-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1. How do I find technical documentation for
no-name modems?
Reader: I just bought a modem at one of
those ham radio fests. It didn't come with any
technical documentation. I thought that I could
install it quick and easy and there would be no
problems, but now that I have it installed, I
can't figure out how to set the jumpers and IRQ
settings. How do I obtain technical documentation
for the modem? I tried looking in the appendix in
your book but I couldn't find any information to
help me. How do I find out who manufactured the
modem?
Computer Doctor: MicroHouse publishes a FCC
database, from the FCC ID number (required on
computer devices) you can determine who made the
device. One cool thing is that this database (in
its entirety) will be included with the new 10th
anniversary edition coming out in September 1998.
Until then you could consult the MicroHouse Web
site and see if they can help you!
2. Where can I find an acoustic coupler for my
modem?
Reader: I'm searching for an acoustic
coupler to connect my modem to a hotel phone
without going straight to through the direct line.
Do you know how I can find one of these? Are they
still made?
Computer Doctor: The best acoustic coupler
I've seen is the Telecoupler II by Road Warrior
International. It can be used to communicate over
pay phones, cellular phones, hotel phones, digital
and foreign telephones up to 28,800 Kbps. No RJ-11
modular phone jack is required. You can easily
bypass the problems of direct connection to
foreign phone systems or pay phones where standard
jacks are not available.
Call Road Warrior International, Inc. at
(800-274-4277 ext. 731) to order the Telecoupler
II item #RWTC02-UNI, price: $149.95. You can also
order online at
, and it is also available at
the Frys or Computer City retail stores. Since you
appear to be from Australia, it might be easiest
to order from them direct over the web or visit
their site for a non-800 number.
4. Can you help me move data from one machine
to another?
Reader:
I frequently need to move large
chunks of data from one machine to another, and
without investing in some sort of external storage
medium, I figured that I could use the
direct-cable-connection utility in Windows 95 to
do this. I have had no end of frustration
attempting this. I even took two machines to a
local store and had two technicians try - in vain
- to do this; even substituting several different
"laplink" cables. I have tried it on several
different computers. I am using a parallel "laplink"
cable attached to the two parallel ports. I have
run through setting up the direct cable connection
utility in Windows 95 on both machines, ensuring
that:
-
both have ISP/SPX protocols enabled - both
have file-sharing enabled
-
both have the IPX/SPX box checked in the
binding option in the dial-up adapter
-
both parallel ports (LPT1) are selected and
enabled - one machine is guest, and one is host.
I even have chosen the ECP option on the
parallel port in both CMOS set-up (although I
don't think it should make any difference, other
than speed). Can you help me with this? I feel
certain that it can be done. I'm tearing my hair
out in large chunks...at this rate I'll soon be
bald.
Computer Doctor: It sounds like you've
tried everything. All I know is that it works very
well for me and I've used it on a lot of different
machines. If I were you I would contact Microsoft
for further help, or even better contact Parallel
Technologies, the company that developed the DCC
software and special cable hardware for Microsoft.
They offer a special high tech cable with noise
canceling and amplification circuitry, which
greatly speeds up the transfer. They have a site
at
http://www.netos.com/lpt/. They are listed in
the vendor list in the current 8th edition of my
book.
5. Can you explain initialization strings to
me?
Reader: Recently, I purchased my first
modem. During the setup process, I found that I
needed to provide something called an
'initialization string.' I'd do just that if I new
what an initialization string was. Can you help
me?
Computer Doctor: Initialization strings are
the commands that control modems. Typically, these
are covered in your modem documentation. I also
list a table of the more standard commands in my
book. Basically you configure your communications
software to send these strings to the modem to
control the type of connection, the speed, dialing,
and other features. Most communication software
packages automatically configure a correct set of
command strings provided you tell the program what
type of modem you have.
6. Why Did My Sound Card Fail After I
Installed a NIC?
Reader: Recently I've installed a
network card in my PC and afterwards the sound
card stopped working. How can I solve this
problem?
Computer Doctor: That type of problem is
caused by resource conflicts (such as IRQ, DMA,
and I/O address settings) between the two cards.
These resources are normally not shareable and
must be set to non-conflicting settings. To change
these settings, you normally use the Device
Manager in Windows. To get there right click on
"My Computer", then select Properties, and then
Device Manager. There you can select and change
the resource settings for any of the devices in
your system that are Plug and Play. Try changing
the resource settings for either the sound or
network card so that they don't conflict with each
other.
7. Can I Mix Different Brands of Ethernet NICs?
Reader: I have two ISA-based Ethernet
network cards I bought a while ago for a
two-station network. Now I want to add a third
station, but the card model I was using has been
discontinued. Can I use a different brand of
network card, or do I need to start over again?
Computer Doctor: Ethernet is a standard,
which means you can use any ethernet card that
matches your cable type and network speed. The
software setup in your operating system will be
the same for any card, the only difference will be
the particular drivers you use.
|
|
8. Why Does Windows Report that the Port is
Already Open?
Reader: I have a question about
configuring a modem. When all the drivers have
successfully loaded, when I try running the modem
diagnostics in the Windows Control Panel, I get a
message that says the port is already open. What
can cause this?
Computer Doctor: Windows allows two types
of communications programs to run, called TAPI-aware
or non-TAPI-aware. TAPI (Telephony Application
Programming Interface) is a Windows Open Systems
Architecture (WOSA) programming interface that
gives Windows client applications access to a
server's voice services. TAPI facilitates
interoperability between personal computers and
telephone equipment. 16-bit (DOS based)
communications software and even some Windows
software such as the Modem Diagnostics you are
running are examples of non-TAPI-aware programs.
With this in mind, your "port already open"
problem can occur for several reasons:
1.) If the Dial-Up Networking server is
installed and set to Allow Caller Access, the COM
port is effectively locked to non-TAPI-aware
applications (they will not be able to use the
port). This may not be obvious because the Dial-Up
Networking server does not place an icon on the
taskbar.
2.) If you set Microsoft Fax to answer incoming
calls automatically, the COM port is effectively
locked to non-TAPI-aware applications (they will
not be able to use the port). Only TAPI-aware
programs can use the port.
To work around this problem, you must set these
TAPI-aware applications to not answer incoming
calls. After you have used the non-TAPI-aware
application, set the TAPI-aware application to
answer incoming calls again.
3.) There is a hardware (IRQ) conflict.
To check for IRQ conflicts, use the right mouse
button to click My Computer, then click Properties
on the menu that appears. Click the Device Manager
tab, then check the properties for each device. If
any conflicts are present, change the settings to
eliminate them.
4.) When you finish using a communications program
and close the connection, A program called
Rnaapp.exe is still running and the port remains
unavailable to non-TAPI programs. Rnaapp.exe is
left in memory to allow TAPI programs to open
faster. Rnaapp.exe is eventually unloaded from
memory (unless Dial-Up Networking Server is set to
allow caller access), but it may take 10-15
minutes.
To work around this, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to
open the Close Program dialog box, click Rnaapp to
select it, and then click End Task.
9. Why Do Some Lines Get Better Throughput
than Others?
Reader: I always have a lot of trouble
getting decent telephone line speeds for Internet
access when I help my friends set up their
Internet access. Sometimes a 56Kbps modem shows a
connection speed of 14Kbps, or 33.6Kbps, but never
close to 50Kbps which I usually achieve on my own
phone line.
Computer Doctor: Until I switched to ISDN
(128KBps all the time), I had the same problem
after I moved to the country. My phone lines won't
support a decent connection over 21.6Kbps.
You might want to look at broadband connections
such as DSL or cable modems. In the meantime, you
can try different ISPs or BBSes from the same
location to find out whether it is the phone line
or not, although it sounds as if you have bad
telephone lines. Unfortunately, the telco doesn't
have to insure good quality data transmission over
voice lines. You'll have to pay extra for high
quality data lines or ISDN if you want guaranteed
service.
I would also suggest you try to determine if the
wiring problems are in the house or outside. Bring
the system outside and connect at the demarcation
point (where the line enters the house). If it
works better you know you have bad lines in the
house. In that case I recommend ripping out all of
the existing wire and running all new Cat 5 high
quality line.
10. Can I access Com1 while running Windows
98?
Reader: How can I get Windows 98 to
allow a DOS communications program to access Com1
without rebooting back to DOS only?
Computer Doctor: Modem access for DOS
communications programs is often an issue in
Windows 9x, but with a little work, it can be
resolved.
Note that the problems aren't really due to
Windows; instead, the problems are due primarily
to improperly configured software or hardware
settings. Normally, you don't have to do anything.
For example I use DOS communications software all
the time under Win98SE on a Toshiba notebook
system.
I do have to make sure that I don't have a Windows
program (such as Dial-Up Networking - DUN) using
the ports when I run my DOS communications
program, or it won't find the ports. If I close
whatever Windows program is using the ports (the
DUN connection, for example) then the DOS program
can find and use the port without any problems.
Make sure that the following is in your
c:\windows\system.ini file in the [386Enh]
section, where X is the Com port that the modem is
attached to:
ComXAutoAssign=0
the above causes Windows to release the modem (or
port) when an application is not using it. If you
don't see that line in your System.ini file, then
enter it. You can use Notepad to edit System.ini.
Next, in Windows, click on the Start button and
select Control Panel | Modems | Diagnostics | More
Info, and note the COM port, IRQ, and base address
that Win9x has assigned to this modem. Then make
sure that these values are reflected in your DOS
program.
If you still can't access the modem after you've
done that, it's possible you have a WinModem (a
type of modem I detest!). WinModems depend on
software (in the form of device drivers) to do
some of the things that are done by the firmware
of a standard modem. That in itself wouldn't be so
bad, but the drivers are often written in such a
way that DOS communication programs can't talk to
them.
All is not lost, however. Some PC or WinModem
manufacturers include DOS support in their
installations. In Windows, click on the Start
button and select "Control Panel | System | Device
Manager". Locate and highlight your modem device,
and then click the Properties button. Look for
"DOS Settings" or "Enable DOS Support" on the
property pages for your modem. If you find it, be
sure it is checked, and note the Resource settings
there for the COM Port, Base Address and IRQ your
modem is using. In your DOS program, make sure the
settings for COM port and all the rest match what
Device Manager tells you--this may differ from
what you saw in Control Panel | Modems |
Diagnostics | More Info.
If you don't see anything about DOS support
already installed on your system, and if this is a
new system (or new modem), then you might consider
contacting the vendor to see if you can exchange
the modem for a conventional (non-WinModem) modem
that can be used by any operating system, and not
just by Windows. Or you could pick up a third
party driver, TurboComm ViP by Pacific Commware,
for about $40. The driver can be downloaded from
the Pacific Commware web site,
http://www.pacificcommware.com, or you can
call 1-800-856-3818.
11. I want to protect my LAN from intruders,
what do you recommend?
Reader: I am looking for advice on
firewalls because I am about to obtain broadband
access to the Internet for my home. I want to
protect my LAN from intrusion. Can software do the
trick, or should I invest in a router? What do you
recommend?
Computer Doctor: I personally recommend a
hardware device, like the routers from Linksys -
http://www.linksys.com/products/group.asp?grid=5.
This avoids the need to load software on my system
which can steal CPU cycles and slow down your
other operations.
But if you are interested in a software firewall,
then I recommend you visit Gibson Research at
http://www.grc.com as they have excellent
reviews of all the current firewalls and can test
any firewall you have installed to see how safe
your system really is.
12. I can't get my PC to recognize my Com port
with my new modem.
Reader: My Zoom 56K modem installation
went fine and it signed on to the ISP with no
problem. I restarted the system and tried to
connect again and it failed. Windows is not
displaying COM2 (the port the modem is using) in
the system window in Control Panel. The only way
it works is to delete COM1 and the modem and
restart so Windows detects the hardware as being
new. What settings do I change?
Computer Doctor: I'm betting the
motherboard has 2 built-in COM ports, the second
of which is conflicting with the COM port built
into your modem. You can't have two COM2 ports, so
you should disable the COM ports on the
motherboard. Do this by entering the BIOS Setup
screens and locate the COM port settings, then
mark them as disabled, save and exit. If your
mouse is using COM 1, then disable only COM 2.
|
|
