Hi Michael,
I originally wrote:
 RLK>> US Robotics offers a way to test the quality of your voice phone lines 
and switches
 RLK>> to see if it is capable of effectively utilizing 56 kbs modems.
You responded in part:
 MS> I tried that number you provided, and to no surprise,  I was told that 
my line
 MS> _IS_ capable of receiving the x2 factor "...but,  I might experience
 MS> reduced performance." I then asked a few friends of mine  to try the 
number as
 MS>  well. As I had anticipated, they all received the exact same response.
 MS>  Perhaps it is only a "canned response" provided by USR?
I've seen messages from several folks who have tried the USR test, and they 
do not ALL receive the "is capable" response. Some has noted that they 
received a "sorry, but.." response. Here's a message I just read today in 
this echo:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Date: Sun 30 Nov 1997   5:15P
From: RAY HOBIN, 1:151/208
To: KEVIN SHERMAN
I have a ZxXel 14,400 modem but wanted to see what my line can support before 
I replace it so I just tried it (the USR number) and got the following:
Test returned Code 4
Cannot determine X2 capability, test must run V.34 mode.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
Michael, keep in mind that the particular time you dialed, you got a random 
set of switches, lines, etc., that may have made a good connection that time. 
Try it several more times and you may get different results.
Bob K.
---
---------------