KR> it's supposed to enable v42 compression but disable mnp.

You want to disable V42 and enable MNP4.

KR> i also just got the same problem downloading from line 4 of city.

Yes, City has the same problem on atleast one line. Bit me the other day
cos I didnt force MNP4 when I called him. Luckily it was only a
relatively small file.

KR> its looks like the problem is all over, unless its my modem

There are quite a few of the spirits around and commas. They all have
the problem.