Dial-up, 'Phone line-Modem problem...!

[Fozzer]

Hello Lads....

I have this annoying problem which has suddenly cropped-up....

When I am attempting to empty my bowels When I am connected to the Internet via 56k Dial-Up, and someone calls me on their 'phone, they hear a "Dialling" tone and wait for me to answer the 'phone...
Which annoys them when I don't...and they assume that I am dead!

Previously when connected to the 'net and someone 'phoned me they would get an "Engaged" tone indicating that my line was "Busy".
Which was correct...and they knew that I was OK...!!

Another clue: When I pick up my phone now while connected to the 'net, the line is quiet. Previously I would hear Internet data being sent down my 'phone line....which I should do...!

Is this likely to be a problem with my phone company, or a problem with the settings on my new US Robotics Modem, (Recently replaced my old Win '98 one).

Any ideas, Lads...?

Paul...Connected to the 'Net, and very much alive...!

[Soulmoon]

Wow. I didn't know you could still connect to these here interwebs with a telly...  :o



On a serious note, I'm quite rusty with the modem tech, and I haven't been following dialup ISPs lately, BUT, some thoughts...

Has your phone provider changed lately? Been sold, changed service plans, whatever?

Related to the first, do you have call waiting? I ask because it *sounds* kind of like your modem isn't succesffully surpressing call waiting.

That's a wierd sounding problem though. I don't know why you wouldn't be hearing modem hiss... Are you still 'connected' to the internet when you do that? Does picking up the phone drop you off?

Did you have any of these problems before you got your new modem?

It's possible that lack of line noise is some new magic US Robots cooked up, but I don't know, sorry.

[Fozzer]

Hello Soul...!

You have some interesting suggestions there... ...!

This problem seems to have popped up since changing my 'phone company from "British Telecom" to "Onetel"...

I have just contacted Onetel, and they suggested the problem "may" be caused by the automatic inclusion of "Voice-mail", (1571), ie: "Call waiting", as part of their service...!
This voice mail service seems to store a number of incoming calls, waiting to be answered, (or not), until deleted.
I did not use this option on British Telecom, and the problem didn't seem to arise...!

In the case of Onetel, I wonder how I can prevent voice mail being stored on my telephone service so that any incoming calls will indicate "Line Busy" at any time that I am connected to the Internet via Dial Up...!

Is it something that can be achieved in the US Robotics Modem "Properties"...?

...ongoing..experiments...

Cheers all...!

Paul.

Note: This problem doesn't occur with Broadband, when 'phone calls and the Internet both "share" the same time.

 

[Soulmoon]

Call Waiting and Voice Mail are not precisely the same thing... However, it's possible that along with voice mail you got some sort of call waiting feature as well.

However...

Generally, call waiting can be disabled by first dialing a short prefix before you connect to the internet. For example, *70 is a common one (according to a quick google search, I don't remember what one I used when I had dialup). If you infact have a form of call waiting, call your phone company, they should be able to supply you with the overide prefix.

[Fozzer]

I think I mentioned it above....
Before I had this problem. if I picked up my telephone receiver whilst connected to the Internet, I would be met with a constant stream of data in the ear-piece.

Now, when I pick up the receiver it is silent....

So something has obviously changed in my set-up...!

I wonder why this is...?

(My U.S. Robotics modem and my land-line telephone both share the same wall socket).

Paul... ...!

P.S. Is there a magic internet site out there which gives details of all the land line telephone key-presses to obtain different functions; ie * # etc, followed by a number... ...?

P.P.S....more and more strange...It appears that when I connect to the internet, my telephone is actually dis-connected from the line....in other words, my modem takes control of the land-line...!!!

[Hai Perso Coyone?]

When I am attempting to empty my bowels

I love you Paul

[Fozzer]

I love you Paul

Thank-you Ash...!

As you know, I always do my very best to lower the tone of the Forum somewhat......!

LOL... ...!

Paul The Incorrigible... ...!

P.S. ...I love you too... ...!
LOL...!

[Soulmoon]

No magic site that I was able to find, sorry. However, some searching turned up [url=http://www.onetel.co.uk/media/pdf/welcome.pdf]this PDF[link]
[/url] that seems to be some sort of Welcome Kit for Onetel, and it has all the major prefix codes for your service in it.

#43# seems to be the prefix code for disabling call waiting for you.

As for the lack of modem hiss... That I would tend attribute to the US Robotics modem, without having any real reason to do so. Still not clear if this is indicating a lack of *connection* for you? IE, if you pick the phone up, even though you aren't hearing modem noise, are you still connected to your ISP?

[eno]

Paul ...... if they've given you voicemail then peeps will get a recorded voice saying you're not available and inviting them to leave a message. If the ringing still continues then it's Onetel that has the problem as the voicemail message isn't kicking in.
I suggest either get them to fix it .......... or disable it all together and your callers will get the good old engaged tone.

Better still ........ splash out and join the 21st century ........you know you really want to.  :P

[Fozzer]

Paul ...... if they've given you voicemail then peeps will get a recorded voice saying you're not available and inviting them to leave a message. If the ringing still continues then it's Onetel that has the problem as the voicemail message isn't kicking in.
I suggest either get them to fix it .......... or disable it all together and your callers will get the good old engaged tone.

Better still ........ splash out and join the 21st century ........you know you really want to.  :P

Hi andy...!

.....or disable it all together and your callers will get the good old engaged tone.....

That's the magic part of the operation I want to carry out....!!
...so how is it done...?

Cheers Mate...!

Paul...  8)...!

P.S. ...and Broadband is still much too expensive at the moment...

[eno]

To get it disabled .......... call onetel and ask them very nicely to.... SWITCH THE DAMN THING OFF!!!  ;D

If that doesn't work then do as my old favourite Kevin B***dy Wilson suggests and tell them to "Stick that "^&"%$$ phone up your "

[congo]

I had to ring my phone company to switch all the garbage off or it played hell on my dialup connection.

Paul, did you try slipping the old modem back in to see if the tone has changed on it as well?

[Fozzer]

Hello, Chums... ;D...!

Still got the annoying 1571 "Messages waiting" even tho' I asked Onetel to remove it...  >:(...!
As Congo suggested, I temporally re-inserted my old, trusty, Diamond Supra Express 56i Pro modem, and surprise, I can now hear data being passed down the line via my handset, when I am connected to the Internet...!
(I removed the Diamond card because it was no longer being supported in Win XP)... ...!
My replacement, which is now in place, is a US Robotics internal Dial-Up 56k Voice Faxmodem, (Model 2884B)....

[Hagar]

One answer to this Paul. Ring Onetel & if you get through to a human being tell them in no uncertain manner to stuff their bleedin' useless service where the sun don't shine. Then ring BT & use their slightly less useless service.

[Saitek]

Paul I'm sure you would spend nearly