Copyright: Thursday, August 02, 2001 12:36:36


Lists the modems installed on the computer.


Click to install a new modem.


Click to remove the selected modem.


Click to display or change information about the selected modem.


Provides information to identify the modem and which commands are supported by it.


Displays identifying information for the modem.


After you click Query Modem, displays standard AT commands sent to the modem and how the modem responds to each command.


Click to send standard AT commands and display how the modem responds to each command.


Controls logging of session information. The log file, Systemroot\ModemLog_modemname.txt, is useful for monitoring calls and troubleshooting. Logging is controlled differently if you are on a computer running WindowsXP Professional than it is if you are on a computer running Windows 2000 Server:

In Windows XP Professional, logging is always turned on. Select this check box to append session information to the log file. Clear this check box to replace the log file at the beginning of each session.

In Windows 2000 Server, logging is turned off unless you select this check box.


Click to view the log file for this modem (Systemroot\ModemLog_modemname.txt).


Specifies the port to which your modem is connected.


Adjusts the speaker volume for your modem. Not all modems support this function.


Specifies the maximum speed that programs may use to transmit data to the modem. This is not the same as the modem-to-modem speed, which is limited by other links in the connection. This value is normally set correctly during installation of a modem or other device.

If you are using a direct connection to a computer, Windows CE device, or other device that supports higher data transmission speeds, click the correct speed. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions provided with the device for the maximum port speed.


Select this check box to make the modem wait for a dial tone before dialing.

Clear this check box if your modem does not recognize the dial tone in your current location, or if you have to dial your phone manually.

Not all modems support this function.


Displays additional settings to change the behavior of the modem.


Provides a space to type additional modem initialization settings. Overrides previous settings.

For information about other available modem settings, see your modem manual.


Specifies how many seconds to wait for a credit card tone before continuing to dial.


Click to specify port settings that are specific to this modem. Also lets you change the first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer settings for the COM port. These settings are applicable only to ports and devices that use a 16550 buffered universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART).


Click to change modem settings, which may include call and data connection preferences, hardware settings, and terminal preferences.


Displays the port to which the modem is attached.


Specifies whether the terminal window appears before or after dialing.


Select this check box to display the terminal window before a number is dialed.


Select this check box to display the terminal window after a number is dialed.


Specifies the data parameters the modem uses to communicate, which must match the modem you are calling. The typical settings are 8, N, 1 (8 data bits, None parity, 1 stop bit). A few service providers use 7, E, 1 (7 data bits, Even parity, and 1 stop bit). Check the instructions provided by your service provider if you are unable to communicate.

Not all modems support this function.


Changes the number of data bits to use for each character that is transmitted and received. The modem you are communicating with must have the same setting that you choose here. Online services typically use eight data bits, although some use seven data bits.


Changes the type of error checking you want to use for the selected port. When parity checking is enabled, the transmitting modem adds a parity bit to the data in order to make the number of 1 bits in a character even or odd.

The computer you are communicating with must have the same setting that you choose here. This is typically None, because most connections now use more sophisticated and reliable means of error checking.


Stop bits tell the system that a packet (byte) of information has been sent. This is nearly always set to 1.


Switches the modulation type to be compatible with the modem signals for the computer to which you are trying to connect. Most modems fall into the standard category, but if you are having trouble connecting, try switching to a nonstandard modulation type.


These options change how a connection is made with this modem.

To receive additional help, click [image] at the top of the dialog box, and then click the specific item you want information about.


Select this check box to be prompted to dial the phone manually, rather than having the computer dial it. This is useful when you need to talk to the operator first, such as in hotels.

When you dial the phone manually, wait until you hear the computer answer, and then click OK and hang up the phone.


Select this check box to hang up the phone if there is no activity for more than the specified number of minutes.


Specifies the number of seconds until an uncompleted call is canceled.

Not all modems support this function.


Provides options to change the default data connection preferences. These are normally set correctly when you install a modem.

To receive additional help, click [image] at the top of the dialog box, and then click the specific item you want information about.


This is the current speed shown in bits per second (bps) for the computer-to-modem connection (not the modem-to-modem speed, which may be limited by other links in the connection). Normally, this speed is set correctly during installation of the modem. Changing the Maximum Port Speed in the modem properties changes this value as well.

Some serial devices now support speeds (for example, 230 Kbps) faster than the 115.2 Kbps currently supported by the standard serial ports installed on most computers.


Sets up and removes error correction. Standard error correction allows the modems to negotiate the error correction method that is used for the connection, such as V.42, MNP 4, MNP 3, MNP 2, or none. Forced error correction requires that V.42 be used for the connection. When V.42 cannot be used, it terminates the connection.

Sometimes a modem with error correction may take too long to negotiate with a service provider’s modem, and the service provider hangs up. Disabling error correction may then allow an unbroken connection. Removing error correction may make your connection less reliable.


Enables or disables data compression performed by the modem, also called hardware compression. Compression reduces the amount of time required to transfer data.

You may want to disable data compression if your data communication program is configured to compress data (resulting in software compression) or if you transfer a lot of compressed files (with extensions like ZIP, ARC, SIT, LHA, or SEA). Compression types supported by some modems actually slow the transfer of the data that has already been compressed.


Specifies whether hardware or software flow control is used to control the flow of data between the modem and your computer. RTS/CTS refers to hardware flow control; XON/XOFF refers to software flow control.

Use XON/XOFF if the modem or the cable does not support hardware flow control. XON/XOFF may not work with certain programs.


Select this check box if your telephone line has distinctive ringing, and then specify the type of call for each ring pattern.


Click the type of call you want to produce a single ring, a double ring, or a triple ring. In any box, click Unspecified to allow any type of call not specified in either of the other two boxes to produce that type of ring.

If Unspecified is clicked for all ring patterns, then all types of incoming calls produce a single ring.


Select this check box if your telephone line has distinctive ringing. Distinctive ringing, a service you can order from your telephone company, provides different ring patterns for different kinds of calls.

Depending on the kind of modem you have, you can have between three and six numbers, or addresses, for one telephone line. You can assign each number a distinctive ring pattern. You can also assign each ring pattern to a specific type of call. For example, if you assign two rings for all fax calls, any call received with that ring pattern will automatically be sent to your fax program.

Some modems support different ring duration patterns—for example, long or short—in addition to different numbers of rings for a particular address.


Specifies the main number assigned to your telephone line.

Under Ring Pattern, assign the ring pattern for when someone calls this number. The default ring pattern is one long ring. Under Type of call, you can specify the type of call that uses this number.


Selects the ring pattern for this number.

For example, Address 1 might be your home business number and Address 2 your personal home number. If you assign two short rings to Address 1 and two long rings to Address 2, you can tell whether an incoming call is for your business or your home by the ring pattern.


Specifies a ring pattern for an address assigned to your telephone line.


Specifies the type of call used for each address. For example, if an address is for your business fax machine, you should click Fax. When you hear the ring pattern assigned to this address, you can tell that the call is an incoming fax.

If an address is used for more than one type of call, click Unspecified.


Use to select the ring pattern you want to hear for an incoming priority call.


Specifies the ring pattern for incoming priority calls.


Specifies the type of priority call that will use the ring pattern you selected.

For example, if you want priority fax calls to use this ring pattern, click Fax.

If you want all priority calls to use this ring pattern regardless of their type, click Unspecified.


Use to select a ring pattern for the callback feature. If you place a call and get a busy signal, you can hang up, and your telephone will ring when the line is free for you to call back.

If the telephone you are calling transmits a nonstandard busy signal, Voice may not recognize it as busy, and the callback feature will not work.


Specifies a ring pattern for the callback feature.


Specifies the type of callback that will use the selected ring. If you want all callbacks to use this ring pattern, click Unspecified.


Select the switch type provided by your phone company.


Type the complete phone number provided by your phone company for the first ISDN channel. This field accepts only digits — omit spaces, dashes, parentheses or other nonnumeric characters.


Type the Service Profile ID (SPID) provided by your telephone company for the first of the two ISDN channels. This is usually the area or city code and phone number of the ISDN line channel (the number of digits depends on the country or region), plus a prefix, a suffix, or both a prefix and a suffix. This field accepts only digits — omit spaces, dashes, parentheses or other nonnumeric characters.

If an ISDN channel requires a SPID, but it is not entered correctly, then the device will be unable to place or accept calls.


Type the complete phone number provided by your phone company for the second ISDN channel. This field accepts only digits — omit spaces, dashes, parentheses or other nonnumeric characters.


Type the Service Profile ID (SPID) provided by your telephone company for the second of the two ISDN channels. This is usually the area or city code and phone number of the ISDN line channel (the number of digits depends on the country or region), plus a prefix, a suffix, or both a prefix and a suffix. This field accepts only digits — omit spaces, dashes, parentheses or other nonnumeric characters.

If an ISDN channel requires a SPID, but it is not entered correctly, then the device will be unable to place or accept calls.


Displays the modem that will be duplicated.


Specifies whether to duplicate this modem to all the ports in the list below or only to those that you select.


Click this to duplicate this modem to all the ports listed below.


Click this to duplicate this modem only to the ports that you select below.


Lists the ports to which you can duplicate this modem.


Enables you to select the country or region in which you are using the modem. The list shows the countries and regions supported by this modem.


International standard for data error control. V.42 allows modems to automatically retransmit corrupted data, assuring that only error-free data passes through the modem. The standard uses LAP-M as the primary error control protocol and MNP4 as a backup error control protocol.


International standard for data compression. V.42bis allows modems to increase throughput by compressing data prior to transmission.

Unlike MNP5, V.42bis is more efficient at dealing with pre-compressed data and will typically not expand pre-compressed data. Any expansion, if at all, is negligible.

To enable V.42bis compression, V.42 error control must also be enabled.


High-speed data transmission standard. V.32bis operates at 14,400 bits per second (bps) and, like V.32, is a full-duplex method.


An industry-standard communication protocol that allows modems to automatically retransmit corrupted data, assuring that only error-free data passes through the modem. (MNP2 and MNP3 standards are included in MNP4.) MNP4 is also called Microcom Networking Protocol Four.