Dial-Up weird behavior

[UserXP]

Hello, guys. Here is a bit of an oldtimer type of device, but I would really like your opinion or potential solution/idea.

I have this old PCI 56k "Lucent Win Modem" left in my old computer, and although it is very rarely being used these days with all the hi-speed internet providers, I never actaully wanted to part from it because it saved me on more than several occasions "through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered" when my cable internet ceased to work or got an interrupted service. I could always use this Dial-Up modem to connect on any of the public Dial-Up ISP numbers and it was fine for an urgent sending of e-mail and similar stuff which didn't demand high speed bandwidth.

Recently, however, I can't make any connection and the noise coming from the modem while establishing a connection is not the same. The modem dials the number and then starts to make these noises until Windows eventually tells me that the remote computer did not respond.
Inspecting/cleaning/reinstalling the modem gave no difference. I even actually used Windows Dialer application to call my cell phone using this modem (just to check if the modem is still capable of dialing numbers) and it worked, the call was established, so I am under the impression that the modem is actually OK, but then again, it won't do what it's supposed to do when it comes to making an internet connection.
The computer runs fine and is fully operational, nothing bad in there.

Here I have attached the actual sound for you to hear and hopefully tell me if it does sound bad or not specific to proper connecting.

[selldoor]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

Checked the number on the isp website do they still do dialup?

You will need to unplug your speed adsl? router or provide a filter on the modem connection. You will need to configure your conection.

[UserXP]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

Thanks for the reply. I do not have any splitters, the phone line goes directly to this Dial-Up modem as it always did. I have a cable internet which is provided by our cable TV company and that cable goes to a separate external modem (which is then connected to the Ethernet card on the PC motherboard).

Yes, the numbers are correct. No matter which number I dial, the result is the same. I have 5 Dial-Up connections set up and none of them works. It can't be that all of them are out of service (one of them is from the telephone company, so at least that one should work, I'm guessing). Everything is set up properly, yes. No changes were made before or after this started to happen.

[stj]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

it could be the fone company has an adsl or vdsl dslam on your line and it's cutting the upper frequency's from the voice channel.

[UserXP]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

I'm at a loss here. There aren't any particular instructions on any of the ISP websites, everything is the same yet nothing works.
I don't know if this helps, but modem passes all the tests when I use the "Query Modem" button in the Modem properties window. This is what it outputs:

07-29-2014 21:49:26.640 - Modem type: Lucent Win Modem
07-29-2014 21:49:26.640 - Modem inf path: mdmlt3.inf
07-29-2014 21:49:26.640 - Modem inf section: Modem_PNP_DSVD
07-29-2014 21:49:26.640 - Matching hardware ID: pci\ven_11c1&dev_0440
07-29-2014 21:49:26.828 - 115200,8,N,1, ctsfl=1, rtsctl=2
07-29-2014 21:49:26.828 - Initializing modem.
07-29-2014 21:49:26.843 - Send: AT<cr>
07-29-2014 21:49:26.859 - Recv: AT<cr>
07-29-2014 21:49:26.859 - Command Echo
07-29-2014 21:49:26.859 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:49:26.859 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:49:26.875 - Send: AT &F E0 &C1 &D2 V1 S0=0\V1<cr>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.109 - Recv: AT &F E0 &C1 &D2 V1 S0=0\V1<cr>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.109 - Command Echo
07-29-2014 21:49:27.125 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.125 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:49:27.125 - Send: ATS7=60S30=0L0M0\N3%C1&K3B0B15B2N1\J1X3<cr>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.171 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.171 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:49:27.171 - Waiting for a call.
07-29-2014 21:49:27.187 - Send: at+vcid=1<cr>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.203 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.203 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:49:27.218 - Send: ATS0=0<cr>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.234 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.234 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:49:27.234 - 115200,8,N,1, ctsfl=1, rtsctl=2
07-29-2014 21:49:27.234 - Initializing modem.
07-29-2014 21:49:27.250 - Send: AT<cr>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.265 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.265 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:49:27.281 - Send: AT &F E0 &C1 &D2 V1 S0=0\V1<cr>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.531 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.531 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:49:27.531 - Send: ATS7=30S30=0L0M0\N3%C1&K3B0B15B2N1\J1X3<cr>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.578 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:49:27.578 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:49:27.578 - Dialing.
07-29-2014 21:49:27.593 - Send: ATDT#########<cr>
07-29-2014 21:50:01.750 - Recv: <cr><lf>NO CARRIER<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:50:01.750 - Interpreted response: No Carrier
07-29-2014 21:50:01.750 - Hanging up the modem.
07-29-2014 21:50:01.750 - Send: ATH E1<cr>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.000 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.015 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:50:02.015 - 115200,8,N,1, ctsfl=1, rtsctl=2
07-29-2014 21:50:02.015 - Initializing modem.
07-29-2014 21:50:02.031 - Send: AT<cr>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.046 - Recv: AT<cr>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.046 - Command Echo
07-29-2014 21:50:02.046 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.046 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:50:02.062 - Send: AT &F E0 &C1 &D2 V1 S0=0\V1<cr>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.296 - Recv: AT &F E0 &C1 &D2 V1 S0=0\V1<cr>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.296 - Command Echo
07-29-2014 21:50:02.296 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.296 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:50:02.312 - Send: ATS7=60S30=0L0M0\N3%C1&K3B0B15B2N1\J1X3<cr>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.359 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.359 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:50:02.359 - Waiting for a call.
07-29-2014 21:50:02.375 - Send: at+vcid=1<cr>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.390 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.390 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:50:02.406 - Send: ATS0=0<cr>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.421 - Recv: <cr><lf>OK<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:50:02.421 - Interpreted response: OK
07-29-2014 21:50:02.421 - Session Statistics:
07-29-2014 21:50:02.421 - Reads : 61 bytes
07-29-2014 21:50:02.421 - Writes: 88 bytes
ATQ0V1E0 - OK
AT+GMM - H.324 video-ready rev. 1.0
AT+FCLASS=? - 0,1,8
AT#CLS=? - COMMAND NOT SUPPORTED
AT+GCI? - +GCI:B5
AT+GCI=? - +GCI: (09,0F,31,3C,3D,42,7B,59,7E,82,
A0,A5,A6,B4,0A,00,26,61,6C,9C,
A9,54,8B,B5,57,50,20,73,53,BC,
89,46,51,AE,9F,8A,2E,69,16,1B,
2D,52,B8,58,98,84,07,14,25,27,
35,85,88,BB,87,B7,8C,49,2B,7F,
68,B3,B2,36,0E,48,62,8E,A1,83,
0D,64,70,77,AD)
ATI1 - E851
ATI2 - OK
ATI3 - LT V.92 Data+Fax Modem Version 8.28
ATI4 - 72
ATI5 - 8.28,0,19,11C1,0440,1668,0440
ATI6 - OK
ATI7 - OK

So again, according to this Diagnostics, it should work... I will check with my local phone company outpost whether they did change something or not, just to rule that out, but since there are a lot of public Dial-Up ISPs it is hard to imagine that none of them noticed the problem so far (I know it is not widely used anymore, but still).

[SteveNielsen]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

You aren't getting a carrier the modem can sync and connect to:

07-29-2014 21:49:27.578 - Dialing.
07-29-2014 21:49:27.593 - Send: ATDT#########<cr>
07-29-2014 21:50:01.750 - Recv: <cr><lf>NO CARRIER<cr><lf>
07-29-2014 21:50:01.750 - Interpreted response: No Carrier
07-29-2014 21:50:01.750 - Hanging up the modem.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

It sounds to me like there is nothing on the other side your are calling.
Try dialing the number on your telephone, to see if you get any noise or if it's silent...

[UserXP]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

OMG, now we are getting somewhere! Both of you were right, thanks a lot, guys!
When I dialed the number with my landline phone I got the same noise and tone as the one on the recording I've attached. Thanks so much about this clue, it never crossed my mind to dial the ISP number via phone. I tried all the numbers via the phone and everytime it was the same, the same noise as the one modem recorded. Now that's weird.
I guess the Dial-Up service by the telephone company got messed up. This leads me to believe that there is nothing wrong with my modem, it just can't receive what it's excpecting to when it tries to establish the connection. What do you think?

[SteveNielsen]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

I think the opposite, the noise shows the ISP end is trying to connect and transmitting different carrier frequencies in an effort to connect and your modem is not sensing the carrier. Try a different phone cord and/or reinstall the modem driver.

[UserXP]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior


Blast...

OK, I will try that tomorrow.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

I think the opposite, the noise shows the ISP end is trying to connect and transmitting different carrier frequencies in an effort to connect and your modem is not sensing the carrier. Try a different phone cord and/or reinstall the modem driver.

It's possible that the modem got spiked. Saw a spiked 56 K modem dial before, but fail to respond afterwards or appear that it was accepted, but all web sites fail to respond, which can be mistaken for a firewall block!

My U.S. Robotics 5699B 56 K Win modem got spiked by a T-storm that was out of official season! It was in May, 2004, on the 15th or near there. Not even memorial day, IIRC! It was an earlybird T-storm special!

In my case, it looks like it's just been damaged at the portion that's responsible for data from pages.

[UserXP]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

Hi, guys. I followed the advice to check the phone line, and it appears to be working. I connected a landline phone to it and it worked without a problem. I pluged that line cable back in the modem's LINE jack and then pluged the telephone via separate cable to the modem's PHONE jack and the telephone also worked. So, the cord appears to be fine, I tried two different phones.

I am not familiar with what "a spiked modem" means, but it sounds like some sort of a short circuit to me - which can't be good if it is. Now that you've mentioned it, we DID have some particularly nasty storms during this May and the modem actually started showing this behavior in the days that followed...

[UserXP]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

Hmmm... I just browsed some of the local sites, there are plenty of used PCI 56K modems and the price range is up to 5$, so I might try getting one or two. Mostly there are Conexant, Agere and Lucent chipsets, but the component presence varies greatly (some have jacks, chips and a few resistors and caps, while others have all that plus some little box-like components and something that looks like a little transformator coil - pardon my French, I do not know about these ).
What should I look for which will allow them to be compatible with today's telephone technologies and perform reliably (is there a chipset preference)? My Lucent Win Modem has served me for more than 10 years, I don't know how other chipset modems are in the long run.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

US Robotics Courier 56k modem is the one to get, built like a tank
I actually have two but I think shipping to Serbia might be expensive...

[selldoor]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

tried these?
PUBLIC NUMBERS FOR INTERNET ACCESS

It is possible to use a dial-up Internet connection without subscription or special setup and with payment charged to the phone bill, by using the following numbers:
042-310-250, username: eunet, password: eunet
042-210-011, username: verat, password: verat
042-210-330, username: 042, password: anything

[UserXP]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

Yes, yes, yes, I actually have some of those ISPs already made as network connections. 042 prefix is no longer valid, it has been converted to 072 recently and it worked as such... up until last few weeks.
Anyway, thanks for the research you've put into finding those numbers. Unfortunatelly, everything points out to having to try a different modem. That is the only thing I haven't tried and it might reveal some truth to all this mistery.

@ Per Hansson:
Thanks for the very nice advice, but I think that one would be to much for the occasion, I really need something that will occasionally be used to connect to the Dial-Up ISP for a minute or two.
But since you mentioned U.S. Robotics, I am able to get this one for 4$, is it still among the better ones:

[stj]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

if you buy a modem, DONT BUY A WIN-MODEM.

get one with a real chipset and bios on it.
or better yet, an external modem with a serial port.

both of those options wont need a driver.

[UserXP]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

Well, OK, I partialy agree, but for a PCI Dial-Up connecting to the internet, my current Win Modem served me great for the past 10 years or so. I ordered today this USR263091-OEM and if it does what it's supposed to, I won't mind. If nothing else, I will at least get another PCI modem for a little money to see whether the situation is going to change or not.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

I am not familiar with what "a spiked modem" means

we DID have some particularly nasty storms during this May and the modem actually started showing this behavior in the days that followed...

Yep, I meant a T-storm.

[UserXP]

Re: Dial-Up weird behavior

Well, I guess that might be the cause of malfunction. It turned out that it is the modem that has a problem. In the spirit of the forum's name, maybe a failed capacitor caused this malfunction, who knows. All the caps on this Lucent are GSC brand, though they are of too small a value to probably fail so catastrophically.

Today I receiveved this used USR263091-OEM modem which was in total around 4$ with shipping included. It got installed without a problem - and it works, which is the most important thing. All Dial-Up connections now work and connect normally, speed is about 52kbps.

Thank you all for the help and time, and for some great suggestions and insights - some of them did make me consider trying another modem and it turned out to be the case. Now I know I will have a back-up connection in dire situations.