Since maximum speeds are seldom attained, what realistic speed improvements should I expect to see?
While the answer to this question is dependent upon a case-by-case analysis, you will typically see speed improvements using 56K Technology in comparison to traditional analog technologies. In fact, trials involving thousands of calls (conducted by U.S. Robotics and Lucent Technologies) in a multitude of regions have shown that a preponderance of those calls were able to achieve the faster 56K speeds. For what it’s worth, our employees have regularly observed connection speeds of 48.8Kbps from South East Portland’s Hawthorne district with an external US Robotics Courier V.Everything modem. X2 and K56Flex are different protocols than today’s analog modulation schemes. These latter schemes assume an analog connection end-to-end. In contrast, this technology assumes a primarily digital connection, with an analog leg needed only to connect the subscriber modem. For that reason, customers who today cannot even achieve V.34 speeds will more than likely be able to connect via the higher 56K s
