Modem troubles

[GunslingerThink]

I have been testing the T61's modem and found out that it's unable to connect with other modems. The other modems are 100% operational because there are no problems connecting them with each other.

I have tried different speed, data bits, parity, etc settings with no success. I also tried different cables and even tried replacing the modem card with another one. I thought that it might be lack of contact in the RJ11 connector on the motherboard, but other motherboard's connector doesn't seem to work either.

The modem itself if somehow operational: it responds to AT commands, it makes noises (as if nothing were connected to it) when I'm trying to answer a call. But no actual connection establishes.

The physical connection is straight - just a cable between two modems, no telephone swith station. The software I use is HyperTerminal. Driver version is 7.70.

[Dekks]

enabled in BIOS? damaged connector?

[Screamer]

Did you leave the black 2-pin connector dangling out? If I am not wrong, it is supposed to be connected to the modem card. Otherwise, the RJ11 port wouldn't be responding to any modem connected to it.

Additionally, what operating system are you using for this modem? I can't find the modem's driver for Windows XP Professional x64, only 2000, XP (32-bit), and Vista (32/64-bit) seems to be supported with that driver version.

Is the modem card a Conexant D110? If it is, I could try searching another driver that might fix this problem.

[GunslingerThink]

enabled in BIOS?

Yes.

damaged connector?

Maybe. How do I test it?

[GunslingerThink]

Did you leave the black 2-pin connector dangling out?

The connector is plugged, I double checked it.

I can't find the modem's driver for Windows XP Professional x64, only 2000, XP (32-bit), and Vista (32/64-bit) seems to be supported with that driver version.

It is most probably the Vista driver. It's this one as far as I remember: https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad- ... ma13ww.exe

Is the modem card a Conexant D110? If it is, I could try searching another driver that might fix this problem.

I don't know. It displays as "ThinkPad Modem" in device manager. The "driver provider" is "CXT", maybe that means "Conexant"? I'll try to examine the card itself next time I disassemble the laptop.

[Screamer]

I don't know. It displays as "ThinkPad Modem" in device manager. The "driver provider" is "CXT", maybe that means "Conexant"? I'll try to examine the card itself next time I disassemble the laptop.

Yes, CXT is short for Conexant. The 'ThinkPad Modem' is just some simplified name that wouldn't tell whether if the modem is a D110, unfortunately.

Although when I looked at the driver files and compared them, it seems like you do have a D110 modem card. I am suspecting a driver issue, based on this.

It is most probably the Vista driver. It's this one as far as I remember: https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad- ... ma13ww.exe

Alright. If it is the Vista 64-bit driver, try the older Dell driver (7.58) and see if anything changes with this driver.

[GunslingerThink]

Alright. If it is the Vista 64-bit driver, try the older Dell driver (7.58) and see if anything changes with this driver.

Nothing has changed.

[axur-delmeria]

Try disabling the 56k modes, I guess? There should be an AT command that forces V.34 (33.6kbps and lower). It's been over 10 years since I last dabbled in dial-up. Maybe this can help.

[Dekks]

damaged connector?

Maybe. How do I test it?

Check for blocked or broken tracks, or anything restricting the connector being pushed fully in.

[GunslingerThink]

There should be an AT command that forces V.34 (33.6kbps and lower).

Tried this one: "AT+MS=V34,1,75,33600,75,33600". The modems responded OK, but it didn't help.

[GunslingerThink]

Check for blocked or broken tracks, or anything restricting the connector being pushed fully in.

I tested the connection from the 2-pin modem card connector to the farthest RJ11 connector of the cable with a multimeter. It's OK.

[GunslingerThink]

Just tested the modem on my other T61 unit. Installed the very same XPx64 and the Screamer's driver onto it and tried to connect - no success. Then I installed a regular XPx86 with x86 driver - no success again. I don't know what to think.