You can set a speed faster than 19200 in the Windows Control Panel by simply typing it in. There is an easy way to prevent this problem. When your modem is on-line, the Line Protector will automatically prevent the attached phone from interrupting your connection. Telephone Company facilities were designed and built, largely, on specifications from over 40 years ago. Telephone Companies have been in the business of providing voice grade circuits to allow customers to talk to each other.
Modems are a similar situation.
To understand this, it is important to gain a little background on modems. Most modems today are manufactured to the V.34 standard. This covers modems from 2400 bps to 28000 bps. Depending on which carrier frequency that the modem connects at, the range of bandwidth frequency needed to support the Maximum Bit Rate is 229-3674 Hz. For Example, If you live over approximately 3 miles away from the Telephone Company switching center, we have to condition your line to allow voice frequencies to travel that distance.