I have a 33.6 kbps modem and my phone line is routed from the wall outlet to my fax machine to an answering machine/ phone to my internal modem. I've used a program called Modem Wizard to detect the speed, which never seems to go above 12,000 bps. Is the way I've routed the phone cord causing this sluggish modem speed? Should I connect a line directly from the wall socket to my modem for optimal performance? VINCENT LAM Hong Kong By all means connect your modem directly to the wall socket, but I'm pretty sure you won't see any marked difference in speed. My home setup is much like yours with the exception of the answering machine and there is no difference in speed when the connection is direct modem to wall socket. Try a different line - preferably one registered with your telecom provider as a 'fax' line - sometime to ensure you are getting optimum line quality. Line noise has a bad effect on data transmission speed. We have an Internet connection in our office, and now our boss wants one at home for his teenage daughters for educational purposes. However, he is worried about Internet security and the adult/erotic sites on the Net. Is there software or plug-ins for browsers for Windows 3.11 and/or Windows 95 which can be used to block access to such sites? NASIR AHMAD Hong Kong Net Nanny, SurfWatch and Cyber Patrol are three of the more common Internet filtering tools. You can get more information about them or order the programs themselves from www.net nanny.com, www.surf watch.com and www.cyber patrol.com. There are other programs. However, none is foolproof. There is nothing quite like the personal attention of a parent to keep kids safe from on-line pornography. At the same time, the chances of your boss' teenage daughters coming face-to-face with Internet pornography without actively looking for it are much less than them coming across adult material at street-corner magazine stalls in Hong Kong while on their way to school.
