How to not tie up phone line via one phone line + dial up?

[Coligeon]

I was just curious if there is anything you can buy besides getting a second phone line or call waiting that will do the same job? I few days ago I saw an advertisement for a product called teh SWitchboard from Emerson. It supposidly just plugged into your computer and then was adble to split the connection when you received a phone call to avoid being dissconnected, or prevent teh caller from getting through. However, after reading through it, call waiting is required. Is there anything similar to this in teh same price range? Thanks.

 

[drag]

na, the switch board is probably a bit of a scam.... your modem aught to be able to use call waiting to automaticly disconnect from the internet. if you set it up correctly.

A regular dial up modem uses the exact same frequency on a phone line that you would use to be able to talk to someone else. The computer is just "talking" to another computer using a modem and that computer sends the signal thru into the internet. Thats it (of course the isp computer will have something like 30 or 40 modems, hehe)

DSL works because it uses a much higher frecuency than the regular phone uses. Thats why it can coexist on the same wire, however for this to happen it needs special equipment on the other side to detect that signal.

So unless you are willing to spend the extra money on the a alternative internet connection you are just going to have to live with it.

 

[Coligeon]

mmmm, I figured enough, thanks.

 

[jbritt1234]

Do you have call waiting? There are a few modems out there that have the capability to tell when a call is beeping in, tell you about it, then switch to the new call. Some of them work with caller ID also to tell you who is calling. It keeps the Internet session alive while you are on the call. Then it switches back when you are finished.

I don?t recall a name off the top of my head but CompUSA, Best-Buy type places should have it.

 

[Coligeon]

No, I do not have call waiting. I am trying to ask if there is something physical I can buy that will do the equivalent without having to pay monthly bills. Apparently there is not though, thanks.