# What about this queer computer problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-this-queer-computer-problem/187294 "2003-07-09T19:00:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-this-queer-computer-problem/187294/1 "2003-07-09T19:00:26Z")
My phone, which his hooked to my home computer, which is then connected to the wall jack does not “hang up” while the computer is in the chain–_even if it is not turned on_. I plug my phone direckly into the wall jack. No problem. I plug wall jack–answering maching–phone, and no problem. But I add the computer to the chain, and my phone doesn’t hang up. That is, I hang it up, but when I pick it back up, it’s still “on” and soon it will start beeping and say, “If you wish to make a call, please hang up and dial again.” Also, when I first get the dial tone, it’s only at about half-volume. I can plug other phones directly into the wall jack. No problem. I can plug other phones into the computer, and I get the “no hang up problem.” Any ideas??? Here’s the only suspicious thing: I didn’t get home until about 9:00 pm, and noticed that it had rained. There had been some outages because my cable box was knocked off (it was okay, though). Possibly the electricity had flickered, too. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-this-queer-computer-problem/187294/2 "2003-07-09T19:08:30Z")
I’m assuming the phone did work properly at one time with this modem connected, and now it doesn’t? If that’s the case, the modem probably took a line surge and needs to be replaced. If this is a new hookup, check to be sure the LINE jack on the modem is connected to the wall jack and the PHONE or TEL jack is connected to the ansering machine/telephone setup. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-this-queer-computer-problem/187294/3 "2003-07-09T19:51:34Z")
What QED said - the line connect-disconnect relay on your modem is stuck in some manner. Happens all the time with defective or fried modems. Procure a $ 20.00 bill and get a new one. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-this-queer-computer-problem/187294/4 "2003-07-09T22:06:24Z")
What kind of computer & operating system? I used to add: &C2&D2 to my modem init string to get it to hang up. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-this-queer-computer-problem/187294/5 "2003-07-09T22:29:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > **I used to add: &C2&D2 to my modem init string to get it to hang up.** No. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earl Snake-Hips Tucker \* > **does not “hang up” while the computer is in the chain–_even if it is not turned on_.** ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-this-queer-computer-problem/187294/6 "2003-07-09T22:32:47Z")
Wow. An obvious bad joke going unmade on the SDMB for four hours? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-this-queer-computer-problem/187294/7 "2003-07-09T22:52:56Z")
Really. I had all kinds of visions of a lisping computer running a speech synthesizer when I clicked on this thread. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-this-queer-computer-problem/187294/8 "2003-07-10T14:22:28Z")
‘No’ to what Q.E.D. ? Your short answer doesn’t make sense to me. ahem, “The &D2 configuration disconnects, enters command mode and disables Auto answer when DTR is off” [http://www.tenon.com/support/MachTen/papers/PPP/modem.config.shtml](http://www.tenon.com/support/MachTen/papers/PPP/modem.config.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-this-queer-computer-problem/187294/9 "2003-07-10T14:32:36Z")
**Handy** When the computer is _off_, the modem _has_ to release the line. The OP said this behavior occurs even when his system is turned off. It is not, therefore, a simple communications port error that can be solved with a command string. Is that clearer? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-this-queer-computer-problem/187294/10 "2003-07-10T22:07:49Z")
I didn’t say it could solve the OP’s issue, I said it solved mine. It’s not much fun doing remote computer support 🙂