I Want My MTU

Some readers have told me that they changed their PC's MaxMTU setting but saw only a small speed increase; others had to fiddle with the settings more than they would have liked.

For these people, TouchStone's clever $40 NetOptimizer program does the tweaking for you: It calls its own server, tries dozens of Registry setting combinations, and fine-tunes your Internet connection. It saves the old settings and then, with your permission, makes the necessary changes. Novices can comfortably use the program, and advanced users can play with the settings in manual mode.

I also like NetOptimizer's smart dialer. It makes sure I'm connected at the highest speed possible and continually monitors my online activity. The program also examines my modem and lets me back up my Dial Up Networking settings, a vital feature foolishly missing in Windows. TouchStone sells the NetOptimizer with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and the app works with Windows 9x.

If you're an America Online user, you too can make use of the MTU tweak. But you'll have to jump through some hoops, since AOL's software resets the MTU value every time you log on. But fear not: I tried a work-around from AOL guru George Gombos, and it did the trick. Check out George's terrific tips page and follow the directions under the "AOL MaxMTU Tweaks" section.

And the Internet meltdown? I'm not worried. An earthquake's bound to send California into the ocean first.

SUMMARY

NetOptimizer $40 street TouchStone 800/932-5566 www.touchstonesoftware.com