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	Replies: 6 - Pages: 1 - Last Post: 18-Jul-2011 00:10 Last Post By: AussieBob	Threads: [ Previous \| Next ]

AussieBob

Posts: 4
Registered: 12/07/11

Satellite L650 - Modem always dropping out
Posted: 12-Jul-2011 09:08

We have an L650 laptop with the built in software modem, which is used for dial-up access to the net.
It is forever disconnecting the phone line when online and is a real pain to use.
The previous desktop PC we used had an external modem and never once dropped out over 8 years of use.

Line quality appears good with no clicks or pops evident. There is also a touch tone phone plus a cordless answer system connected to the same line.
The previous external modem could only connect at 33k maximum but this was not due to line quality, it was because the phone is on a pair-gain system which apparently restricts bandwidth somewhat.

I've tried connecting the old external modem (Banksia 56K MyModem) via a USB-Serial cable to the laptop but this introduces more problems, plus it also continues to drop out! Seems it is just too old at 10+ years with outdated drivers.

This Toshiba modem appears extremely sensitive. Are there any modem strings that could be sent before dialing up that may help?
Perhaps it could be forced down to a fixed connection speed of 33k?

Any help would be appreciated as it's driving us nuts here!
Another external modem or wireless connection is not really an option, nor is unplugging the phone every time we go online.

Thanks!

Paolo30

Posts: 3,131
Registered: 21/09/09

Re: Satellite L650 - Modem always dropping out
Posted: 12-Jul-2011 14:35

in response to: AussieBob

It is forever disconnecting the phone line when online and is a real pain to use.

The modem supports the analogue connection and should be connected always to a analog phone line.
Never connect it to digital line like a ISDN or similar!

If you have established the connection to the internet, then the phone line would be busy... this is nothing unusual...

PinkPanther

Posts: 1,806
Registered: 01/10/09

Re: Satellite L650 - Modem always dropping out
Posted: 12-Jul-2011 15:57

in response to: AussieBob

Hi buddy,

To be honest I’m a little bit confused… If you use the modem for Internet connection you have analog phone line and with analog phone line you can only phone or surf in the Internet but not both at the same time…

AussieBob

Posts: 4
Registered: 12/07/11

Re: Satellite L650 - Modem always dropping out
Posted: 13-Jul-2011 08:27

in response to: PinkPanther

Hi all, I will re-phrase the question as it sounds like I didn't make it very clear:

When I use the laptops internal modem to access the internet, it has a habit of disconnecting (ie the line drops out) and I have to re-dial the ISPs dial-up access number to re-establish the connection. It happens frequently.

I don't connect the modem line to an ISDN line or similar. I do not have broadband access and can only access internet by dial-up.

I also do not attempt to use the analogue phone line to make a phone call while I am using dial-up internet. I was a telecom installation technician installing exchange equipment for 23 years and I am technically competent.

I would like help or suggestions on what may stop the modem dropping the line. It does not appear to be phone line noise issues, nor is anyone else picking the phone up to make a call. I do not have call waiting. The cable between the modem and the wall is 2 metres max. There are 2 other phones on the same line, a touch-tone standard desktop phone, and the cordless phone, however as I said, the previous modem coped well with these phones plugged in so that should not be the problem. The "Disconnect after 20 mins idle time" setting has been unchecked in the browser.

Are there any modem strings I can use that may help? What about an initialisation string? How can I fix the connection speed to 33k? What about error control or flow control settings? (set to hardware, software F/Ctrl is not available) The modem drivers are up to date. I've also uninstalled and re-installed the modem from device manager. The laptop is almost new so the settings with the internal modem should be pretty much default.

I couldn't identify what model of modem it is. Even the Toshiba support site doesn't say, so doing a Google search for possible solutions is limited. I couldn't find it identified in the device manager. My operating system is Windows 7.

Thanks guys for any advice.

Paolo30

Posts: 3,131
Registered: 21/09/09

Re: Satellite L650 - Modem always dropping out
Posted: 13-Jul-2011 11:16

in response to: AussieBob

Hi

I’m not quite sure if my workaround would help you but check it:
Go to device manager and expand the Modem tree.

In my case I can see two modem entries;

HDAUDIO Soft Data Fax Modem
Standard 33600bps Modem

In my case the 33600bps Modem is limited to 33k speed to you cannot increase this!

Mark the Standard 33600bps Modem and choose properties.
Here you will see some tabs. Chose Modem tab.
Here you should ensure that Maximum Port Speed has been set to 115200 or higher.
In tab called “Diagnostic” you can query modem and can see the log file. There you will find all details and maybe you could find the reason for the disconnection.

The properties of other modem entry “HDAUDIO Soft Data Fax Modem” provide more tabs. Here you can disable the power saving for modem. The notebook can disable the modem in order to save the battery power. So it’s advisable to disable this.

AussieBob

Posts: 4
Registered: 12/07/11

Re: Satellite L650 - Modem always dropping out
Posted: 15-Jul-2011 08:54

in response to: Paolo30

Hi Paolo,
In Device Manager under Modems, the modem listed there says "Toshiba Software Modem". Upon querying the modem under "Diagnostics" the only information I could obtain was a manufacturer of LSI and it also said "HD Audio" somewhere in there. Not a lot else was obtained from querying it.

The Maximum Port Speed was already set to 115200 however after checking my ISP Support page for advice it was suggested I drop it down to 57K. It was also suggested I try an initialisation string of "&FX4" which I have done. I took a wild guess that the modem could be made by Connexant as this was listed on some Toshiba support web pages along with this laptop model.

Your idea of the power saving setting disabling the modem was good but my laptop only has a setting to wake the computer which I had already disabled.

The computer was online today for over an hour without dropping out so I will give it several days to test these settings that have been changed and I will report back here and let you know. Until then I'd like to keep this question marked as "not answered yet".

Thanks.

AussieBob

Posts: 4
Registered: 12/07/11

Re: Satellite L650 - Modem always dropping out
Posted: 18-Jul-2011 00:10

in response to: AussieBob

It appears that the settings I put into the laptop have fixed the problem.

Thanks to "all" of those people who came back with suggestions (1 person!). Thanks also to all of those people who had helpful information such as finding the modem manufacturer and suggested modem strings, which I really needed (nobody at all bothered with this request).

I thought this was a support forum. The useful information I did actually get from this forum was close to ZERO and I ended up finding the correct information myself after much searching. PinkPanther... well, you're an idiot and if you don't have anything useful to contribute then stay on the sidelines.

At least Paolo30 did respond with some suggestions, thank you... basic as they were... but as for the rest of the computer heads here...

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