Chapter 23: Configuring Windows to Work with Your Modem

Before you connect to the Internet (or any other computer) using a modem, you must install your modem, whether you use a conventional modem and phone line, or a high-speed broadband DSL (digital subscriber loop, or line) line, cable modem, or satellite line.

Once your modem is installed, you're ready to read Chapter 24 to sign up for a new Internet account or set up Windows to connect to an existing account.

Note  

If you connect to the Internet over a local area network (LAN) rather than by using a modem, contact your LAN system administrator. If you are the system administrator, see Chapter 32.

If you use a dial-up modem (with a regular or ISDN line) with a laptop, you may want to set up a dialing location for each telephone line from which you dial, so that Windows knows when to dial 1 and the area code. If you charge the cost of your calls to a telephone calling card, you can configure Windows to dial the digits to charge your calling card automatically.

Configuring Windows to Use Your Dial-Up Modem

Up until a few years ago, the most common way to connect to the Internet had been via a dial-up modem that attaches to a regular phone line (or via a LAN, for computers in large organizations). Now, high-speed Internet options that are available through cable companies, wireless grids, electrical utilities, satellite companies, and other sources provide most of the Internet access for business, schools , and regular consumers. However, some users (such as those with low bandwidth needs-e-mail for example) still opt for dial-up connections to the Internet. They are much slower than high-speed alternatives, but they are also usually much less expensive.

When setting up your modem for dial-up Internet accounts, Windows needs to know exactly which make of dial-up modem you have, so it can send the appropriate commands.

You can also tell Windows from which area code you usually dial, from what other locations you make calls (if you have a portable computer), and to which calling cards you want to charge your calls.

What Does Windows Know About Your Modem?

When you install a modem, Windows either determines what kind of modem it is or asks you. Windows installs a modem driver, a small program that usually comes with the modem (Windows comes with modem drivers for many popular modems; see Chapter 14, "Configuring Windows to Work with Your Hardware").

You can look at or change your modem configuration settings by choosing Start Control Panel, clicking Hardware And Sound, and then clicking Phone And Modem Options. (If Windows doesn't know you have a modem, the Add Hardware Wizard runs. If your modem is external, make sure it is turned on, and then follow the wizard's instructions to set up the modem.)

You see the Phone And Modem Options dialog box. Click the Modems tab to see a list of the installed modems, as shown in Figure 23-1. Select the appropriate modem from the list, and then click the Properties button to see the Properties dialog box for the modem, shown in Figure 23-2. (The exact appearance of the dialog box depends on which modem driver you select.) To find out which modem driver Windows uses for your modem, click the Driver tab in the modem's Properties dialog box.

Figure 23-1: The Phone And Modem Options dialog box.

Figure 23-2: The Properties dialog box for a modem.

Table 23-1 lists the modem properties that appear in the Properties dialog box for most modems. Table 23-2 shows additional settings that appear in the Default Preferences dialog box for the modem, which you display by clicking the Advanced tab in the modem's Properties dialog box, and then clicking the Change Default Preferences button. Except where noted, don't change these settings unless you are sure your modem is configured incorrectly. Most people never have to change these settings except in consultation with their modem manufacturer, communications software publisher, or Internet service provider.

Table 23-1: Modem Properties in the Properties Dialog Box

Tab	Setting	Description
General	Device status	Shows whether the modem is working properly or not.
Modem	Port	Specifies how your modem is connected to your computer. PCs have serial communications ports named COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4 (most PCs come with only COM1 and COM2), or your modem may connect to a USB port. Even if your modem is internal (installed inside the computer), it is assigned a port.
Modem	Speaker volume	Specifies how loud the modem's speaker is set, or how loud the system speaker plays modem sounds.
Modem	Maximum Port Speed	Specifies the maximum speed at which your modem can communicate over the cable to your computer (not over the phone to another modem), in bits per second (bps , usually 115,200 bps).
Modem	Dial Control	Specifies whether to wait for the modem to detect a dial tone before sending commands to dial; if the modem can't detect a dial tone, this should be deselected. Outside North America, many modems require this to be deselected.
Diagnostics	Modem Information	Displays identifying information about your modem, such as its serial number. Click Query Modem to see the responses to standard modem commands (refer to your modem's manual for the meanings of the commands and responses).
Diagnostics	Append to Log	Specifies whether to store information sent to and from the modem in a log file-usually in C:\Windows\ Modemlog_moctemname.txt. The log file is useful for troubleshooting; to see the log file, click View Log.
Advanced	Extra initialization commands	Lists additional commands to send to your modem after Windows sends the standard initialization commands. Consult your modem's manual for a list of commands your modem understands.
Driver	Driver Provider, Driver Date, Driver Version, Digital Signer	Displays information about the software driver for the modem. Click Driver Details for more information, including the names and locations of the driver files. Click Update Driver to install a new driver. Click Roll Back Driver to reinstall a previously installed driver. Click Disable to keep the modem installed and set up, but disable it for troubleshooting purposes. Click Uninstall to remove the driver.
Details	Property	Displays a number of modem properties in the Value list when you select an item from the Property drop-down list.

Table 23-2: Modem Properties in the Default Preferences Dialog Box

Tab	Setting	Description
General	Disconnect a call if idle for more than xx mins	Specifies whether to hang up the phone connection if no data is transmitted for a specified number of minutes (usually not selected). Choose this setting if you want to avoid leaving the phone off the hook when you remain online by accident .
General	Cancel the call if not connected within xx sees	Specifies whether to time-out after this number of seconds if no connection occurs (usually selected, with a time-out period of 60 seconds).
General	Port speed	Same as the Maximum Port Speed in the modem Properties dialog box (see Table 23-1).
General	Data Protocol	Specifies what type of error correction to use. Removing error correction may allow modems to make a connection, but may make the connection less reliable.
General	Compression	Specifies whether to compress data before transmitting it (usually enabled). Not all modems support data compression, and the modem to which it is communicating must also support it.
General	Flow control	Specifies whether to use a system of flow control to control the flow of data between your modem and your computer. If selected, you have two options: Xon/Xoff or Hardware (preferred).
Advanced	Data bits	Specifies the number of data bits , the number of bits of information included in each byte sent (must be 8 bits).
Advanced	Parity	Specifies whether the modem uses parity , which means the modem sends an error-detection bit as the eighth bit of each byte; and, if so, which type of parity (usually None).
Advanced	Stop bits	Specifies how many extra stop bits are sent after each byte (must be 1 bit).
Advanced	Modulation	Specifies the modulation , which is how your modem converts the digital information from your computer into analog "sound" information for transmission over the phone.

Tip  

You can also display your modem's Properties dialog box from the Device Manager: select the modem and click the Properties button on the toolbar.

Troubleshooting Your Modem

If you have trouble getting your modem to connect, here are some things to check:

• Make sure the correct modem driver is installed Look on the Modems tab of the Phone And Modem Options dialog box to make sure the correct modem is listed. Remove any modems that are no longer installed. If the wrong modem is listed, select it and click Remove. Then click Add to run the Add Hardware Wizard and install the correct modem.

• Make sure the modem driver is enabled Choose Start, right-click Computer, choose Manage, and choose Device Manager from the list at the left side of the Computer Management window. Choose View Devices By Type, and then click the plus (+) sign next to the Modems entry on the list of devices. Your modem should appear in the list: if it appears with an exclamation point or X on it, something is wrong. Click it and click the Properties button to display the Properties dialog box for the modem. On the General tab, make sure that Device Usage is set to Use This Device (Enabled).

• Make sure the modem is connected to the correct port Display the Properties dialog box for the modem, as described in the preceding paragraph. On the Modem or General tab, check that you see the port to which the modem is connected.

• Make sure the modem speed is right On the Modem tab in the Properties dialog box for the modem, check the Maximum Port Speed setting. Choosing a lower speed may solve your connection problem.

Tip  

If you have an external modem, be sure the modem is turned on.