Multi-Tech Systems MT5656ZDX Modem Disconnects While Online, Modem Cannot Connect When Answering

Chapter 5 – Troubleshooting

The Modem Disconnects While Online

•If you have Call Waiting on the same phone line as your modem, it can interrupt your connection when someone tries to call you. If you have Call Waiting, disable it before each call. In most phone areas in North America, you can disable Call Waiting by preceding the phone number with *70 (check with your local phone company).

You can automatically disable Call Waiting by including the disabling code in the modem’s dial prefix (e.g., ATDT*70,—note the comma, which inserts a pause before the number is dialed). To change the dial prefix in Windows Terminal, select Settings Modem Commands. To change it in HyperTerminal, select Connect from the Call menu, click Dialing Properties, check This location has Call Waiting, and select the correct code for your phone service.

•If you have extension phones on the same line as your modem, you or someone else can interrupt the connection by picking up another phone. If this is a frequent problem, disconnect the extension phones before using the modem, or install another phone line especially for the modem.

•Check for loose connections between the modem and the computer, the phone jack, and AC power.

•You might have had a poor connection because of line conditions or the problem might have originated on the other end of the line. Try again.

•If you were online, it might have hung up on you because of lack of activity on your part or because you exceeded your time limit for the day. Try again.

The Modem Cannot Connect When Answering

Autoanswer might be disabled. Turn on autoanswer in your data communications program or send the command ATS0=1 (ATS0=2 if you have Caller ID service) to your modem in terminal mode.

There Are Garbage Characters on the Monitor

•Your computer and the remote computer might be set to different word lengths, stop bits, or parities. If you have connected at 8-N-1, try changing to 7-E-1, or vice-versa, using your communications program.

•You might be experiencing line noise. Enable error correction, if it is disabled, or hang up and call again; you might get a better connection the second time.

•Try entering the &V1 command to display information about the last connection, making a screen print of the connection statistics, and checking for parameters that might be unacceptable.

The Modem Doesn’t Work with Caller ID

•Caller ID information is transmitted between the first and second rings, if the modem is set to answer after only one ring (S0=1), the modem will not receive Caller ID information. Check your initialization string, and if necessary change it to set the modem to answer after the second ring (S0=2).

•Make sure that you have Caller ID service from your telephone company.

Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. MT5656ZDX User Guide 20