[fazer]

It might be down to the fact you are using different modems. Until recently, I have always used the V90 softmodem that originally came with my computer and always (almost without exception) got a 48Kbps connection to ntl freedom.

Then I installed Linux on my second drive and found it didn't like the softmodem, so I dug out an old US Robotics 56k external and used that. Surprisingly, connections dropped to around 35Kbps. So much for all those people who pooh-pooh Winmodems as "not proper modems - they can't be any good!".

Then I flashed the USR to V92 in the hope of raising the connection speed. This partly worked; it now varied wildly between 35K and 49K - never the same speed twice in a row (although at least, the handshake was quicker!).

Just goes to show what a difference the modem makes, though - everyhing else was the same: computer, line and ISP. It didn't seem to make any difference whether I was using XP or Linux with the USR modem.

I've now put the Winmodem back in and use that with XP and just use the USR with Linux.

Cheers,