Modem Madness
No one can last long at 2400BPS, and my interest in computers quickly
swaying toward communications required a serious jump in online speed. At the time,
2400 was fading fast (heck, I had a 2400 in my XT Clone), 9600 was the rule and 14.4
was the new. With the 14.4 speed, an upgraded serial port was also needed. Running
MSD came up with the fact that the only available port on the PB was NOT a 16550, the
needed port to best use with speeds over 9600. OK, so if I am to make the jump
to 14.4, I would need the modem AND a new high speed serial card. Might as
well go with an internal modem if I have to open the box....
I did my normal bit of research, and I ignored the warnings about COM Port comedy that
comes with internal modems. Read the users guide, had a blurb about being able to disable
the built in modem. Should be easy. Shopping for the modem was another story. So many to
choose from, so high in price in my technically deprived town. My luck at
work sent me north to the SF Bay area, and I would be passing through
San Jose. Silicon Valley. Nerd Heaven. I found a Fry's store right off
of the highway and went in. Found the modems. Lots of modems. So many modems
that making a choice here would be a miracle. Instead of closing my eyes and
picking anything, I listened to a presentation by a factory rep from AT$T Paradyne, they
were pushing the Dataport line of 14.4 modems, he gave a good speech about
the warranty, performance and a $$ off coupon. Sold.
Back home, off with the cover. Set the jumpers for COM 1 (default was COM 2,
the setting for most computers with the mouse on COM 1), stuffed it in a slot. Power up,
and enter the BIOS setup screen, with CTRL ALT S. On page two there is
the settings for the serial ports:
ACC3221 I/O Controller Configuration
Serial Port 2/Modem Port: [ COM 1 ] [ IRQ 4 ]
Serial Port 1: [ COM 2 ] [ IRQ 3 ]
After getting over some confusion between serial port 2 and COM 2,
(it came to me..Serial Port two, as in the actual hardware interface was the connection
to the onboard modem. Serial Port 1 is the DB9 on the back..) all that is needed to
do is use the + or - keys to move the COM 1 field to DISABLE. Button up, plug in
phone line and dial up local BBS.
WOAH NELLY!
Watch the screen fly by.
Modem II
Of course an online enthusiast such as I would make the move to 28.8.
so satisfied that I was with the AT$T Dataport, I waited for the 28.8 version while
USR and Supra pushed bargains. Worth the wait? Dunno. While data comms can be
a most mysterious topic, I have had few problems such as dropped carriers, etc. Also could
lift the phone extension without harming the connection, though dataflow would stop. Being
in a communications techical career, all the in house phone wires are personally installed
with attention paid to the usual trouble areas. Tight, weather proof connections,
quality equipment, and a dedicated data phone line all contribute to my success.
Internal Modem/Phone Trick
Internal modems lack the snazzy display of status indicator lights. You can
gain at least an on/off hook light by using any two line phone. I have the phone by the
'puter, with it's line 2 input from the modem's output. So I an OH, and
by using Win95's DUN with the DS and DR indicators, I can almost enjoy
watching blinky lights while having an internal modem.
Packard-Bell is a trademark of Packard Bell/NEC. This author and the service provider are not affiliated with Packard-Bell/NEC in any way