I am having problems getting a USB modem to work on my computer. I've tried two different modems with no luck. Modem detects dial-tone and dials but "handshake" is all broken and garbled. Hyperterminal works fine.
I'm concerned that I have a power problem with the USB port/s. How can I check the power going to the modem? What should it be?
Thanks!
CoachB

Chances are slim that it is a power supply problem if any other usb devices manage to work. Check any other usb devices you may have and see if they work.

Fruss Tray Ted,

Went to the trouble of restoring everything to stock configuration last night. Stock voltages, multis, FSB, HSF, and low grade GPU (GeForce2). No effect on connection ability.
Modem and Computer seem to be communicating fine. "Device Manager" reports all is well with modem, modem diagnostics run ok. Modem initializes, gets dial-tone, and dials clearly and cleanly. Only when "handshake" begins do things go south.
I tried running a long handset cord out to the telco box outside. I was able to connect 5 for 5 tries but still got garbled "handshake" and slow connection speed. I think I have a telco problem altho the first tech they set out said he could find no issues.
BTW, I don't have other USB devices to test with. Daughter at college has Lexmark printer USB that I will have her bring home during Christmas break which starts Friday.
Thanks for your reply and I'll keep you posted!
CoachB

If you can dial out but not then make a proper connection with your isp's server a faulty line must be on the cards. If you listen on the line (after pressing just one key to silence the dial tone) can you hear any audible clicks or crackles. I have also seen what you describe when there has been a bad/loose connection where the telecom connector went into the wall jack (on that occasion just reversing the telephone cable fixed the problem - but trying a new one would not be a bad idea).

Could you elaborate on "Hyperterminal works fine" - or do you just mean you can sent it ati commands ok. If you bring up the terminal window before dialing you can send these commands there rather than using hypertermina at all.

Hi Paul,
Thanks for the suggestions/info. I can use hyperterminal to dial out. It dials fine and connects with my cell phone with no problem.
Also, when I do a modem diagnostic from "Device Manager" the modem responds quickly and reports no problems.
I gotten a batch of Cat5 phone cable and am going to renew/replace all house wiring this weekend. I intend to run a direct line from telco box to each internal jack with nothing else connected.
Phone line doesn't crackle or pop but has a distinct hummmmmm.
I have an e-mail in to USR for some (hopefully useful) advice. Optimistic aren't I???
Thanks again,
CoachB

I can use hyperterminal to dial out. It dials fine and connects with my cell phone with no problem
Simply dialing a telecom number with Hyperterminal or with the MS PhoneDialer is not the same as exchanging data between your modem and another one on another computer. The former apps "dialing out" can tolerate any amount of line noise because they never listen to what is happening on the line - once they have dialed then their jobs are essentially done.

Dialing is not a substitute for "making a data connection" for which you need a good modem, the appropriate drivers, apps, software, etc and a much higher quality telephone line.

I used to think that dialing was a useful test but it only gives you limited info. I remember this because although I could dial out on one particular modem, the client just could not connect to AOL until the telephone cable between the modem and the wall was replaced! If you cant connect to your ISP there is most probably something wrong with your software (so by all means try reinstalling DUN and your Winsock and that dial up connection itself as well as getting an updating the latest drivers for your modem) or else my guess is that the line quality is problematic or, less likely, that your ISP has a problem.

I know you have used two different modems but USB can be tricky because it is hard to uninstall everything if there was any unseen problem installing the hardware at the very start and when the sequences of what you do can be critical. You might want to try a good modern v92 hardware modem (serial or more rarely pci) since they can be a bit better at overcoming "interuptions" caused by small amounts of line noise.

Hi,

Haven't worked with modems for a while but as I remmember if there was a problem with handshacking then the problem is with communication. Is both modems are set with same parameters?

Does your ISP have an init string suggestion for your paticular type/brand of modem?

Can you lower the connection speed to make a good connection and successful handshaking?

I also remember some old USR modems had to be set in windows to connect at the highest possible speed (115,200) or they would not work, even if they were only 33.6k or 56k modems.

Another thought - are you using DSL for your high speed internet connection? Sometimes with newer 800 MHz or 2.6 GHZ cordless telephones on the line in the house, you have to DOUBLE the line filters, to make the computer's modem work correctly

Ms-fixit and ziba-june,

Thanks for the replies!
I had a fun time last evening replacing all the phone cables under the house....I HATE CRAWL SPACES.
Anyway, the phones are MUCH clearer now and the modem is connecting every time. It still sounds 'funky' though. You get used to hearing a certain sound pattern and can tell when its changed, however, trying to describe it is another matter.
I will check with my ISP (AOL...groan) about the "initiation string"...an excellent suggestion. I've tried lowering the speed, and disabling V.92. The modem is a newer model, USR 5633A. Also, no DSL and no cordless phones. I'm just glad to be able to connect again even if it doesn't seem quite right.

Here in Nashville TN, Hockey was just beginning to really catch on. I only see this hurting the sport here.

Thanks again,
CoachB

"I've tried lowering the speed" - But how and where?

Well since you can now connect, even if badly, the problem is much narrowed down and even more likely to be simply due to a bad quality telco connection.

Rather than speed port settings up I would try lowering the settings for the FIFO buffers - if that isn't what you meant by "lowering the speed". If you cant find them post back because they are to be found in different places in the different OSes.

A modern modem that is "working" should be OK with V92 in most cases even if not enabled at the ISP's end, which very few seem to have done at all to allow you to hold a phone call and not lose the internet connection. However V92 and the associated protocols should enhance other aspects of the connection such as learning about the connection, improved file compression and upload speeds.

Just make sure you have the latest drivers installed for it - that can be important - and beware that getting USB drivers wrong can, in particular, be very hard to correct - just another reason for using a good quality hardware modem.

Paul,

I "lowered the speed" by reducing the maximum port speed from 115,200. Not knowing what the FIFO buffers are/were, I didn't change them. I re-established V.92 as that made no difference on or off.
I am currently researching USB issues/problems and may attempt to remove and re-install USB functionality. USB 1.1 comes on the mobo installation disk. USB 2.0 somes with SP1 (as you probably already know). I've looked at a site called USBMAN.COM. Any other resources you would suggest??

I may have to go to a hardware modem to get the performance I want. They are just so expensive. Maybe I can trade up from this USR.

Thanks for all your wisdom and suggestions.
CoachB

You should be able to get a PCI56RVP (http://www.e-tech.nu/Product_Detail/1017/E) for $15-20 or maybe less (http://www.google.com/search?q=PCI56AVP). They may be cheap but are good and effective and are the default modem I now use in any "I built it" PC.

I would leave the port settings on their defaults. You don't say which OS you are using but under WinXP the FIFO settings are at [Control Panel -- Phone and Modems -- Modems -- Properties -- Advanced -- Advanced Port Settings]; move them both down a click at a time and retry. You could search for your OS and FIFO in Google or post your OS back here.

Paul,

I didn't realize I hadn't completed my sig with my system specs, sorry! I guess it does help to know a little about the system, huh.
Have you gotten good performance out of those modems??
I'll try the FIFO settings to see if it helps.
CoachB

All I can say is that I used to have a terrible time myself and was for ever chasing up the telecom, rewiring the house, looking for weird things like power lines and electric fences in the area, tweaking the modem settings, updating drivers, etc, etc. Getting a good modem has made the whole difference and I can now download a 1MB compressed file in about 4 minutes compared to 15 minutes (plus a couple of diconnections) previously. The two modems that have worked very well for me are both pci; the creative modem blaster v92 and the Intel-based PCI56RVP hardware. The latter supports linux and is 1/3 the cost so I guess you know which one I am using these days. Of course its possible that the telecoms just happened to have upgraded the lines when I ditched my old 56K soft modem sitting on a CNR slot.

I have both these modems at home and so if I started to get problems I would swap them and if the problems persisted I would know that the problem was outside the house. There's no way of knowing if a new modem will solve one's problems but it helps to pinpoint where the trouble lies. But don't ever forget the obvious; last week a neighbour solved her "bad connection" by emptying and compressing her inbox!!

Glad to hear you are having SOME luck fixing this - fooling around with AT commands and init strings isn't my idea of a pleasant evening <G>.