PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: renshaw8 on May 14, 2006, 18:44

Title: Modem Problem
Post by: renshaw8 on May 14, 2006, 18:44: Can anyone tell me how to test my modem to tell me if I have a hardware problem or software problem. I have dial up and when I click to go online my modem does not start. Also I noticed that my telephone doesn't have a dial tone until I unplug my modem sometimes and if it does have a dial tone it gets louder when I unplug the modem. I found that if I plug in my phone line right after I click to go online, my modem will come on. There was a thunderstorm the night that this started and I'm wondering if that might have something to do with it. I have a Toshiba Satellite 1805-S203 laptop. Thanks...
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: Sandra on May 15, 2006, 00:56: Which OS are you using and is it just a 56k modem ?

Theres a diagnostic bit in the modem properties for 98SE, never used one on XP so not sure if it has the same but I would think it has.

The diagnostics will work to test the modem even without it plugged into the phone line and say if its installed and working ok.

Have you got the settings in dial up properties set to NOT wait for dialling tone before dialling, in case you have call waiting or BTs 1571 service on your phone ?
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: davy51 on May 15, 2006, 02:08: If you have xp pro

go to start, control panel,phone and modem

click modems at top

click properties
click diagnotics
click query modem

it will tell you if its working or not

this all must be done while you are disconnected from the net
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: renshaw8 on May 15, 2006, 08:16: I have Windows ME and I have "Wait for dial tone before dialing" checked. When I go to modem properties and diagnosis and click (more info) I get a message saying "port already open" when connected to net.
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: Sandra on May 15, 2006, 12:00: Untick the wait for dial tone.

It wont detect it as a normal one if you have a message waiting.
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: renshaw8 on May 16, 2006, 03:39: I don't have call waiting and "wait for dial tone before dialing" has always been selected. I checked out device manager and my modem is on com port 3. Should I "ADD" my modem again and select port 1????
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: Sandra on May 16, 2006, 11:48: It doesnt usually reasign a com port by itself so if it has been working on Com 3 then thats probably the one it will use.

Com 1 is usualy a serial port.
Theres nothing to stop you installing it on all available com ports and then seeing if it will work properly on one when you select it to use that one but I should think Com 3 would be correct.

Just an idea, have you got the country set to UK ?
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: renshaw8 on May 16, 2006, 15:34: First of all, Thanks Sandra......I'm in US and have it set for here. While exploring my help section, it said that com 1 is my comm port so I was thinking that I should try that one. I hope I don't screw it up. I tried to dial out of my address book and I got a message that it was being used. Does that tell you anything?
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: Sandra on May 16, 2006, 19:45: Didnt realise you were a colonial cousin :blush:
As long as its set to your country that should be ok.

I just re read your original post.

Quote
I found that if I plug in my phone line right after I click to go online, my modem will come on.

Is it a built in modem or an external one ?

Does it actually connect and work ok at this point ?
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: renshaw8 on May 17, 2006, 01:22: The modem is a Toshiba built into my laptop. If I plug the phone line in right after I click to go online, I get a dial tone. If I just leave the phone line connected into my computer and try to go online there is no dial tone.
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: Sandra on May 17, 2006, 01:42: Can you actually connect to the internet at all with that modem :?
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: Simon on May 17, 2006, 08:01: Just a thought, but do you use dsl filters (line splitters) in the US? This is a little box which splits the phone line, so that phone calls can be made as well as being online. You plug the modem into one socket, and the phone into the other, and the box then plugs into your phone line socket. We have these in the UK, and I was just wondering, if you have them, whether yours may have developed a fault?
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: davy51 on May 17, 2006, 16:20: first question are you using aol?

do you have this computer connected to a hub?

when you try to use a hub with aol you will get the dial tone symptoms you describe
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: renshaw8 on May 20, 2006, 06:53: Been away working but Sandra, I can get a dial tone if I plug the phone line in after I click to my Juno ISP. And Simon, I'm plugged right into my phone line. Davy, I have Juno and no hub. I'm pretty sure that I have a modem software or hardware problem but not sure which. I was thinking of "adding" my modem again but I'm afraid I'll screw it up so I can't get online at all. My help section says that COM 1 is my comm port and my modem is on COM 3 right now.
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: Sandra on May 20, 2006, 12:53: Quote from: "renshaw8"
, I can get a dial tone if I plug the phone line in after I click to my Juno ISP.

You keep saying that you can get the dial tone when you do as you describe but you still havent said if it actually connects to the internet when you can get the dial tone :?
Title: Modem Problem
Post by: renshaw8 on May 20, 2006, 18:28: Yes, I'm getting online. (Only if I plug in the phone line right after I click on my ISP "connect" button. This is my only computer. But it is not working right. If I leave my computer plugged in after I'm done online then my telephone won't even get a dial tone. My question now is do you think I can fix it by reinstalling my modem??