How Do You Diagnose Telephone Modem Problems?
In spite of inroads made by cable and DSL, telephone modems are still the most popular way to connect to the Internet, and they’re an essential element of every road warrior’s portable computer. Sometimes, though, they just refuse to make the connection. The following tips apply to both Windows and Mac computers (except steps 9 and 10, which are for Windows users only). Check your cable connections. If you have an external modem, check the serial cable between the computer and the modem. For both internal and external modems, check the phone cord connection. Make sure the modem is turned on and has power. If you have an internal modem, you can try removing it and reseating it. Check the phone line to make sure there’s a dial tone. This is also a good time to make sure that a phone on the same line wasn’t accidentally left off the hook. If your modem is on a dedicated phone line, connect a phone temporarily to check the line. If the modem is dialing but failing to connect, double-check
