left impression I was better letting a tech do this.
Overall cost a little more than I was expecting, however if this solves most of the problem, it will be worth the cost.
Assistance provided by you folks greatly appreciated.
Skysarge