Modem cuts out phone
 

I have recently set up a computer for a friend. Previously she had an
older machine with a 56K modem which worked without problems.

I replaced it with a new machine (PC with Windows XP) with a new built-in
modem. When the modem is plugged in (whether switched on or not)the volume
on the telephone is very much reduced.

I have checked all of the wiring from the BT connection point, and it is
OK. There are no pops or crackles on the line, and the connection doesn't
go down, but the maximum speed that the modem manages is only 28K.

The house is very close to the sea, and it is possible that that the
external phone wiring is corroded. For that reason I would have suspected
that wiring as the culprit, but the line-test facility and the quiet line
tests show no problems, and the previous modem (bought 8 years ago) caused
no troubles, so I now suspect the modem. I would have thought that a newer
modem would have imposed a smaller rather than a larger load, but perhaps
this isn't the case.


Any thoughts?

Try swapping the 2 wires (ring and tip) on the phone jack. Some devices are
not affected by the swapping of these 2 line, however some others can have
wierd effects...


"David Hitchin" wrote in message
...
I have recently set up a computer for a friend. Previously she had an
older machine with a 56K modem which worked without problems.

I replaced it with a new machine (PC with Windows XP) with a new built-in
modem. When the modem is plugged in (whether switched on or not)the volume
on the telephone is very much reduced.

I have checked all of the wiring from the BT connection point, and it is
OK. There are no pops or crackles on the line, and the connection doesn't
go down, but the maximum speed that the modem manages is only 28K.

The house is very close to the sea, and it is possible that that the
external phone wiring is corroded. For that reason I would have suspected
that wiring as the culprit, but the line-test facility and the quiet line
tests show no problems, and the previous modem (bought 8 years ago) caused
no troubles, so I now suspect the modem. I would have thought that a newer
modem would have imposed a smaller rather than a larger load, but perhaps
this isn't the case.


Any thoughts?

"David Hitchin" wrote in message
...
I have recently set up a computer for a friend. Previously she had an
older machine with a 56K modem which worked without problems.

I replaced it with a new machine (PC with Windows XP) with a new built-in
modem. When the modem is plugged in (whether switched on or not)the volume
on the telephone is very much reduced.

I have checked all of the wiring from the BT connection point, and it is
OK. There are no pops or crackles on the line, and the connection doesn't
go down, but the maximum speed that the modem manages is only 28K.

The house is very close to the sea, and it is possible that that the
external phone wiring is corroded. For that reason I would have suspected
that wiring as the culprit, but the line-test facility and the quiet line
tests show no problems, and the previous modem (bought 8 years ago) caused
no troubles, so I now suspect the modem. I would have thought that a newer
modem would have imposed a smaller rather than a larger load, but perhaps
this isn't the case.


Any thoughts?

If you unplug the modem, does the volume uncrease on the phone? If so, it
has to be a bad modem.

If you unplug the modem, does the volume uncrease on the
phone? If so, it has to be a bad modem.

Yes, unplugging the modem brings the volume back. Seems I need to complain
to the modem supplier - which I suspected. Thanks for confirming this.

Back in the days didn't we need to worry about something called the 'REN'
Ringer Equivalency Number IIRC. Each device has a REN and there is a maximum
REN total per line in the house IIRC. I have no idea what the maximum REN is
but it would be interesting to see if the REN# on the new modem is higher
than the old modem.

What happens if you leave the modem and unplug all phones, answering
machines, etc but one. Is the volume normal on the one phone?

Just a thought.

-B

"David Hitchin" wrote in message
...
If you unplug the modem, does the volume uncrease on the
phone? If so, it has to be a bad modem.

Yes, unplugging the modem brings the volume back. Seems I need to complain
to the modem supplier - which I suspected. Thanks for confirming this.

Integrated Modems = Junk. They are usually soft modems which are processor
dependent and are not as fast nor efficient as hardware version.

Unless you are connecting to an ISP that supports 56K, 28.8K seems about
right. The max speed a phone line support is 33.6K, but rarely doesn't a
modem connect at that rate (line quality)

If it was working before the upgrade, then it's the el cheapo integrated
modem. You can either disable it and install a new hardware modem ($50.00 or
so) or install the older modem into the PC (if it's a PCI Modem).

"David Hitchin" wrote in message
...
I have recently set up a computer for a friend. Previously she had an
older machine with a 56K modem which worked without problems.

I replaced it with a new machine (PC with Windows XP) with a new built-in
modem. When the modem is plugged in (whether switched on or not)the volume
on the telephone is very much reduced.

I have checked all of the wiring from the BT connection point, and it is
OK. There are no pops or crackles on the line, and the connection doesn't
go down, but the maximum speed that the modem manages is only 28K.

The house is very close to the sea, and it is possible that that the
external phone wiring is corroded. For that reason I would have suspected
that wiring as the culprit, but the line-test facility and the quiet line
tests show no problems, and the previous modem (bought 8 years ago) caused
no troubles, so I now suspect the modem. I would have thought that a newer
modem would have imposed a smaller rather than a larger load, but perhaps
this isn't the case.


Any thoughts?