56k Modem Troubleshooting Contents

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Windows Vista & Modems

Windows XP & Modems

Interactive
Troubleshooter

Modem Database

V.92 Modem on Hold

V.92 Commands

TROUBLESHOOTING (Updated 4-Jan-08)

The Basics:

Identifying Your Chipset
You need to know what chipset your modem uses. (Updated 29-Aug-01)

Who Manufactured My Modem?
Find out who really made/supplied your modem (updated 13-Dec-00)

What's a 56k-compatible line?
Can you tell if your line is '56k-compatible'? (New 2-Mar-99)

DUNS Connectoids
What they are and how to edit them (Updated 6-Mar-07)

MODEM DRIVERS
Do you need a modem driver? Where to find drivers.

More Q&A More Modem Questions & Answers

Wrestling v.90 ©James Douglas

Before trying to fix, identify where you are:

Easy Throughput Check:
Simple speed test - Hawaiian Style (Updated 6-Jan-02)

Init String / Extra Settings
No Initialization String may be the best one (Updated 26-Feb-07)

Modem Diagnostics
Information your modem can tell you about your connection (Updated 9-Mar-04)

Modemlog
Windows Modemlog can help locate trouble (Updated 15-Nov-03)

Modem Speed Tests
Information on various modem speed checks (Updated 7-Sep-05)

Throughput - check:
Throughput - not CONNECT speed is really what matters! (Updated 27-Feb-07) Also see - My Throughput Check

Trouble Beyond The Modem
If the modem is working right, you still might not get 56k (or any) performance (Updated 6-Dec-05)

What 56k Rate?
How many 56k owners are getting what connect speeds (New 8-Jul-99)

About Modems with your Chipset:

Agere/LSI AMR Soft Modem (formerly Lucent)
AKA Scorpio; Info & driver sources for this soft HSP modem. (Updated 3-Oct-07)

Agere/LSI LT Win Modem: (formerly Lucent)
Information & driver sources for this widely-used modem (Updated 29-Sep-07)

Agere/LSI Softmodem (SV92P, SV92PL & SV92PP): (formerly Lucent)
V.92 Soft Modem information (Updated 3-Oct-07)

Agere Venus Modem (formerly Lucent):
Information for Lucent Venus chipset Modems (Updated 6-Dec-03)

Broadcom BCM Modem
Information & driver sources for Broadcom BCM Software Modem (Updated 7-Jan-05)

ESS Modems
Info for modems with ESS Chipset (Updated 7-Sep-02)

Intel (formerly Cirrus / Ambient)
Information & driver sources for Cirrus/Ambient/Intel chipset Modems (Updated 15-Apr-05)

Lucent Wildwire Modem:
Information for Lucent/Agere's DSL/Analog Win Modem (Updated 18-Jun-03)

Motorola Modems/ NetDragon
Information for modems with Motorola SM56 Chipset (Updated 30-Nov-05)

PCTel Chipsets
Info & driver sources for modems based upon PCTel chipsets (Updated 14-Jul-05)

Rockwell/Conexant ACF Modem:
Information on ACF chipset modems (Updated 13-Mar-06)

Rockwell/Conexant HCF Modem:
Information & driver sources for HCF modems (Updated 13-Mar-06)

Rockwell/Conexant HSF Soft56 Modem:
Information & driver sources for Conexant HSF Soft56 Modems (Updated 29-Sep-04)

Smartlink Chipset (Including ST Micro / SGS-Thomson)
Info & driver sources for modems based upon Smartlink chipsets (Updated 4-Jan-08)

TOPIC Chipset
Information & driver sources for TOPIC chipset (560x) Modems (Updated 26-May-02)

USR/3Com Modems
USR Chipsets
Information for USR/3Com modems (Updated 10-Jan-04)
USR Diag. Screens
   Blers, retrains, and more - what they mean (Updated 7-Mar-01)
Flashing a COURIER modem
How to Flashback 3Com/USR
   Archive the flash code for your Sportster modem (Updated 13-Mar-06)
USR Warranty Service
   USR wants $19.95 to troubleshoot first (Updated 18-Aug-02)
USR Soft Modems (New 3-Aug-02)

Winmodems
They aren't all bad... (Updated 3-Jul-00)

Zoom Init Strings
Zoom's list of init strings (Updated 4-Nov-99)

If you have a question and can't find the answer, try FORUM56 - the 56k modem message board & post your question.

If the modem doesn't work at all:

Lightning Strikes
Modems can be damaged during thunderstorms (Updated 4-Jul-02)

Linux & Modems:
Issues specific to modems with Linux (Updated 18-Sep-02)

PCI Modem Installation & Troubles
Issues specific to PCI-based modems. (Updated 26-May-02)

PCI Tree
Information about PCI modems can be obtained with this tool (Updated 26-May-02)

Windows ME & Modems
New driver architecture for WindowsME & 2k (Updated 20-Jul-06)

Windows XP & Modems
Installation & Modem issues with XP (Updated 18-Apr-02)

Windows Vista Modem Trouble (New 6-Mar-07)
Installation & Modem issues with Vista

MODEM DISCONNECTS? Disabling 56k or reducing speed often helps:

Disconnections
What causes modem to disconnect? (26-Apr-03)

Disabling 56K
AT Commands (extra settings) for protocol selection (Updated 13-Sep-03)

Limiting CONNECT speed:
Automatically reject low-speed connections and re-dial to get the speed you want. Also to limit max connect speed. (Updated 1-Dec-03)

How to to check your modem:

Setting Up Hyperterminal
How to make HyperTerminal talk to your modem (Updated 8-Jan-04)

Using HyperTerminal
AT Commands and examples of test calls & diagnostics (New 27-May-00)

Modemchk
Tony Dawson's simple alternative to HyperTerminal (Updated 5-Jan-06)

Checking your line - 56k-compatible?

Before you get a 2nd phone line...
Adding a new phone line can change your 56k connectivity (New 6-Dec-99)

Check for a/d conversions:
56k won't work with more than 1 a/d conversion (Updated 27-Apr-04)

Testing Phone Wiring
Is the problem in your wiring or other phones? Demarc test (Updated 27-Apr-04)

Your Phone Wiring
Do you need CAT5 wire? (Updated 15-Nov-03)

How to Troubleshoot connect speed:

56k Troubleshooting (Updated 7-Jan-05)
Suggested troubleshooting procedure if you don't get 56k connects - 4 pages.
Handshakes - Audio of modem handshakes
Access Numbers - Modem #s to use with testing

Other problems:

115.2k CONNECT
What to do if you get a CONNECT 38.4, 57.6, or 115.2k (Updated 27-Jul-03)

Auto-Answer
Trouble with modem answering calls? (Updated 17-Mar-04)

Blacklisting
Modem fails to re-dial busy number in some countries (Updated 14-Mar-03)

Call Waiting
If you want to get bumped with call waiting (Updated 28-Dec-02)

Can't Hear Modem - Modem Speaker On or Off
Controlling the modem speaker
(Updated 21-Mar-04)

Comma Magic
Using comma(s) in phone number to dial (Updated 25-Aug-00)

Distinctive Ring & Modems
Distinctive Ring & Call Discrimination Explained (Updated 24-Feb-05)

DOS Support
Software Modems with legacy DOS applications (Updated 18-Sep-02)

DUNS Errors (RAS Errors)
Win 95/98/NT/2k/XP/Vista Dial-up Networking error codes & their meaning (Updated 4-Jan-08)

Escape Code
+++ in your data may cause a problem (Updated 13-May-03)

FAX Trouble
Test with Microsoft Fax (Updated 3-Jun-01)

Gamers Lag/Troubles
Page Especially for those playing interactive games (Updated 18-Mar-01)

Modem & Network (LAN) Card Problems
Symptoms and resolution of NIC conflicts. (New 18-Apr-02)

Modem Won't Hang Up / No Dial Tone
If you can't disconnect when you want to. (Updated 14-Jul-01)

PORT Already Open
Dealing with PORT errors when trying to dial up. (New 20-Aug-00)

PPP Log - How to enable and use the PPP log (New 24-Apr-01)

Prevent Modem Reset:
If you can't get diagnostic data after net connections (Updated 8-Aug-01)

Registry Problems
Windows Registry info (New 29-Sep-01)

Slow to Logon
What to check if it takes a long time to accept your user id & password.

Wave Device Troubles
Wave Device for Voice Modem Issues (Updated 9-Mar-04)

Windows XP & Modems - (Updated 2-Apr-03)
XP Tips Checking Install Driver Signing