Problems with Actiontec lucent LT win modem / NIC mini PCI combo module

Question

Got back home after being away for the weekend to find problems with my modem.   I first became aware of it when the phone 'rang'. Instead of the normal ring-ring sound, it made a strange long continuous bleep. With the modem cable disconnected the phone rang normally. If an attempt to connect to the internet is made, it reports no dial tone most of the time, but very occasionally it would dial out but fail to connect. Even less occasionally it even managed to connect but at a very slow speed. Listening to the modem sounds, it makes some very odd noises! The dial tone (if it detects one) sounds very rough and noisy.   The modem is normally plugged into an extension cable from the master box. If a phone is plugged into the extension cable the phone works fine so that rules out a faulty extension cable. Even so, I checked and remade all the connections. If the computer is connected directly into the master box, it behaves marginally better, but not normal by any stretch of the imagination. I have an external modem, which when plugged into the phone extension works fine, and is the modem I am using to send this post   Another strange problem is that if I ring my number (via my mobile) and the modem is plugged into the phone network along with the phone (obviously with no internet connection active), the number is always shown as engaged (busy). As soon as the modem is removed from the network, the phone works normally. This does not happen if the external modem is plugged into the network.   The modem was working fine before I went away for the weekend. However, during the weekend I was away, there was a very violent thunderstorm that took out the mains power. Could this have blown the analogue section of the modem? The computer was not switched on over the weekend, but it was still connected to the phone network.   Help! Message Edited by smiffy on 10-19-2004 12:21 PM

johnallg · Answer

Exactly, your analog side of the modem is damaged - 'walking wounded'.  You need a new modem - if in warranty call Dell, it not call Dell Spare Parts and order, or Google the 3Com combo card 3CN3AC1556.

smiffy · Answer

Thanks, I thought as much.

Do you reckon it was the thunderstorm that did it?

Anyway, where might I get a replacement modem from? I live in mainland UK.

Can I get one from 3-Com direct? Searched ebay, but only found one in the states for $10 + $28 delivery. Will it fit my Inspiron 8100? What is the Dell spare part No.?

ebay reference is http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=74952&item=6715996505&rd=1&ssPageName=WD2V

Sorry for all the questions, it's just that I don't want to buy the wrong one. I did that with some RAM once and ended up with some RAM I was unable to use (latency was wrong).

Smiffy.

Message Edited by smiffy on 10-22-2004 07:57 AM

johnallg · Answer

@smiffy wrote:

Do you reckon it was the thunderstorm that did it? - Yes, are you using a phoneline surge protector?

Anyway, where might I get a replacement modem from? I live in mainland UK. Dunno, possibly from Dell.

Can I get one from 3-Com direct? No, out of production for about 2 years now. Searched ebay, but only found one in the states for $10 + $28 delivery. Will it fit my Inspiron 8100? Yes. What is the Dell spare part No.? For the 3Com, the last number I had was 313-7776 but that has been out of stock for a long time. Dell sold those cards in the Latitude line, so they must have some for service, and also the Actiontec combo should be in stock.

ebay reference is http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=74952&item=6715996505&rd=1&ssPageName=WD2V

Thats the one.

smiffy · Answer

Not using a surge protector at present, but I have learned by my mistake. Will be purchasing one ASAP.

Will give Dell a ring and find out what is available.

I will also keep an I on ebay. Sorry to be a pain, but just to make sure that I don't get it wrong, what are the 3-com, actiontech and Dell part numbers? That will give me loads of options to search for.

Smiffy.

johnallg · Answer

Actiontec NIC/Modem Combo mini-pci - 9C130 - 4G889
3Com NIC/Modem Combo (3CN3AC1556) - 313-7776 - 68GFM - 6F553

I do not know the model number of the Actiontec (their number) but if you have one it would be on the board labels.

smiffy · Answer

Thanks for the info.

Sorry to be a pain again... It's just that I reckon I have found one on this side on the pond which will make life a lot easier that getting ones from ebay in the states.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5132995418&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

It's out of a Lattitude, though. Will it fit?

The numbers on it are similar to the ones you quoted but not quite the same.

They are US-068GFM-12650-11A-E7A8 (the last figure might be a B, can'y quite make it out from the photo).

Smiffy.

johnallg · Answer

Ooohhh a 3Com - grab it!!  Better than the Actiontec!

smiffy · Answer

I take it the means that it will fit then! Time to get bidding. Thanks.

johnallg · Answer

Yes it will fit fine, and is better than the Actiontec, specially the modem.  Latest drivers came with W2k and XP, and the Windows Update site had an update.  I use that card in my 4000.

smiffy · Answer

Well I have my replacement 3Com mini-PCI modem/NIC combo to replace the suspected faulty actiontec one.

I installled it and tried it and.... No better I'm afraid.

So I did some more experimentation and it seems that you can make it get better or worse by jiggling (spelling?) the RJ11 jack. So I reckon that the RJ45/RJ11 board (6G293) is faulty. What does this board consist of? Is it just wires and connectors or has it got some components on it that may have died? Is it repairable. My work colleague is an electronics engineer, so if it is repairable, he will be able to do it.

There is nothing wrong with any of the phone extentions or cables as my external modem works fine using them so it is most definitely the computer.

HELP!!!

johnallg · Answer

Look at the gold connector fingers and make sure they are not bent or deformed. There is this, and they have this statement on the site:

Do you ship international?

Yes, we have a large list of international countries that we ship to. Go to checkout to see if your country is supported.

smiffy · Answer

Well stripped the machine down and got the board out. My electronics engineer colleage has had a look at it and it does not consist on just wires. There are two chip capacitors (150nF or so) that are connected between each of the two phone wires to ground (decoupling for noise supression we reckon). Anyway, one of these capacitors appears not to be a capacitor anymore, it has become a 10KOhm resistor! So it is goosed. I have one out of a scrap Lattitude. It is quite different (different shaped cable (flat) with no capacitors and so won't fit. However, it will do for a test. Will plug it into the modem from underneath through the access hatch and try it. If that works then it is a banker, the RJ11/RJ45 board is definitely broken. Called Dell support and they said it was the motherboard! Can't see it myself as the modem passes diagnostics OK, and jiggling the wire in the RJ11 plug affects how it behaves. Called Dell spare parts UK (or India if you go by the persons accent on the end of the phone! Another call centre in Delhi no doubt), but they said they did not sell that part to members of the public. He did give me details of a third party firm that might be able to help. So what to do? Well as I see it I have the following options.

If it turns out that it works OK with the Lattitude one:-

i) Try and fix mine (solder on new capacitors). If it works the OK.

ii) If not then trawl Ebay, if I fail to find one in a reasonable time period, try and locate one in the UK.

iii) If that fails then I will have to buy one from the states from the place suggested in the previous post. Will not be cheap + all the problems with delivery over the pond.

If it turns out that it doesn't work with the Lattitude one:-

i) Back to Dell and open wallet surgery.:smileywink:

Ho hum, could be worse I suppose.

smiffy · Answer

Well tried the Latitude cable last night and it works fine (so much for the motherboard theory Dell telephone support!). The new 3Com modem connects faster and at a much faster baud rate than the old Actiontec one. Will put that one back in for comparison just to confirm what we already suspect - the 3com one is better. Be nice to get a validated comparison though. So will repair my current RJ11/RJ45 board today. The thunderstorm must have took out the capacitor on the board and not the modem.   Amazed how easy it is to strip a Dell machine (using the service manual as a guide). Well done Dell for making the machine easy to work on (screws marked with letters etc.) and providing a very good service manual. Having stripped other laptops made by other manufacturers, this was child's play by comparison. Not so well done on the phone support though, the chap didn't seem to know much about the subject and seemed to be trotting out 'standard' answers instead of having an engineering discussion. I suppose they have to cater for all levels of users, but they shouldn't assume the worst case all the time. Some of us know what we are doing, and just need a little help / technical discussion to find/fix the problem.

johnallg · Answer

I fought the Actiontec modem for too long before moving to the 3Com.  Yup, faster connects and more reliable.  22-26k vs 38-44k - very old 1930's wiring in our neighborhood which is why I went to cable!

smiffy · Answer

Well capacitors removed from the RJ11/RJ45 board re-installed and all is well.

So I bought a new 3-com modem for nothing! Oh well, it only cost £20 off ebay, and it is a better modem than the actiontec one. I will do the back to back comparrison this weekend and post my findings.

Well so much for the motherboard fault Dell telephone support. Pretty close diagnosis (not!).

Thanks for the help guys. Might be replacing it with a 9100 at some point next year.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Problems with Actiontec lucent LT win modem / NIC mini PCI combo module

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