On 28 Sep 99, at 23:07, Adele wrote:

> .... Everything shows that it is working properly but when I try to
> dial out I get the message that there is no dial tone.

  There are two components of any modem whose failure could easily
produce this kind of symptom:

1.  The relay which switches the modem "on hook" and "off hook",
analogous to lifting or replacing the telephone receiver.  If the
phone system doesn't see a device go "off hook", it doesn't
generate/send a dial tone down the line.

2.  The component which receives analog sound signals.  I once had a
defective modem that apparently would gladly send signals, but never
noticed if it received anything back; it too could not recognize a
dial tone.


  Is it possible that there was a thunderstorm in your area between
the last time the modem worked and the first time you noticed it no
longer worked?  It's possible for lightning to induce voltage spikes
in phone lines that can damage a modem's delicate circuitry... even
while the PC it's in is switched off.  [Some power bars/surge
suppressors include jacks so you can protect a phone line from these
spikes, but only some do -- and it does no good unless you use it.]

David G

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