Laptop dial up modem problem

iadom · 14-11-2006, 20:51

Basic set up. Main PC in bedroom, connected to STB via wireless router. Wireless enabled laptop.
I have had a dial up account with Zen for eight years or more, keep it as backup.
Even though I rarely use that account, my main PC has a spares ordering program installed that compiles an order which it then sends to one of my spares suppliers via fax through the PC modem. This has never failed. I can also connect to Zen Internet with no problems on the main PC. The main phone in socket (Ntl) is in the lounge and the cable from my PC terminates in a double socket which is plugged into the Ntl wall socket. Into this is plugged a normal telephone. On rare occasions, the last time about a month ago, I used my laptop, plugged into the other half of the socket and was able to log onto Zen Internet without any problems.

Normally I would just use the wireless connection but in the past week or so we have had three power cuts, each one several hours in duration.

I tried to use my laptop with the dialup connection and I get a 'Telephone signal not detected' error message. The phone plugged into the other socket is live with a dial tone, however as soon as I plug the cable from the laptop into the socket I can hear the receiver click and if I pick it up the line is dead. This happens even when the laptop is switched off. Now I am not sure if this should happen

, its just that I have never noticed it before. I have tried a different cable to no avail.

Laptop modem is a Motorola SM56, I checked on Advanced Properties and noticed that it was set to USA and not the UK in Country/Region, changing this made no difference. Now I'm stuck.

Jim.

SimpleSimon · 14-11-2006, 21:02

As far as I am aware this should not happen. It sounds like the modem in the laptop is faulty and is dragging the telephone line down.

I am assuming that you can still use the fax modem in the PC ok.

Could be worth running diags on you laptop modem without a cable connected and see if it throws up any errors.

Simon

Xaccers · 14-11-2006, 21:11

Take the lead out of your PC's modem and use that to dial up from your laptop, it could be the lead that you're using with the modem that has an issue.

iadom · 14-11-2006, 21:19

DOH, I've sorted it,

but I cannot tell you how or will have to exterminate you.

Lets just say it was a senior moment.

Jim.

Marge · 14-11-2006, 21:40

Sometimes these pesky ports on laptops look the same if you haven't got your glasses on??

iadom · 14-11-2006, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marge

Sometimes these pesky ports on laptops look the same if you haven't got your glasses on??

Who blabbed.

It is over a month since I used the dialup and at the time I was working by candlelight.
I have tried it a couple of times since and still plugged it in the wrong b****y socket.

My last laptop didn't have onboard LAN, I had a plug in card, so I didn't have a choice of two sockets on that.

Jim.

nffc · 14-11-2006, 23:58

Haha the old modem in LAN port one... quite useful for telephone support

Marge · 15-11-2006, 00:38

Just glad it's all working for you Jim, used to do dial-up support in a past life lol

radsumner · 19-10-2007, 11:25

Hi
Little bit late, but I have exactly the same problem when connecting a laptop to the phone-line- ie, the phone goes dead if the modem is conencted. How did you sort it? If you'd care to divulge, it would be much appreciated! Thanks- Richard Sumner/ Ipswich

nffc · 19-10-2007, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by radsumner

Hi
Little bit late, but I have exactly the same problem when connecting a laptop to the phone-line- ie, the phone goes dead if the modem is conencted. How did you sort it? If you'd care to divulge, it would be much appreciated! Thanks- Richard Sumner/ Ipswich

If you read the thread - you would realise you have the phone line plugged into the wrong port on the computer.

Plug the phone line into the modem port, which looks like this

rather than the network port, which looks like this

The only differences are the modem port is smaller and aiui is a 4 pin connector not an 8 pin. Your phone wire would fit in to the network port but not snugly and it won't click. Oh and it shorts out.

Here's the two next to each other

(Modem on left, LAN on right, then DC in)

TheNorm · 19-10-2007, 14:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by nffc

Haha the old modem in LAN port one... ...

I did that once, when visiting my in-laws. No-one could understand why the telephones weren't working, and I couldn't understand why my laptop modem wouldn't work. It was only when I unplugged the cable and the telephone rang that I realised what I'd done. Didn't tell anyone, of course...

dragon · 19-10-2007, 23:56

I've tried to dailup without even remembering to actually plug the modem cable into the laptop.

The other one I did a couple times when I was in college was fireup firefox on my laptop and wander why I couldn't open any pages.

Might have had something to do with having left the wi-fi card at home and the fact the college didn't have a wireless network anyway (bearing in mind then 802.11b cards were Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£70+) i think the wi-fi card was worth more than my laptop at the time.