Modem won't release phone line

[luisr]

I ran into a problem with a friend's computer. The modem is not releasing the phone line after disconnecting. It disconnects normally but the line remains open.

I took out the modem and installed a different one in my friend's computer but she is having a terrible time with it because for some reason it won't finish the handshake with the ISP modem or if it does, the most it gets is 28,800. The faulty one routinely connected at 50K in the same computer and same phone line.

Anyway, I took home this other modem to do an experiment. The modem did not release the phone line even with the computer turned off or even removed from the computer altogether. Seemed like a mechanical switch somewhere got stuck. There is nothing in the board that looks like a relay but there are these two black thingies next to a small transformer. Each only had four leads in them.

Suspecting they might be related to the problem I tapped both of them hard with the handle of a small screwdriver. I then connected the modem (without installing it) to a phone line and a phone to the other jack and lo and behold, the phone line worked correctly.

I am most likely installing this modem back but I am curious as to how likely is for this to happen again? This modem is probably five years old. It is also one of those infamous "winmodems", and despite all what is said about them, it has always worked reliably until now.

[jamesrpm]

Very likely to happen again ,and at the worst possible time of course. I've never had a relay or switch repair it's self to any trustworthy dgree. Time for a new modem, others here have a better handle on which ones to look for than I do.

[BFD Deadeye]

If it was an old ISA modem, you would be better off replacing it with a good external modem vs. a new PCI modem. Unless you get lucky and find a new ISA modem (but I doubt you will).

[JJDFN]

I had the same problem with a generic winmodem a while back.
if you want to replace your faulty modem with a isa, creative still makes them for $39.00. got mine at best buy.

[luisr]

It is an old ISA modem that I can't even test in my own computer which has no ISA ports. But the other computer (where it was installed) does have an unused PCI port. A new PCI modem will most likely be the way to go.

[glc]

No, if it has an ISA slot, get an ISA modem, hardware controlled with jumpers. This is one place where PCI is NOT better.

[luisr]

Being ISA doesn't mean it has jumpers. The old modem is PnP and doesn't have any jumpers at all. I don't think it is much of a difference anymore. Price will be the determining factor after all. Finding ISA stuff is harder now that it used to be.

[glc]

This is true - ISA modems that are plug and play *only* can be a pain too, and may even be Winmodems (controllerless). You can still find USR 5687's out there - one of the best modems ever made - and Compgeeks gets Supra Expresses in from time to time dirt cheap. I'm using a 5687 hardjumpered to Com 2 and won't trade it for anything. It's compatible with any operating system on the planet and uses no CPU resources.

[BFD Deadeye]

It's your money, do what you want. Don't expect anything faster than 28,800 especially if your phone wires are older than 5 years or so. PCI modems just don't have the same capabilities as hardware based ISA modems.

GLC is one of the most knowlegable guys on this forum, I take his what he says as gospel.

[Iman74]

This responce is based on reading only "won't release the phone line" too busy to read the rest.
This is something I have seen before caused by damaging the modem by plugging it into a digital line.

My 2cents

[glc]

Iman: Very good point - I think we can all agree that the modem is damaged. This discussion has now oriented itself to replacing the damaged modem.

BFD: Not exactly - my lines are over 40 years old and I'm 24000 feet from the switching office - and I get speeds in the 36 to 40 range. It's a lot of the *new* lines that won't go over 28.8 due to "pair gain" digital splitting technology (make one line service 2 numbers). In order to support V.90 speeds, a line can only have ONE analog to digital conversion between you and the switch and the "pair gain" adds a second conversion. Sometimes it makes a big difference what chipset and firmware your modem has, opposed to what equipment your ISP has - my USR does connect at V.90 speeds (albeit low) to my ISP but I cannot get a Supra Express to connect any faster than 28.8. I have a friend with the exact opposite problem. Bottom line - V.90 is "magic". This is why I mention both the USR and the Supra in my recommendations - they are both top quality modems but either one could work best in your particular situation and you won't know which till you actually try them.

[luisr]

No digital line in this case, just plain old analog voice line.

About the new line thing, I live about two miles from the central office and last year nearly every foot of cable from my desk to the central office was replaced. Only the little bit between my desk and the demarcation box outside is older (but just two years old). The entire network was replaced in this area. The end result was faster connections. 46,000 and 48,000 was the norm before. Now 50,000 and at times 52,000 is the norm.

Interestingly, the old network used a lot of this thing about combining two lines into a single pair of wire. The network was about 20 years ago when the demand for phone lines was not as high. The area overgrew the network. Now the telco installs a three-pair cable into your house in new installations.

[BFD Deadeye]

Thanks for the info, glc. I always attributed bad modem speeds to noisy lines. I'm used to servicing customers who live 15-45 miles away from any switching equipment. And although I do think noisy lines were their problems, apparantley the same doesn't apply for my in town customers.