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6999
July 18th, 2004 03:00
How to tell which modem is installed
Dell recently sent out someone to replace the modem in my Dimension 4550. According to Windows XP, it is a BCM modem.
It still will not work with distinctive ring, so I contacted tech support by email and they are telling me that I now have a Conexant modem and sent me a link to download the drivers for it.
I tried three times to install the software and it fails everytime. When I remove the modem and use Windows XP, it finds a BCM modem.
So who is right here? Do I have a BCM modem as Windows keeps installing or do I have a Conexant modem as tech support tells me I now have and how do I tell?
Oh and as of the last email, the email tech support group is claiming it is now the ISP's fault.
I will NEVER own another Dell.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Dave Lyle
2K Posts
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July 18th, 2004 04:00
There is no modem that is best for all conditions or locations. There is a lot of interaction between the modem, the local phone line conditions, and the remote (host) modem. Under most conditions, even the cheap modems work well, but sometimes a user needs to try two or three different mfg/models to find one that best fits his local line conditions and host.
That said, in general:
A hardware (or controller based) modem is generally the best. This type of modem performs all the modem functions in hardware.
A controllerless modem (or WinModem) offloads the controller function to the local CPU.
A SoftModem is basically just a telephone line interface. All the modem functions are offloaded to the CPU.
Dave Lyle
2K Posts
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July 18th, 2004 04:00
Does Dell support tell you that distinctive ring should work? With a softmodem such as the BCM, specific functionality CAN vary depending on the driver used (since the driver effectively *is* the modem).
If they are telling you distinctive ring should work, you may want to try the new driver they are offering.
Dave Lyle
2K Posts
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July 18th, 2004 04:00
I don't believe either of these modems support distinctive ring anyway. If you want distinctive ring, a modem from the local computer store is probably the best option.
lwaara
13 Posts
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July 18th, 2004 04:00
Thank you, Sir. I have printed out your reply and will be off tomorrow in search of a new modem for my computer.
For the latest laugh, I just received a new reply from tech support saying they need my information to send me out a driver CD. Should I make another coaster out of it, as I have the two that the installer left the other week that are outdated?
lwaara
13 Posts
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July 18th, 2004 04:00
Thank you for such a fast reply. When I do the diagnostics the command on ATI3 is BCM V.92 56K Voicemodem Version 3.5.25.0.
Can you tell me which modem or what to look for in a new one? (You appear to be VERY knowledgeable about modems--Dell should be paying you!)
I really need to get a modem that can handle this and stop driving myself crazy trying to use Dell's useless support.
BTW, I just got another reply from where ever tech support is located and now this one is telling me to go back and download the BCM driver version 3.4.19.1. Where do they find these people and why doesn't Dell at least keep their script books up to date?
lwaara
13 Posts
0
July 18th, 2004 04:00
I really don't believe anything support tells me at this point!
They have argued with me all day that because they sent a dispatch to put in a Conexant modem, that I have a Conexant modem. Now I know for sure that I have a BCM modem and even the newest driver they have for it does not work, so I think I will just end the aggravation here and now and get a new modem!
Thanks for your help and I will let you know how this is resolved.