I am trying to configure a 2-year old PC and everything works OK so far except the modem. Here’s the scenario:
56K AMR internal Voice Modem FM-56AMR, self-configured to com3, IRQ 5, DC00, installed with no errors, shows in System->Device Manager as OK. Diagnostics show OK.
Phone line and cable to computer checks out with a standard voice phone. Short phone line is plugged into “line” on modem card.
Modem configuration includes “wait for dial tone” UN-checked (I’ve tried it both ways).
But when I attempt to make a connection, I can hear the line going off-hook. I can hear the dial tone. I do NOT hear any DTMF tones. But after a few seconds, I get the message “Error 680 – no dial tone detected,” and no connection is made, of course.
Reinstalled (physically and software-wise) the modem. Tried a different model/brand modem card, with similar, but not identical results.
In the modem & dialing setup, everything looks OK - phone numbers, area codes, etc. are correct, although I don’t know why that should be a factor. I’ve tried using commas before the dialing numbers, but this just postpones the error message.
Microsoft KB doesn’t have anything I haven’t tried already. Of course, the modem could be bad, but the second one didn’t work either…
Anybody have any ideas how to fix this? Much appreciated.
If I can hear a dial tone with a standard handset and dial out, I doubt another phone would tell us much. Actually the line is normally shared with a working fax machine which dials out and receives calls just fine. And I tried all tests without anything connected to the line but the computer, not even a Y-socket, same results.
that is a command equivalent to blind dial, i.e., do not look for dial tone… many times the ‘wait for dial tone’ check box doesn’t do what it should because of inexact drivers… but the ATX3 command generally fixes it and the modem will continue dialling, without checking for a valid dial tone…
another reason could be that the modem might not recognize your dial tone as a valid dial tone… though this is less likely…
if you don’t know where the command should be typed, let me know which operating system you use…
That’s certainly worth a try – I’ll have to wait until tomorrow (late) as the unit is in a different location.
But it is a standard dial tone, not a special, stutter-tone as is used for answering service signalling. It’s loud, instant, and clear. Hard to see why the modem doesn’t hear it.
It’s a flavor of Win 98. I think I can find the spot, thanks.
For testing purposes, I am just trying to dial a local ISP; a number that I know has a modem on the other end. Since I can’t get any DTMF tones out of the thing, I could put in a nonexistent or invalid phone number at this point and it would make no diff. If no tones sent to The Phone Company, nothing will get connected, just like picking up your voice phone and pushing no buttons.
Alright, alright, if you must know, I need to upload government housing reports to HUD once a month. HUD just upgraded (!) their software this year to use some Windows functions (!) – the main program they supply is still DOS (!) – but using the Internet is much too advanced for them. Too bad, cause this machine has a nice cable modem connection that works well.
HUD supplies the dialing software, upload routines and phone numbers to call. When that wasn’t working, I backtracked to merely calling a local ISP. Since that isn’t working either, the problem can’t be with the HUD stuff.
I think I’ll pick up another modem card tomorrow if I can find one nearby; I’m not near a big metropolis where you can find a computer store on every corner.
You’ve probably tried this already, but does the dial tone you can hear with the handset sound ‘normal’?
I only ask as I had a similar dial-up problem where my telephone worked fine but the PC kept reporting that no dial tone was found. It turned out that my phone company had added call waiting to my account (I hadn’t requested this) and when I had a message the dial tone was subtly different.
Disgustingly normal. Besides, if the “don’t wait for dial tone” is checked, it shouldn’t matter what it sounds like, although I haven’t yet tried the ATX3 command that xash suggested.
And there are no special features on this line, just POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service).
pardon me for asking the dumb question - and please don’t take offense, I have to ask these types of questions for a living - but the cord from the wall IS plugged into the LINE jack and not the PHONE jack, correct? Just have to ask, 'cause the first thing you learn when helping people troubleshoot computers is that the really basic questions like that will actually resolve 70-80% of the calls.
Assuming it’s hooked up correctly and responds correctly to the diagnostics, then, by applying Occam’s Razor, I would say the modem is toast.
I don’t mind you asking at all – I have to do the same thing with my customers – but I tried it both ways just in case. Not a solution.
I just heard from a local ISP who said he got numerous calls from local people this summer who experienced odd modem problems, including this one. Each one was fixed by replacing the modem; he theorizes the “recognize dial tone” circuit is the first to go when lightning strikes nearby and this modem might be trying to tell us it is sick.
Anyway, I picked up a US Robotics V.92 PCI internal modem which I plan to try as soon as I can. Unfortunately I won’t be able to get to the subject machine until the weekend, but I will report back here afterwards. Thanks for everyone’s ideas.
I think your ISP guy is correct. I had a very, very similar problem last summer. The modem was still under warranty, too. After trying everything with tech support, they asked if we’d had any thunderstorms lately. Well, in Minnesota, in the summer, the answer is always yes. They sent me a new modem, I put it in, and everything was (and is) peachy.
I doubt if it’s the cable – several were tried, and in my experience, a modem configured to ignore dial tones will blast out DTMF beeps even if a cable isn’t connected at all. Besides, the dial tone can be clearly heard thru the modem’s speaker.
I’m dying to try, first the ATX3 command, then the new modem, but I’ll have to wait until the weekend due to logistics and scheduling. I’ll let y’all know the outcome, but we-all will have to wait a few days.
And it’s “his” – at least last I looked. What, “Musicat” is sexually ambiguous?
Start/Settings/Control Panel/Modems… General, select the modem…
Click Properties… switch to the Connection tab… select Advanced… under Extra Settings just type ATX3
if you have HyperTerminal installed, you could also go to the terminal window and type:
ATX3DT5550000
that will blind dial the phone no. 5550000. if it does so, you know the problem is NOT with your modem. if it doesn’t dial out, install the new modem.
and you’re right, it doesn’t matter whether the phone line is actually connected, if the modem is set to ignore dial tone… you should hear the DTMF tones even without the phone line being connected to the modem.
xash, that is great advice, and just what I am looking for, a quick 'n easy modem-verification test. However, I need to be prepared for the possibility that hyperterminal is NOT installed.
MS says hypertrm.exe is installed with 98 by default, but a check of two 98 machines I have here does not show the installation or file. So I found this info in MS KB doc #Q190554 – Boot to DOS, and at the command prompt, use this:
echo ATM1L3X0DT12345 > COM x
Where:[ul][li]AT is the universal ATtention prefix[]M1 = turn speaker on[]L3 = raise the modem’s speaker volume to the max[]X0 = run the command without waiting for a dial tone[]DT12345 = dial the digits “12345”x is the com port number[/ul][/li]I will try all suggestions as soon as I can get to the unit this weekend and report back to this thread. Thanks to everybody for your help.
hyperterminal that comes with W98, at least mine, had to be updated, its a free update. You can install it from the windows install setup part of w98, but have to download the new hyperterminal from the people who make hyperterminal.
As promised, I reported back to this thread after solving the problem. However, it must have been on the day The Hamsters Zonked Out On Drugs, for my wrapup is no longer here. So, for the record…
Problem solved! When I got to the computer site, the phone line was making buzzing noises when the fax machine that shared the line tried to dial out. That had happened once before, and I was sure the computer was the source, so I didn’t spend any time trying Hayes commands to the modem, I just replaced it.
Reboot, new driver loaded from supplied CD, and it dials out just fine, connects, and everything works. I can only conclude that lightning or a spike in the phone line may have semi-fried the modem.
I just replaced a modem in another computer where the phone line was routed thru a new Dell surge protector which didn’t prevent it from being zapped, so I’m not sure those are worth much (for phone lines, that is).
Thanks to everyone for advice & help!
Please, hamsters, have some kibble, don’t smoke this post!
I need to upload government housing reports to HUD once a month. HUD just upgraded (!) their software this year to use some Windows functions (!) – the main program they supply is still DOS (!) – but using the Internet is much too advanced for them. Too bad, cause this machine has a nice cable modem connection that works well.
What, “Musicat” is sexually ambiguous? 