APPLE INTERNAL MODEM IS DEFECTIVE

Question

Purchased my eMac in February of 2005. The Apple internal dial-up modem would only log on from speeds around 26,400 to 38,000 kbps. Thought that it had to be my ISP, so complained to them several times.
They pointed the blame at the phone company--CenturyTel--so, started complaining to them about their infrastructure. They came out a total of 5 times to run tests. They replaced the outside Network Interface on the utility pole and said the lines were fine.
So, changed my ISP and still the same slow modem speeds. Again, went around and round with my ISP, then the phone company.
Never did i think that the problem would be with my $1,100.00 eMac.
But that is where the problem is and Apple won't admit to selling eMac's with defective Motorola chips
Now, have to go to an external modem, but first, one has to download 10.4 to handle the external modem.
Except, i CAN'T download 10.4 because i have a defective dial-up modem.
And the nearest legit Apple store is over 200 miles away.
So, am being forced to pay $129.00 for a 10.4 CD from Apple to help fix the original problem of Apple supplying a defective modem.
Anyone know of an external USB modem that will work with the eMac?
This has been so confusing and maddening that i am seriously thinking about selling the eMac and going back to a PC.
If Apple was all they claim to be in their advertising, they would own up to the defective dial-up modems and give people help without charging an exorbitant price.
greg
eMac 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4   Mac OS X (10.3.5)   512 MB DDR SDRAM Fire Wire Bus 400 mb/sec speed
eMac 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4   Mac OS X (10.3.5)   512 MB DDR SDRAM Fire Wire Bus 400 mb/sec speed 37

Answer 1

Back to,
Certainly there are few things as frustrating with computer use these days than glacicaly slow access to the net, unless it's having your computer bog down under a barrage of virus, worm, trojan, rootkit et al. attacks. There are some things you can yet try before going back to that aspect of Windows computing.
There have been few posts specificaly complaining about the eMac internal modem (which may be more a function of how many people have access to broadband these days). When I first got my eMac my home ISP was still a dial-up account as the ISP that provides cable modem access in this area maintained on there website lookup that they didn't provide coverage in this area. (Indeed, last I checked they still did; it took a chance conversation with a neighbor to learn that cable service actually was available.) During the time I was using the eMac with dialup, I never got over about 22 kbps but that was a known problem of cruddy phone lines in a semi-rural area and was even worse with one next-door neighbor's PCs; his maxed out around 18 kbps. The eMac's internal modem actually outperformed several different WinXP computers there.
In reading over your description of your frustrating efforts to improve things, from phone line interface hardware changes to ISP changes, I didn't see any mention of trying different modem connection scripts. Did you try dropping the default v.92 connection script to v.90 or even v.56? I'm sure your ISPs told you everything was compatible, but I got the same statement from my dialup ISP several times and I did determine that wasn't quite true; their modem servers actually used a slightly different hardware chipset. I found that changing the modem connection script did improive things to 22 kbps from 18 kbps or so.
Re the download of 10.4, Tiger 10.4 is a paid update from Panther 10.3 so you can't download Tiger anyway. It's worth checking if you qualify for any of Apple's discounts (student, educational employee, federal government emplyee or contractor). Youc an also get Tiger fgor less via Amazon or other online sources (just be sure to get the full retail black-label Install DVD,not a grey label model-specific version).
You could alternately try a combination of changing the modem connection script and updating from the 10.3.5 shown in your profile using the Mac OS X Combo Update 10.3.9. As you're aware, you can bring a blank CD-R into an Apple Store's Genius Bar to download Apple software updates. You don't necessarily need to drive 200 miles to get the updates; if anyone you know has access to broadband, you can have them download the .dmg updater file onto CD-R and mail or otherwise provide it to you. Some local computer stores also provide broadband download services for a modest fee (less than the gs for a 400 mile round trip!). Such a downloaddownload doesn't have to be on a Mac; it will work from Windows or Unix computers as well so long as the CD-R is PC or Mac formatted, the CD is finalized or closed (made read-only) on the computer doing the burning, and the downloaded .dmg file isn't modified in any way by the computer doing the burning.
BTW, be aware that even with perfectly clean no-noise laboratory condition phone lines, a 56k modem actually tops out at around 50 kbps due to phone line power restrictions.
p.s. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!