ASIASPIRIT Co. Ltd Modem Configuration When Travelling

Modem Configuration - Introduction

Prior to travel abroad it is important to understand how your communication software works and how it is configured. To be familiar on how to establish a communication manually helps in difficult situations as you are in better control of the dialing process.

For e-mail and internet application, you can obtain automatic dialing script from internet providers offering international roaming services. Be aware that automatic dialing script don't take in account the type of phone line (dial tone, busy tone and pulse or tone dial) used for the communication. A manual dialing could still be the solution.

Related topics: How to connect the modem - Power electric socket for your computer

The dialer application with
window 3.x (DOS)

No specific preparation is needed, use the dialer terminal emulator (supplied with the communication software) to send direct modem command.

The dialer application with
windows 95 / 98

Prepare a manual connection :

click the mouse on "Start", move to "Programs", move to "Accessories", click on "Dial-Up networking" and double click on "Make New Connection".
Name your new connection "manual", click on "next" button, input "1234567" as telephone number, click on "next" button than click on "finish" button.

Basic configuration :

right click on the new connection "manual", move to "properties", there are 3 folders "General", "Server Types" and "Scripting" (don't change "scripting")
Click on "Folder Server Types" Type of Dial-Up Server : PPP: Windows 95, Windows NT x.x, Internet. In the box "Advanced options", select "Enable software compression" In the box "Allowed network protocol", select "TCP/IP"
Click on "TCP/IP Settings..." button", select "sever assigned IP address" and "Server assigned name server addresses", click "OK" button.
Click on Folder "General" phone number "1234567" area and country code inactive (simply do nothing), the box "connect using" display your modem type, click on "Configure..." button, five sub-folders appears: "General", "Connection", "Options", don't change "Distinctive" and "Forwarding".
Click on subfolder "General", if the modem support sound, set "Speaker volume" to "high", select a "Maximum speed" just above the maximum allowed for the modem.
Click on subfolder "Connection", "Data bits" = 8, "Parity" = None, "Stop bits" = 1. In the box "Call preferences" select "Wait for dial tone before dialing" and "Cancel call if not connected within 100 secs".
Click on subfolder "Options", in the box "Connection control" select "Bring terminal window after dialing". In the box "Status control" select "Display modem status". Click the "OK" button. Click the "OK" button, close the "Dial-Up Networking" window.

Understand how the phone system works

Prior to establish a communication with the modem, pick up the phone and dial directly the number you intend to call. If it is a local number wait for an answer, it will not cost much, and you will know if the answering modem is connected. When you call overseas, it is better to try with a number where you expect no answer unless you are willing to pay for the call. Beware that certain hotels start charging after 3 or 5 rings even if no communication is established.

1.    Lift the handset, what do you hear?

• a.    dial tone ?
• b.    busy tone ?
• c.    no dial tone ?
• d.    the operator ?

2.    Dialing method

• a.    direct dialing ?
• b.    dial 9 or 0 (zero) for a line, wait 1 second than dial ?
• c.    press a dedicated button for an outside line, wait 1 second than dial ?
         (It could be an office phone, check the cable connection)

3.    Dialing sound

• a.    tone dialing: poooopeeeetuuuteeeetuuupeeee (very fast)
• b.    pulse dialing: tititititi tititi titititititititit titit tititit (around 1 second for 10 "ti")

Worst case - the operator

Proper connections between two modems are very difficult to establish when calls are operator assisted. Voice interference interrupts the data flow, between two modems, during and after the "handshake".
Unless the operator (interference) goes off line, within the first two seconds of the "handshake", there will be no proper connection. In such cases, take a break, go for a drink or visit a winery.

Windows 3.x or DOS dialing

Use the dialer terminal emulator (supplied with the communication software) to send direct modem commands. As there are small differences between types of modems, in the modem's manual look at the "AT" commands set and check the command syntax.

No Dial Tone or Busy Tone
In some hotel, when you pick the phone there no dial tone (or a busy tone) until you dial the outside line access number. In both cases the modem will not dial as it is configured to identify the absence of dial tone and the presence of a busy tone.

"atx3": the modem will dial when no dial tone
"atx2": the modem will dial when the tone is busy.
"atx1": same as "atx3" and "atx2" together.

Dialing Method
If "9" or "0" has to be dialed to have a line, insert a "," (comma) after "9" to force a pause (usually one second) before dialing the number.

Dialing Sound - Pulse or Tone Dialing
The AT command for dialing is "atd" followed by "t" for tone (atdt) or "p" for pulse "atdp".

Example
The command "atx1" sets the modem to ignore the dialing and busy tone. To dial "atdt" (tone dialing) "," (1 second pause), access number "9", "," (1 second pause to wait for dial tone) the phone number "1234567".

Windows 95 / 98 dialing

With Windows 95 the modem configuration is done via windows and menus.

No dial tone
click the mouse on "Start", move to "Programs", move to "Accessories", click on "Dial-Up networking" and right click "manual" (or your own dialer icon), move to "properties". In the folder "General" click "Configure", select subfolder "General" and disable "wait for dial tone before dialing", click "OK", click "OK" close the window "dial up networking".

Busy tone
To disable the "busy tone detection" you have enter a AT command "atx2" -for AT commands, refer to the previous paragraph "Windows 3.x or DOS dialing". Click the mouse on "Start", move to "Programs", move to "Accessories", click on "Dial-Up networking" and right click "manual" (or your own dialer icon), move to "properties". In the folder "General" click "Configure", select subfolder "General" click on "Advanced", in the box "Extra settings" type the command "atx2", click "OK", click "OK", click "OK", close the window "dial up networking".

Pulse or Tone Dialing and Dialing Method
Click the mouse on "Start", move to "Programs", move to "Accessories", click on "Dial-Up networking" and double click "manual" (or your own dialer icon). Click on "Dial properties", click either on "Pulse Dialing" or "Tone Dialing", click "OK". In the box "Phone number" type your number, If "9" or "0" has to be dialed to have a line, insert a "," (comma) after "9" to force a pause (usually one second) before dialing the number. Click "Connect".

Post Dial Terminal Screen
Enter your username and password than click on "Continue", start your internet application.

No Line - Special Cases

Some hotels use "pulse" phone systems internally but outside call are dialed in "tone" - to get a line it is necessary to dial the access number in "pulse" - configure the modem for pulse dialing.

You can call with the phone but you can't get a line with the modem, it could be an office phone or the line is cross wired.