Darned modem wont answer the phone

[thuffner3]

I've installed Win XP pro, it completely reconizes my modem has the latest drivers etc,
The doggone thing wont answer the phone. I'm using one of two phone/fax programs.
1. Bitware from Cheyene
2. Faxtalk

Neither Appl will answer the phone system, why?
I've tried various settings from with in winXP device manager and each program recognizes the modem.

Any idea?

TIA.
Neil

 

[airfoil]

Is it an onboard modem? If so, you can try enabling wake on modem from the BIOS to see if that changes anything.

 

[thuffner3]

No, it's a Lucent PCI modem 56k. Still can't figure it out
Thank you for the quick response though.

 

[Zepper]

Do you wan't it to answer the phone for fax, data, voice mail or all three? For faxes, you usually have to tell it to be waiting for a call. Look for the "settings" or "preferences" section in your software.
. I use HotFax Message Center and it has worked fine with all my modems (see my review on www.techimo.com in the "User Reviews" section). It has a selection menu right on the main screen to tell it when to answer the phone.
. Is it possible the phone line cord isn't plugged into the right jack on the modem - should be in the Telco or Line jack? Or the wall jack it's plugged into or cord be faulty?
.bh.

 

[thuffner3]

The software is set for auto-answer. I can click manual answer and the software will answer the call, play the initial greeting and soforth. But it just wont answer any other way. I did find in the start-up BIOS that I could set for wake on LAN. Still doesn't seem to change anything. I'm wondering if WinXP pro has particular settings for this. I've tried com1/ shared mouse port. com2/ not sure com3/empty and com4/also empty.
I inclined to think that it may be software based as I can click answer. and each of the two softwares I have will answer. Still playing around.

Thanks
Neil

 

[Zepper]

If you can't get your software to do it right, you can get HFMC5 from www.jandr.com for $25. + sh. MSRP is $50. Does data, fax and voice mail. Good stuff.
.bh.

 

[lucky9]

:beer:There has to be another setting to change in the BIOS. Look for wake on ring (or modem) and set it correctly.

If that doesn't do it try, Device Manager/Modem/Properties/Power....There should be something there that will enable or disable what you need.

As a last resort, remove the modem in Device Manager and reboot (with the software set as needed to receive faxes), sometimes this is necessary for everything to "Gel" in Windows.

 

[Texun]

As I read your post it looks like you are not trying to make the computer WOR, but trying to get the computer to answer an incoming call. It's not specifically a driver or BIOS problem if WinXP sees the modem and the diagnostics report all okay. I'm not familiar with the configuration of your software, it's been a long time since I used a dial up modem, but if you can't find an auto-answer option try adding the modem string ATS0-1 to the command settings in the software, probably somewhere in the advanced settings menu. That 0 is a zero, not the letter O. The number 1 will tell the modem to answer on the first ring but you can change it as you see fit. Hope this helps.