Thinkpads Forum

UPDATE: All three sold, awaiting payment on the third.

Hello,

I bought a lot of 5 brand new Modem Savers - IBM Brand - 73G5395 - which cost me a total of US$12.80, which works out to US$2.56 each.

I'd like to keep one and one spare, so thinkpads.com members can PM me and I'll sell the other 3 at my cost - US$2.56 plus the cost of shipping to you (which can be your choice of shipping method). PayPal is fine (PM me first), or a check or money order is okay too.

This is listed at IBM at:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... STE-3QPT9E

Here is a picture (the other object is one of those adapters that connects two phone jacks together, so if the end you have is a plug, you can still use the tester... those adapters cost several dollars each at stores by themselves )



More background...

Bill Bolton described the situation:

To use the normal modem port of a ThinkPad you need to have a standard analog phone line. The port will not work with a digital phone line. Some digital phone lines may damage an analog modem, however, in my expereince they usually won't damage the modem, but just not work.

In most cases the wall scoket for the phone will be the same for an analog or digital phone line.

Sometimes a digital phone system in a hotel room will provide an analog modem socket on the handset. Sometimes a hotel with a digital phone system will provide a separate analog line in the room for modems. Many new hotels just provide 802.11 wireless 'WiFi' coverage and expect you to use that for data communications.

You need to ask the hotel whether you have an analog phone line in your room. If they don't know, you'll have to decide whether you want to take a chance with connecting your ThinkPad modem port to see if it works.

and nonny replied:

Sometimes, the analog port will be on the side of the phone base. Sometimes the analog port is on the wall and clearly marked. Some hotels that I've stayed in had extra electrical plugs and an analog modem line built into the base of the desk lamp or into the desk itself.

YMMV, but NEVER trust the word of the desk clerk if you value your modem. DAMHIK!

I have a little gadget from IBM called a modem saver in my travel kit. It's about the size and shape of a digital thermometer that I can plug into a phone socket to tell if it's OK to use. I think I paid about $10 for it and have had it for years. I have no idea who makes them now.

IBM has discontinued them, but I found a lot of 5 them, brand new, so if you would like one at my cost, PM me.

UPDATE: All three sold, awaiting payment on the third.

I've bougth one of these from Ken.... definitely worthwhile having if you travel a lot with a ThinkPad.

Cheers,

Bill