Help. I have a External PACE 56k SOLO Modem. My problem is that when I connect ( I live in the Midlands, England) I can only seem to connect at between 31.200 and 33.600 kbs. Why is this. Why does ot not Connect at 56k which is the speed of the modem.?

It could be for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the local loop phone system near you is not particularly good, or perhaps the ISP settings are not quite right. Try another ISP, just as a test, but if you're more than a mile or so from your exchange, you're unlikely to get the full 56K anyway - few people do, although 44 or so is often attainable.