So - your OS is ME; mine is 98 SE.
My modem is recognized as a 'HSP56 MicroModem'; yours is 'HSP56 world micromodem'.
My header info is recognized as 'PCtel HSP56 MicroModem 7.64-PCC-06-MS'; yours is 'WDM_modemPCT 0001'.
As you can see, there's a few differences! Could be due to the different OS's reading info differently; or perhaps our modems really aren't *quite* the same. So maybe there could be a few 'clashes' if you use the details below...... you'll never know until you try! If, by following any of the steps below you *don't* see any of the boxes/windows/info stated, it's probably best if you don't proceed, unless you feel really sure.
If it helps, you can always do a "dry run" with all these instructions - follow the steps, but don't actually change anything until you feel really confident about doing it. You can always take notes on any changes you make so you can easily retrace your steps. Why not print-out these instructions, if you've a printer? If you haven't, you could copy 'n' paste them to a notepad (easier to read; see below for help on this), or save the entire webpage to your desktop for offline reading.
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OK. You want to do this when you're NOT connected to the net. First off, there's a couple of settings you can try changing that might improve things :-
(01) Click 'Start' (lower-left of your screen).
(02) Select 'Settings', then slide over to 'Control Panel', and click it.
(03) Find, and double-click the 'Modems' icon.
(04) You'll see the name of your modem highlighted in the window. Press the 'Properties' button below it.
(05) Near the bottom of the window you'll see the 'Maximum Speed' box. It's best if this value is set to 57600. If it isn't already, change it by clicking on the little triangle at the right-edge of the number window, then selecting this number from the drop-down list. On my system, I *haven't* got a tick in the 'Only connect at this speed' box.
(06) Press the 'Connection' button at the top.
(07) Press the 'Port Settings' button at the bottom.
(08) There should already be a tick in the 'Use FIFO buffers' box - keep it that way. See the 2 sliding-arrows in the window - drag them until they're both 1 notch from the lowest setting (ie there's 4 notches - point them both at notch 2). Note, if you ever need to, you can get back the original values by pressing the 'Defaults' button. You can also experiment by selecting the lowest settings (but not yet). Click 'OK'.
If you want to, you can keep the current window open, or you can 'OK' yourself out of what's open, and close the Properties Box.
Now we come to the strings! These are just sets of commands that instruct your modem to behave a little differently. I've got a collection of 6 that I mess around with; each has its own way of doing things. Input only *one* at any given time. This is them :-
AT&F&C1&D2&K3W1
AT&F&C1&D2&K3S37=12N1W1
AT&F&C1&D2&K3%N5W1
AT&F&C1&D2&K3%N6W1
AT&FS37=12N1
AT&FS37=12N1%N5
Best way to input them is not to attempt to write them in by hand, but use copy & paste instead (drag your mouse while holding the left button down across the string you want till it's 'coloured';
then RIGHT-click on the text and select 'Copy'). This avoids misspellings! If, by any chance, there's already something in there, copy it out exactly on paper, and delete it. But there's probably not. How to do it :-
If you closed the Properties box previously, do steps (01) to (04), then (06), then :-
(09) Press the 'Advanced' button, below.
(10) The string you're going to input is placed in the 'Extra Settings' window. Select a string from the list above, and copy & paste it into the window (copy the line of text as instructed above; and right-click in the window and select 'Paste'). The text should appear in the window. Make sure there are no trailing spaces at the start, or end of the text. That's it! 'OK' your way out, and 'Close' the Properties Box.
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Best thing to do is surf around for - say - a day, with your first string, and see how it goes. Next day, try the next one...... and so on, until you've went through the list. Take notes on whether or not you perceive any improvements using any of the strings, compare them, and stick with your favourite. Or alternate between your favourites. Experiment! Or - if things get worse, or there's no change - just delete them.
To change a string, simply go through steps (01) to (04), (06), (09), and (10).
To delete - just click inside the 'Extra Settings' window, and delete as you would any text.
Save these instructions somewhere safe for future reference.
