Modem questioon.. any of u still use em? I need some help

[Geocross]

Hey, I have two questions. One, my currenyt modem (in my stock Micron XP) is a PCI Aztech modem. For some reason when I'm online, if someone tries to make an incoming call, I get disconnected. It's not the phone line, because I've have other computers in this house and it has never happened. Is it simple adjustment I have to make in the control panel or something? Second question: I'm building a new PC (specs are in "Black Beauty&quot and for now I'm going to have to use a modem for dial up. In september, I will be getting DSL, so eventually I'll have to get a NIC. For now, what is the best modem to buy for my computer? I haven't gone modem shopping in a long time...

 

[Supergax]

If you have call waiting you need to add *70, in front of the phone number or else you will get disconnected.

For modems either go with a Lucent Windmodem or 3com (or USR, same difference) Winmodem.

 

[tippmann]

3coms are great modems, but if you are getting DSL in september, why not just get a cheap modem to get you by??? After September you will never use it...

 

[warlord]

supergax is right in that you need to disable your call waiting, but it may not necessarily be *70. thats what it is most places, but a few crappy phone companies use different ones, they'll be listed inside your phone book. I figured out that one the hard way.

I use a diamond supra modem, that was before I got cable though.

 

[Dundain]

I use Creative Blaster modems, and they work great. You can get the ISA version for just over $40 with shipping...and Ive had no problems with the four I had in different computers. Though one died from lightning strike, but that wasnt its fault that it couldnt stand a couple thousand volts of electricity!

 

[Supergax]

I've had nothing but problems with Creative modems. Anyways, you can get a 3com winmodem from www.mwave.com for around 30 bucks. Yeah, if you are going to be going to dsl in a few months you could try the compusa 5 dollar modem special, but there is more of a chance that you will have connection issues with it.

 

[Geocross]

Considering that modems aren't that expensive, and the cost for a quality modem is only about $50 or less, I think I'll just go top notch. I will say that there is no way in hell I will buy a winmodem. I think I'll either purchase a modem blaster online or at my local electronics boutique they have the Diamond supermax's for about $35....

 

[Supergax]

I'm pretty sure modem blasters are winmodems. If you want to go top notch you certainly aren't for 30 bucks, almost every modem I've seen around that price range is a winmodem. You will have to look a little higher around 50 and up for a hardware modem.

And oh yeah, the main problem I have with the modem blaster is that it IS NOT supported by Windows 2000, which from looking it appears that is what you are going to put on your machine you are building.

We have 12 3com windmodems and 9 usr winmodems at work in our computers for testing dial-up issues (I work for an ISP), and they all connect fine in the upper 48000 baud area.

 

[Geocross]

well, i have to determine how serious I am about getting DSL. The truth is, I haven't even found an apartment yet in Boston, so I don't even know is DSL is going to be available to me, or what services are ( I was looking at earthlink) I did find one modem that caught my eye, the 3COM US Robotics (they the same company now?) performance pro modem. It's $70, but might be worth it from the feature I've read on it. BTW, I'm an idiot, and fixed my current modem by adding *70 to the dial up. thanks for leading me in the right direction. You can't imagine how frustrating its been to get disconnected evrytime someone called (and I have 3 roommates)....

 

[Dan]

Geocross: With all due respect to tippmann, don't think that getting broadband means you can get rid of your analog modem.

I've had broadband in one form or another for almost 18 months. (First DSL and now cable.) And yet, I still have my trusty 56k USR hardware modem (ISA) in my system. All it takes is one idiot with a backhoe -- or a downed server half a continent away -- and you'll be temporarily back to dial-up.

Tip: While your broadband is working, download something like netzero and keep it handy.