US Robotics Modem Blues

DialUpDope · 08-03-2007, 09:56 AM

Sorry for not posting an introduction but this problem is one that plagues me even now. My name is Ryan and I'm on dial-up internet.

About two weeks ago a storm hit and a jolt fried my old modem (I say this because I've had this happen multiple times and, while there appears to be no physical damage, the modem no longer senses a dial-tone or connects or anything.)

I of course went to Wal-mart to go purchase a new modem. The only thing they had was a US Robotics Faxmodem PCI for Windows of the 56k variety and an external version of higher quality. Because of budget I got the PCI card. I installed it promptly in my computer and connected to the internet via my ISP which is AOL 9.0 Security Edition.

This is where the trouble started. Repeatedly and at near random intervals my connection just drops. It's erratice and unstable, and rarely does it go along a length of time without cutting off in mid-session. It's very troublesome as the AOL Dialer takes about 3-5 minutes AFTER the connection is apparently gone to start up.

While I know that many will probably already say that AOL is a source of the problem (and it may very well be) I'd like to point out a few things.

1. My old PCI card was something so low-brow that it dialed up at about 20k tops, but while it never reached good speeds it NEVER did anything like this. If anything it never even kicked me.

2. AOL has, as of late, given me no troubles or qualms concerning the software.

3. This problem didn't start until I installed the modem.

For the sake of somebody pointing out some rare technical problem I'll also provide the following:

OS: Windows 2000 Professional
Modem: 56k USR Faxmodem PCI for Windows
ISP: AOL 9.0 Security Edition

If anybody can help/has any further questions please do so.

johnwill · 08-03-2007, 11:52 AM

Did you consider returning the modem? It could simply be defective. USR modems are usually pretty decent.

DialUpDope · 08-03-2007, 11:58 AM

I'm thinking about it. I was trying to hold out on it though, as I'm not sure about the return policy and I do believe I may have lost the receipt. Also, I contacted US Robotics and the only solutions they could give me were

"Uninstall then reinstall the modem" and statements that might as well have been "It's not our fault. Check your ISP or phone line. Our products rule"

US Robotics is a good name so I wonder if it is the product itself. For the time being I'm going to try and find the receipt. If I can't I'm definately planning to pick up another modem, one that isn't US Robotics. I think I had this problem before with one of their PCIs, but I couuldn't swear to it. Any suggestions on a cheap, reliable PCI modem or on this problem?

johnwill · 08-03-2007, 12:05 PM

Actually, it's been many years since I've had anything to do with dial-up. I still have a couple of old external dial-up modems in the closet, one being a USR. Laptops all come with dial-up, so I can't really come up with a current recommendation, except don't lose the receipt!

DialUpDope · 08-03-2007, 12:11 PM

Hahaha. Yeah, I could see that helping. Well I'm heading to TigerDirect to find a new modem. Thanks. If anybody has any other suggestions or experiences please say so. Thanks

geosman · 09-28-2007, 01:00 PM

I too am having problems but mine is a USR5686E external modem. It is spitting out the handshake but won't connect. It works fine under XP tho.
I think my problem may be like yours. List your profile that you are using presuming you are using NVram to connect from plus list out the connect string you are using. Then on US ROBOTICs web site find their "Hayes" compatible commands and walk through each command including the S## commands. In there you are likely to find the problem. Good luck to both of us.

geosman · 09-29-2007, 02:20 PM

My solution turned out to be: AT&F &F1
that is the factory default plus hardware flow control.
Hope this helps you too.

macten · 09-30-2007, 08:14 AM

you guys on dialup really need a controller based modem. It has a cpu chip right on the card and makes a big difference.

A friend of mine still uses AOL dialup and was connecting at 33K. I installed a USR controller based modem and his connect speed went to a consistent 45K with fewer disconnect.

geosman · 09-30-2007, 03:56 PM

Playing can u top this I am at 48Kbs w/ usr5686E ($15 at recycle) using AT&F&F1 and that is limited to v.90 by my ISP who is the greatest! Oh and even XP pro SP2 likes it. 1 problem took a week to figure it out. BTW probably adding &A3 LAPM/MNP/MNP5 protocol and E0 to disable keyboard echo and if ur ISP is V.92 and ur w/out call waiting then use AT#CID=0 will make it better.

08-03-2007, 09:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
DialUpDope Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 2000 Professional	US Robotics Modem Blues Sorry for not posting an introduction but this problem is one that plagues me even now. My name is Ryan and I'm on dial-up internet. About two weeks ago a storm hit and a jolt fried my old modem (I say this because I've had this happen multiple times and, while there appears to be no physical damage, the modem no longer senses a dial-tone or connects or anything.) I of course went to Wal-mart to go purchase a new modem. The only thing they had was a US Robotics Faxmodem PCI for Windows of the 56k variety and an external version of higher quality. Because of budget I got the PCI card. I installed it promptly in my computer and connected to the internet via my ISP which is AOL 9.0 Security Edition. This is where the trouble started. Repeatedly and at near random intervals my connection just drops. It's erratice and unstable, and rarely does it go along a length of time without cutting off in mid-session. It's very troublesome as the AOL Dialer takes about 3-5 minutes AFTER the connection is apparently gone to start up. While I know that many will probably already say that AOL is a source of the problem (and it may very well be) I'd like to point out a few things. 1. My old PCI card was something so low-brow that it dialed up at about 20k tops, but while it never reached good speeds it NEVER did anything like this. If anything it never even kicked me. 2. AOL has, as of late, given me no troubles or qualms concerning the software. 3. This problem didn't start until I installed the modem. For the sake of somebody pointing out some rare technical problem I'll also provide the following: OS: Windows 2000 Professional Modem: 56k USR Faxmodem PCI for Windows ISP: AOL 9.0 Security Edition If anybody can help/has any further questions please do so.

08-03-2007, 11:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,468 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: US Robotics Modem Blues Did you consider returning the modem? It could simply be defective. USR modems are usually pretty decent. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

08-03-2007, 11:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
DialUpDope Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 2000 Professional	Re: US Robotics Modem Blues I'm thinking about it. I was trying to hold out on it though, as I'm not sure about the return policy and I do believe I may have lost the receipt. Also, I contacted US Robotics and the only solutions they could give me were "Uninstall then reinstall the modem" and statements that might as well have been "It's not our fault. Check your ISP or phone line. Our products rule" US Robotics is a good name so I wonder if it is the product itself. For the time being I'm going to try and find the receipt. If I can't I'm definately planning to pick up another modem, one that isn't US Robotics. I think I had this problem before with one of their PCIs, but I couuldn't swear to it. Any suggestions on a cheap, reliable PCI modem or on this problem?

08-03-2007, 12:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,468 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: US Robotics Modem Blues Actually, it's been many years since I've had anything to do with dial-up. I still have a couple of old external dial-up modems in the closet, one being a USR. Laptops all come with dial-up, so I can't really come up with a current recommendation, except don't lose the receipt! __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

08-03-2007, 12:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
DialUpDope Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 2000 Professional	Re: US Robotics Modem Blues Hahaha. Yeah, I could see that helping. Well I'm heading to TigerDirect to find a new modem. Thanks. If anybody has any other suggestions or experiences please say so. Thanks

09-28-2007, 01:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
geosman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 44 OS: *nix	Re: US Robotics Modem Blues I too am having problems but mine is a USR5686E external modem. It is spitting out the handshake but won't connect. It works fine under XP tho. I think my problem may be like yours. List your profile that you are using presuming you are using NVram to connect from plus list out the connect string you are using. Then on US ROBOTICs web site find their "Hayes" compatible commands and walk through each command including the S## commands. In there you are likely to find the problem. Good luck to both of us. Last edited by geosman : 09-28-2007 at 01:02 PM.

09-29-2007, 02:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
geosman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 44 OS: *nix	Re: US Robotics Modem Blues My solution turned out to be: AT&F &F1 that is the factory default plus hardware flow control. Hope this helps you too.

09-30-2007, 08:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
macten Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 223 OS: xp	Re: US Robotics Modem Blues you guys on dialup really need a controller based modem. It has a cpu chip right on the card and makes a big difference. A friend of mine still uses AOL dialup and was connecting at 33K. I installed a USR controller based modem and his connect speed went to a consistent 45K with fewer disconnect.

09-30-2007, 03:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
geosman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 44 OS: *nix	Re: US Robotics Modem Blues Playing can u top this I am at 48Kbs w/ usr5686E ($15 at recycle) using AT&F&F1 and that is limited to v.90 by my ISP who is the greatest! Oh and even XP pro SP2 likes it. 1 problem took a week to figure it out. BTW probably adding &A3 LAPM/MNP/MNP5 protocol and E0 to disable keyboard echo and if ur ISP is V.92 and ur w/out call waiting then use AT#CID=0 will make it better.