USR modem failure, no dial tone

[teddymines]

My USR 56k faxmodem suddenly stopped working. When an app sends a dial command, it doesn't pick up the line to get the dial tone...there is no dial tone sound coming from its speaker. There are other sounds, like the tones from the modem dialing, but no dial tone. I checked the phone line/cable and I know it is good and plugged into the correct jack port. In fact, a phone daisy-chained off the modem's phone jack works fine.

Any clues? There have been no cabling or configuration changes. It fails in both Windows 2000 and 98se. The only 2 things that come to mind are that I leave the modem powered on all the time, even if the computer is off. Also, we had a very close lightning strike, but it didn't affect anything in the house like power or phones.

 

[teddymines]

Bump, anyone help?

 

[Heretik]

Have you tried going into Device Manager and uninstalling the modem, then re-detecting it? My old Courier V.Everything modem does that every once in a great while and that always clears it up. Never could figure out EXACTLY why (never really researched the problem) but it does it so seldom, it's not that big a deal (to me).

 

[MWink]

Also, we had a very close lightning strike, but it didn't affect anything in the house like power or phones.

Well, if your modem is fried it DID affect something. That probably is what happened. I know someone who had the same exact problem with a Compaq laptop. It stopped getting a dial tone after a bad T-storm. I reinstalled windows and everything. Ended up getting a PCMCIA modem. I have a feeling yours is fried. Take the system apart and look for any obvious burn marks on the modem. You might want to invest in a good surge protector with phone protection (I recommend APC).

 

[Peter]

Yup, the classics after a closeby lightning strike are toasted LAN and modems, both on the line interface side. They look fine on the software side, yet the physical interface is toast.

regards, Peter

 

[AndrewPaulNet]

Hello,

It's very odd that you say the modem dials but there is no dial tone. I had a USR that fried 2 years ago, to this day I'm not positive what it could be. What I do know is that it never dialled and it had problems reading the Eprom, that's how I was certain. More currently I experienced a modem which would open a line and refuse to close it. It would keep that line open no matter what, you could plug stuff in an out - the only way to close it was to disconnect the line from the wall. Modems are just funny that way. The least kind of power interruptions can mess them up.

I suspect your modem port/plug is fried...and not the modem itself - well, it's just as bad because getting it fixed is going to be as much as another USR modem. If the modem is good for warranty, you could try sending it in to USR. They have a 60/40 chance of fixing it, since technically, what you have is not a defect, but a frying....


Good Luck

 

[teddymines]

Thanks for the advice. I tried USR's modem troubleshooting guide here and still no luck. Before I give up, I'll check the voltage from the transformer and check the phone cord. I believe the com port is fine because I can talk to the modem, it just won't pick up. I took it apart and there was no burn marks. I'll also try uninstalling and reinstalling. Maybe it's time for a phone line surge supressor.

 

[Peter]

Those surge suppressors won't help against a lightning strike, and other surges on phone lines are so rarely seen that it's pointless.

regards, Peter

 

[teddymines]

I think it may be the power transformer, because it is supposed to put out 9V and my multimeter says 0.1 volts.

 

[MWink]

Those surge suppressors won't help against a lightning strike, and other surges on phone lines are so rarely seen that it's pointless.

Well, it couldn't hurt.

Also most good surge protectors have an equipment protection policy.

 

[Peter]

Yes it can hurt ... you wouldn't be the first to see your V.90 connect speed go down.

If you want protection against the damages of a lightning strike, get an insurance. These are pretty cheap unless you live downstairs of Thor's home cloud

 

[AndrewPaulNet]

Whatever it is, as long as it's nothing easily fixed....I suggest you use your warranty to replace it.
Then buy yourself, not a surge protector, but an APC UPS. Doesn't have to be a giant one.
A '500' can get your PC a few minutes. A '280' can run a typical 250w power supply for about 6 minutes.
It can run a 300/350 for about 2 minutes without a monitor or anything else connected, and will unconditionally protect a phoneline.

Good Luck

 

[Peter]

No it won't. The UPS is in the power cord, not in the phone cord. And it's the actual phone line and network cabling that toasts the modems and NICs, not a surge in the power line.
Besides, UPSes are equally useless against high voltage surges on the main power line. They just keep your stuff running during a downward voltage failure, and offer limited protection against power net induced upward surges in the same order of magnitude (like, a 50V upward spike). No way these things do anything against the 10 to 200 kV of a lightning strike.

regards, Peter

 

[teddymines]

I've given up on the modem, time to buy a new one. I hesitate on internal modems for 2 reasons: they steal an IRQ, and another lightning strike in the phone line can fry my motherboard.

Newegg's cheapest ext modem looks like $83. Can anyone recommend a fast ext modem (serial) that is around $40-$50?

 

[AndrewPaulNet]

Why waste the money?

Just use the warranty and get it fixed by USR.

Failing that, cuz you're just lazy and can't bother - I'd check out ebay first of all, but then lazy people shouldn't use that cuz they'll never win a bid. Go to pricewatch and try to find one there.
The cheapest I found were some 17 dollar USB modems - which should be fine. But you said you want serial - good luck on that one. I was too lazy to look it up for you

 

[teddymines]

First of all, calm down. I'm not sure where you got the idea I was lazy. FYI, my modem is over 3 years old, dead because of lightning, and therefore not covered by warranty (see bottom).

Second, I was looking for advice from people on AT regarding ext serial modems. I appreciate your input on USB modems, but do not appreciate being called lazy, regardless of the wink.

 

[MWink]

I've given up on the modem, time to buy a new one. I hesitate on internal modems for 2 reasons: they steal an IRQ, and another lightning strike in the phone line can fry my motherboard.

Also, external modems are just as likely to damage the mother board as a PCI modem (if not more). They still connect directly to the mother board (just by the Parallel port). They can just as easily fry you mother board or any other parts. In fact I think they would be more likely to damage you mother board as they use their own power adapter which a surge could come through.

BTW, I use an APC Back-UPS Pro 650 with phone line surge protection. I run my phone line through it and I still connect at 52k.

 

[AndrewPaulNet]

The lazy thing was a joke :disgust:
If you're going to take it as an insult then I'll apologize....didn't realize people were so tight...um, lipped.
My modem was over 3 years old too. I returned a 33.6 I believe, at a time when 56ks were well mature.
All I was saying was to try. As for serial modems, if you search for External and Serial in modems on Pricewatch.com, you'll find them. The cheapest was a 37 dollar Wisecom. I did say to search on Pricewatch, didn't I?

Peter - you'll need to check up on your knowledge of UPSs. Your concept is very very misguided.
Go search up some info on the use of the general UPS and see what getting a UPS in 2002 can save you.

Peace.

 

[MWink]

Oops... I owe AndrewPaulNet a big apology. I'm sorry!

I meant to say, don't listen to Peter. AndrewPaulNet was correct. I got the posts confused. I have edited the above posts.

Again, I'm very sorry AndrewPaulNet.

 

[AndrewPaulNet]

In which case Mwink - I'll retract anything I've posted towards you.

Thanks for the apology. Honorable of you. Easy mistake to make on these things.

No hard feelings.

L8r.