ARCHIVED: What should I do if I have problems with a modem connection?

If you have problems using the Indiana University modem pool, first verify that your settings are correct; see ARCHIVED: About campus modem pools. If you are still having difficulty, check the following possibilities.

• Repeated busy signals: You may be attempting to connect during a peak time; you can either keep trying or wait until later. The best times to call are in the early morning or late afternoon.
• Modem is not responding: Check to make sure your software is configured correctly:
  • ARCHIVED: Using Windows, how do I dial into the modem pools at IUB and IUPUI?
  • ARCHIVED: At IUB or IUPUI, in Mac OS X, how do I connect to the modem pool?
  • ARCHIVED: In Mac OS X, how can I make my 56 K modem connect reliably to the dial-in service at IUB and IUPUI?
  
  
• No dial tone: Verify that your modem is plugged into the phone jack and that nobody else is using the same phone line. Also, try using a normal telephone on that phone line to make sure the line is not dead.
• No response, strange errors, or line noise: If your modem dials, does nothing for a while, and then indicates that there is no carrier, that it was unable to find a server, or that it could not make a connection, the problem may be with your phone service. Call your phone company to have your line checked. The problem may be line noise, which can have many sources. Try the following:
  • Unplug answering machines and other phones from your phone line and see if you still have problems when you dial up. Some devices can exert a drain on the phone line current and interfere with your modem transmission.
  • Unplug both ends of the phone cable (i.e., from the modem and the wall) and plug them back in. If your modem is external, do the same for the cable connecting the modem to your computer.
  • Wiggle the phone cable while you're dialed up and see if you still have problems or get garbage characters. If so, you may need a new cable. These cables are fairly inexpensive, and you can find them at most discount department or electronics stores.
  • Clean the gold contacts on the jacks and plugs with a contact enhancer. You can buy this at many electronics and high-end stereo stores. Make sure the computer is unplugged when you do this.
  • While talking on the phone, listen carefully for line noise. If you hear static of any sort, your local telephone lines or the phone lines in your house may be at fault. Call your local telephone company and request investigation or repair. If the problem is in the phone lines in your house, you may be billed for the service call.
  • Verify your modem settings. Make sure your modem speed setting is correct; other settings that you should check are the data bits, parity, and stop bit. These are most commonly set to 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit.

    Note: In Windows, you can check your modem settings in the Modem control panel. In Mac OS X, you can access your modem settings by clicking Network in your System Preferences.

  • If all else fails, set your modem to a lower speed, or buy an error-correcting modem. UITS recommends 33.6Kbps (33600bps) or 56Kbps (56000bps) modems.