Laptop Modem

[ylexot]

For some reason, my laptop is having problems connecting to my ISP lately. When it dials in, the ISP answers, they start initiating coms (modulated tones and white noise) and then there is just a constant tone. Eventually, the laptop times out. I've tried messing around with modem speeds, error correction, hardware compression, etc., but no luck. Any ideas? Unfortunately, I can't just open it up and swap cards since it's a laptop. Obviously, my desktop has no problems connecting.

 

[Lugnut]

Have you tried reinstalling or updating the driver for the modem?

 

[microcomputer]

For some reason, my laptop is having problems connecting to my ISP lately. When it dials in, the ISP answers, they start initiating coms (modulated tones and white noise) and then there is just a constant tone. Eventually, the laptop times out.

I had the problem years ago. Everything was working fine (Erols) and then I couldn't connect (handshake to a constant tone). I changed the access phone number and it worked from that point on.

I also agree with the previous posting. Normally the Laptop manufacture (i.e., DELL, HP, etc.) has a site where you can download (and install) the latest drivers. I recently bought a brand new DELL. I checked out the site and had five different driver updates!

 

[ylexot]

I installed the latest driver and that didn't work. Then I tried reinstalling the dialing program. That didn't work and it couldn't connect to their server to download the access numbers Of course, even if I had the numbers, there's only one local number for me.

 

[FastCarsSpeed]

I installed the latest driver and that didn't work. Then I tried reinstalling the dialing program. That didn't work and it couldn't connect to their server to download the access numbers Of course, even if I had the numbers, there's only one local number for me.

Well a couple choices here. Make sure your not trying to authenticate on their network in your network settings.. This causes problems with ISP's all the time. The machine tends to sit there and do nothing. Also you can purchase a pcmcia 56K modem for the machine and just disable the internal. Also just as an fyi. Verizon has a deal on their airphone cards now with broadband connection (which I am on right now). Comcast hasnt run the cable yet for the house I am in so I had no choice but to get this and it actually does pretty well.

 

[microcomputer]

I installed the latest driver and that didn't work. Then I tried reinstalling the dialing program. That didn't work and it couldn't connect to their server to download the access numbers Of course, even if I had the numbers, there's only one local number for me.

You can also pick up a USB External Modem (Staples carries them - about $50). The pup is a few inches square and doesn't require a power cord (runs off you PC via the USB cable). The pup is so small that it doesn't even have a speaker to hear it dialing! It also makes for a good "backup" for other systems you might own.

 

[microcomputer]

SNIP - Verizon has a deal on their airphone cards now with broadband connection (which I am on right now). Comcast hasnt run the cable yet for the house I am in so I had no choice but to get this and it actually does pretty well.

I'm running Verizon's Broadband (1 year now) as well here in Clements. I don't have access to Cable or DSL (and won't anytime soon!). I installed PCMCIA adapter in my desktop for the card.

FYI - a fantastic site for EV-DO (has all the answers) is on: http://www.evdoforums.com/index.php

 

[Ken King]

If your laptop and PC both have ethernet ports, why not network them together and share the dial-up connection of the PC?

 

[ylexot]

My plan is to go to Verizon Broadband...once my new every two comes up in a couple months. However, I am going to look into what the price difference would be to have the card in addition to a new phone instead of trying to use the phone as my network connection (which I'm not even sure is possible).

Something occurred to me...I think that the last thing I did before things went wrong was hook my handheld GPS up to the laptop for the first time. I'll try uninstalling the GPS stuff and see if that makes a diffference.

Anyway, thanks for the help guys.

 

[microcomputer]

For some reason, my laptop is having problems connecting to my ISP lately. When it dials in, the ISP answers, they start initiating coms (modulated tones and white noise) and then there is just a constant tone. Eventually, the laptop times out.:

You aren't gonna believe this! My daughter's PC started doing the same exact thing! I ran over and not only her Desktop wouldn't connect - but her laptop wouldn't either. I went back home and tried to connect (with the same number) - no problem! She has a dedicated line for her PC so I told her to try her other line. I'll let ya know what we find out.

Found out! She had no problem once she changed to her primary phone line at home. So, her second line (which worked for months - stop'd working) but her first line works just fine. She called the phone company.

 

[vanbells]

I'm running Verizon's Broadband (1 year now) as well here in Clements. I don't have access to Cable or DSL (and won't anytime soon!). I installed PCMCIA adapter in my desktop for the card.

FYI - a fantastic site for EV-DO (has all the answers) is on: http://www.evdoforums.com/index.php

Are you using the adapter by Elan? Or did is there another adapter on the market now?

 

[microcomputer]

I installed the latest driver and that didn't work. Then I tried reinstalling the dialing program. That didn't work and it couldn't connect to their server to download the access numbers Of course, even if I had the numbers, there's only one local number for me.

UPDATE: You aren't gonna believe this! My daughter's PC started doing the same exact thing! I ran over and not only her Desktop wouldn't connect - but her laptop wouldn't either. I went back home and tried to connect (with the same number) - no problem! She has a dedicated line for her PC so I told her to try her other line. I'll let ya know what we find out.

Found out! She had no problem once she changed to her primary phone line at home. So, her second line (which worked for months - stop'd working) but her first line works just fine. She called the phone company.

 

[vanbells]

UPDATE: You aren't gonna believe this! My daughter's PC started doing the same exact thing! I ran over and not only her Desktop wouldn't connect - but her laptop wouldn't either. I went back home and tried to connect (with the same number) - no problem! She has a dedicated line for her PC so I told her to try her other line. I'll let ya know what we find out.

Found out! She had no problem once she changed to her primary phone line at home. So, her second line (which worked for months - stop'd working) but her first line works just fine. She called the phone company.

What adapter are using to connect your PC to a PCMCIA card?

 

[microcomputer]

What adapter are using to connect your PC to a PCMCIA card?

Sorry for the delay. I bought a "PCD-RP-101CS" for $59.95 from Amtron Technology (323)265-8076. I called them before I ordered and outlined my Dell Desktop.

 

[vanbells]

Sorry for the delay. I bought a "PCD-RP-101CS" for $59.95 from Amtron Technology (323)265-8076. I called them before I ordered and outlined my Dell Desktop.

Oh poo. I was hoping it was a USB to PCMCIA converter. A friend of mine bought an airtime card from Verizon Wireless, but her notebook does not have a PCMCIA expansion slot. She told me this after the 14 day guarantee policy, so now her account is on hold until I can find an adapter. So far I found one adapter, but I haven't heard too much about it.

 

[ylexot]

Oh poo. I was hoping it was a USB to PCMCIA converter. A friend of mine bought an airtime card from Verizon Wireless, but her notebook does not have a PCMCIA expansion slot. She told me this after the 14 day guarantee policy, so now her account is on hold until I can find an adapter. So far I found one adapter, but I haven't heard too much about it.

How about this (if you have a free PCI slot):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815124021

 

[vanbells]

How about this (if you have a free PCI slot):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815124021

There's no standard PCI slot though in any notebook. All it has is USB2.0 and PCI Express.

 

[ylexot]

My bad, I missed the part about it being a laptop without a PCMCIA slot (which is very unusual).

 

[microcomputer]

Oh poo. I was hoping it was a USB to PCMCIA converter. A friend of mine bought an airtime card from Verizon Wireless, but her notebook does not have a PCMCIA expansion slot. She told me this after the 14 day guarantee policy, so now her account is on hold until I can find an adapter. So far I found one adapter, but I haven't heard too much about it.

Jump over to: http://www.evdoforums.com/index.php

This EV-DO Forum has a bunch of information on the new slots.

Now, here is a USB to PCMCIA that I found (but know nothing about it): http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/usb/u111.php

 

[vanbells]

Jump over to: http://www.evdoforums.com/index.php

This EV-DO Forum has a bunch of information on the new slots.

Now, here is a USB to PCMCIA that I found (but know nothing about it): http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/usb/u111.php

Yup, that's the only one that is currently on the market that I found. I'm always reluctant to try the first one out though. I gotta read more reviews on it.