Phone and Modem Options

The Phone and Modem Options applet lets you add, remove, and set the properties of the modems connected to your system. You can also declare dialing rules (long-distance numbers, call waiting, credit card calls, and so on), and add and remove telephony drivers.

If you can can't get your modem to connect, see "Cannot Connect" in the "Troubleshooting" section at the end of this chapter.

The Windows Telephony Interface

Windows XP has a telephony interface, essentially an API that provides the means (hooks) for communications applications to work through the operating system. In fact, this interface is called TAPI. Through TAPI, the operating system provides a standard way for communications applications to access COM ports and devices such as modems and telephone sets when handling data, fax, and voice transmissions.

TAPI empowers applications to make, answer, and hang up calls; put calls on hold; perform call transfer; record voice mail; and make conference calls. Fully TAPI-compliant applications should be able to work with conventional telephone lines, PBX and Centrex systems, and with specialized services such as cellular, ISDN, and DSL.

Much like the way process contention is handled by TCP/IP for network transmission or by the process scheduler for CPU usage, TAPI allows multiple communications to request the same resources, without a data collision occurring. The advantage to the end user is that you don't have to shut down a program that's waiting for incoming calls before you use a different program to send a fax, for example. Nor do you have to keep entering modem, phone number, dialing options, and COM port settings into each new communications program installed. These settings, just like printer settings, are stored in the system and are available for every communications program, such as HyperTerminal or dial-up connections through Network Connections.

The Phone and Modems applet in the Control Panel offers a central location for altering some TAPI settings, as well as for installing and configuring modems and telephone devices. Installing and configuring a modem were covered in Chapter 8, "Internet and TCP/IP Connection Options," so I'll dispense with the basics of modem installation here. Refer to that chapter if you're hooking up a new modem.

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You can use cell phones for data communications, for example, from a laptop in the field. Remember two points, though. The phone must be set to run in analog mode. Also, in the best of circumstances, you will get only 9600bps throughput because of limitations in the cellular transmission channel.

To set up cellular communications, you need a modem that is compatible with the cell phone you have and a cable designed specifically for connecting your model of phone to that modem. I use a standard Motorola "flip phone" with a Megahertz cellular-ready modem. With this combo, not much fiddling is required, but I made sure before I purchased the modem that it would work with my make and model phone.

As for settings, I did drop down the transfer rate to 9600 baud, and because my phone is analog/digital, I have to force it into analog mode for each call. This extra step is a bit of an annoyance, but I'll survive. Then I connect the cell phone to the modem, power up the phone, and initiate the dialing sequence. With any luck, I get on the Internet. Don't forget the per-minute cost of cellular connections! The charges can add up. If you do a lot of on-the-road connecting, check out one of the wireless connection options such as Ricochet's or Hughes's service, which are typically offered at a reasonable flat rate for a full 24x7 connection.

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Windows XP supports modem aggregation, which is also called PPP multilink dialing. It essentially allows you to group modems together to increase the connection bandwidth. This process is a little tricky and requires multiple phone lines and multiple ISP accounts to work, as well as an ISP that supports synchronization of multiple modems.

In general, your default TAPI and modem properties will probably work fine and won't need to be changed. If you do need to change them, remember that changes affect all applications that use the modem whose properties you modify. To change the modem properties after installation is complete, open the Control Panel, and double-click the Phone and Modem Options icon.

Dialing Rules

On the Dialing Rules tab of the Phone and Modem Options dialog, you can set up your dialing locations and rules pertaining to those locations, such as phone number prefixes for outside lines, calling card access codes, and so on. If you move around (road-warrior style), you can add some new locations to the default one that's already set up for you as the current user.

You can either edit or add a dialing location from this tab. Table 24.12 describes the settings.

Table 24.12. Setting Dialing Rules for Each Location

Option	Description
Location Name	This field specifies the name of each configuration set. To create a new configuration, use the New button and type a name in the Create New Location dialog box.
Country/Region	This field contains a drop-down menu that lists the international dialing codes for most countries of the world. Choose the name of the country from which you will be originating calls. The United States, Canada, and many Caribbean countries all use the same Country Code.
Area Code	Type your own area code in this field.
To Access an Outside Line for Local Calls	If your modem line is in an office where you must dial 9 for an outside line or some other code for long distance, type that number here. If you have a direct outside line, leave this field blank.
To Access an Outside Line for Long-Distance Calls	If you have to dial 9 or 8 for long-distance calls, enter that number. Remember that you need to use this field only when your modem is connected to a PBX or other telephone system that uses a special code for toll calls. Do not use this field for the 1 prefix that you dial before making long-distance calls. The dialer adds tha code automatically.
Use This Carrier Code to Make Long-Distance Calls	If you use one of the long distance services which require a carrier code to be dialed, such as 10-10-811 or 10-10-220, use this field to provide it. The dialer adds that code automatically.
Use This Carrier Code to Make International Calls	If you use one of the international calling services which require a carrier code, use this field to provide it. The dialer adds that code automatically.
To Disable Call Waiting, Dial	If your phone service has call waiting, it can be a nuisance and cause your data connection to fail when a phone call comes in while you're online. Most call waiting services let you turn off the service for the duration of the current call by entering *70, 70#, or 1170 before making the call. If you have call waiting, you should turn on this option and enter the code your phone company tells you, or choose the correct code. Often your local telephone directory has the necessary code listed. The comma after the code causes a 1-or 2-second pause after dialing the special code, often necessary before dialing the actual phone number.
Tone or Pulse Dialing	Most pushbutton telephones use tone dialing (known in the United States as TouchTone dialing). However, older dial telephones and some cheap pushbutton phones use pulse signaling instead. Chances are good that your telephone circuit will accept tone dialing even if a dial telephone is connected to it. Try it if in doubt. Change to pulse if it doesn't make a connection.

Area Code Rules Tab

On the Area Code Rules tab, you can set details about the use of an area code, specifically the use of the 1 prefix for certain exchanges. If you have to dial 1 (but no area code) for certain areas, you can add those prefixes here.

Click New to create a new rule, and fill in the resulting dialog box.

Calling Card Tab

You might not need to worry about calling cards at all if you travel using an ISP that has many points of presence. The larger ISPs such as Mindspring, CompuServe, and AOL have local dial-up numbers from most major cities. Some also have 800 numbers that you can use when connecting phones from remote locations. If you need to bill your connection to a telephone company (or long-distance service) calling card, though, you set those options on the Calling Card tab.

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If you use more than one calling card, you can create a different location for each one. Telephony programs, such as Phone Dialer or the Send Fax Wizard, normally let you change the location before dialing.

As you probably know from using a calling card for voice calls, to place and charge a call with a calling card, you dial a special string of numbers that includes a carrier access code, your account number, and the number you're calling. In some cases, you have to call a service provider, enter your account number, and wait for a second dial tone before you can actually enter the number you want to call.

To assign a calling card, follow these steps:

1.	Click the location you are assigning it to on the Dialing Rules tab of the Phone and Modem Options dialog.
2.	Click Edit.
3.	Fill in the general information and any area code rules.
4.	Click the Calling Card tab.
5.	Choose the card type you have. If it's not listed, click New and fill in the resulting dialog box, using the ? (question mark) button for assistance. If your service is one of the presets, all the necessary settings, such as pauses and dialing codes, are made for you.
6.	Enter your Account Number and Personal ID Number (PIN) if necessary. Not all calling card options require them, so these options may be grayed out.

Setting or Editing Calling Card Scripts

If you get into editing the calling card rules for a location, you're in pretty deep. There's not enough room here to walk you through a description of every setting and how the dialog box works, but I can give you a few tips. For more details, consult the Windows XP Resource Kit.

Basically, you can set up and edit a sequence of events, like a script, in the Edit Calling Card dialog. You can not only change the sequence of events, but you can also enter any specific numbers or other codes. When you make the call, the events progress from the top of the box to the bottom. You can set up a script for each kind of call: local, long distance, and international.

You can use the Edit Calling Card dialog box when you have to fine-tune a calling card's dialing script. Do so only if the presets for your calling card service don't already work. The six buttons below the steps list insert new steps into the script.

Some services require you to wait for a "bing" tone before continuing with the dialing. If the tone your carrier plays isn't detected by your modem, try experimenting with different pause lengths instead. You typically are allowed a few seconds to enter the remainder of the sequence, so the pause amount may not be critical as long as you have waited for the bing.

If a connection isn't working, and you're fine-tuning these events, it sometimes helps to lift the receiver of a phone on the same line and listen (or turn on the modem's speaker), monitoring the sounds. You'll be better able to figure out where a sequence is bombing out.

Setting Modem Properties

So much for dialing rules. The second tab in the Phone and Modem Options dialogModemsis for setting modem properties. Accessing a modem's properties opens the same dialog box as when accessing a device's properties through the Device Manager. Typically, you don't need to change your modem properties, so unless you're having difficulty, remember this old adage: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

To alter a modem's properties, follow these steps:

1.	Click the Modems tab.
2.	Choose the modem.
3.	Click Properties.

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Notice that you can add and remove modems from this Properties dialog box, too, although you can do so just as easily from the Add Hardware applet.

You can dig pretty deeply into the tabs on a modem's Properties dialog box, especially the Advanced one. As per usual Microsoft strategy on its communications stuff, if you're used to pre-Windows XP dialogs, you'll find things have shifted around, and you'll have to do a little hunting. Table 24.13 lists a few notes about some of the more salient settings.

Table 24.13. Modem Properties Settings

Setting	Description
Port	You can use the drop-down Port menu to specify the COM port to which your modem is connected. If you don't have a drop-down list box, you don't have a choice of ports.
Speaker Volume	The Speaker Volume control is a slide setting that sets the loudness of the speaker inside your modem. In some cases, you will have only Off and On as options rather than a variable speaker volume.
Maximum Port Speed	When your modem makes a connection, it tries to use the maximum speed to exchange data with the modem at the other end of the link. As a rule, if you have a 38400bps or faster modem, the maximum speed should be three or four times the rated modem speed (for example, set your modem speed to 115200) to take advantage of the modem's built-in data compression. Note that the Advanced settings' Port Speed setting interacts with this one.
Dial Control	You can choose whether the dialer should wait to detect a dial tone before proceeding.
Extra Initialization Commands	The Extra Settings section is a place to send additional AT commands to your modem. In most cases, you don't need to add any special commands. Because different modem manufacturers use slightly different command sets, you'll have to consult your modem manual for specific commands.
Data Protocol	If you're using a cellular phone with the modem, choose Cellular Protocol in the default settings page's Data Protocol drop-down list. Cell phones use special data error compression and correction protocols to increase connection speed. The modem still works with this setting turned off, but the connection may improve if it's turned on. Don't use Cellular Protocol if your cell phone service doesn't support it.
Change Default Preferences	The Data bits, Parity, and Stop bits settings must be the same at both ends of a data link. The most common settings are 8 data bits, no parity, and one stop bit. These are set on the Advanced tab of the Default Preferences dialog box. On the General tab of this dialog box, call preferences options control when idle calls are disconnected and how long to attempt a connection before canceling. Also on this tab are settings for port speed, data/protocol, compression, and flow controlconsult the modem's manual for specifics on these settings.
Advanced Port Settings	Clicking this button brings up the Advanced Port Settings dialog box. These settings determine how incoming and outgoing data is buffered by the COM port UARTS. Leave them alone unless you have information from your ISP or modem manufacturer, or you suspect that dropping them will help with connection success. Before you change these settings, drop the maximum port speed, which controls the data transmission speed between the modem and the port. If you do experiment with them, and your throughput drops significantly, return to this screen, and click Defaults to set the sliders and check box back to the original suggested settings.
Distinctive Ring	A tab for this option appears only if your modem supports the feature. "Distinctive ring" is a service from your phone company that provides different ring patterns for different kinds of incoming calls. Depending on the kind of modem you have, you can have between three and six numbers, or addresses, for one telephone line. Each number can have a distinctive ring pattern. You can also assign each ring pattern to a specific type of program. For example, if you have two rings assigned for fax calls, any call received with that ring pattern could be automatically sent to your fax program. Some phone companies have distinctive ring patterns based on the duration of the ring rather than the number of rings. Some modems support this scenario. In general, you should choose the desired number of rings for each kind of incoming call based on settings you get from your phone company. Then check your modem's manual for details on using this feature. You'll have to enable the distinctive ring feature first by clicking the check box before you can alter the ring settings.

Diagnostic Properties

You can click the Diagnostics tab in the original Modem Properties dialog box to make it active. The Diagnostics tab asks the modem to identify itself. It can further test the modem's capability to respond to the standard AT command set, display the contents of its internal registers, and display its settings. Click Query Modem to make it so. The results of the diagnostics query will make sense only if you compare them to the expected results in the modem's manual. If things don't look square, you should look for troubleshooting information in the manual or contact the vendor for modem-specific repair options.