Modem Won't Answer/Pickup

Isn't anyone going to help me?

Just in case anyone decides to help me, the situation is when I dial from my laptop I get the dial tone and I can hear the other person talking, however the phone dialer continues with the message 'Waiting for someone to answer'. So I don't think its a hardware problem.

Can someone please advise???

Did this ever work in the past? If so, since then did you change the wire(s) between the modem and phone line? Or add any new 2-way adapaters, or new ADSL filters etc? Any wiring/hardware changes at all?
Sounds like a wiring issue to me.
Alternatively it could be software on the computer side. Although according to this site (below) the modem appears to be a fully fledged hardware modem rather than a cheapo 'win-modem' so software issues are less likely.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/comm/eclipse/en/index.htm
Can you dial out using any other app? Maybe setup a Dial-Up Network connection to a free ISP? The URL below describes a UK based ISP which allows you to dial up without registering:
 http://www.nippyinternet.co.uk/
Joe

Also, when you dial out to a person, rather than a modem and the other end, your modem won't hear the 'acknowledgement' tones, and therefore may not acknowledge that the call has been answered. What I'm trying to say is, you may be experiencing expected behaviour, given the circumstances you've described.
Joe

joesinc,

Thanks for responding, mate.

Whe I dial out it would appear, as you suggested, the modem doesn't recognise the 'acknowledgement' tones, because even though I can hear the other person, when I look at the 'phone dialer' I still see the message 'Waiting for an answer'. This therefore leads me to think this is software related.

However, just so you, I am using a ADSL Filter. And I have tried different cables.

Any other suggestions?


Cheers

Carlton

Can we just clarify what it is you're trying to achieve here? You said "a problem trying to make calls from my laptop."
Are you attempting to have a voice conversation with someone, using your laptop and a modem?
Can you test the modem by dialling to another modem, such as an Internet provider (like I mentioned above)
 
Joe

joesinc

Yes, I'm trying to have a voice conversation with someone using my laptop? Basically, I have to make money calls a day to the contacts in my outlook. Instead of manually calling them from my landline I would just like to call them directly from my laptop. I've managed to achieve this with my laptop at work which is connected to my avaya ip phone. I would just liket the same ability with my normal phone at home.

I hope that helps

Oh, yes I get the same problem when trying to call the internet provider.

Cheers

Here is a third party assessment of SkypeOut: http://voip.about.com/od/voipsoftware/a/skypeout.htm

Here is Skype's Sales blurb: http://www.skype.com/intl/en/features/allfeatures/call-phones-and-mobiles/

There are other internet telephony providers, and I'm sure they have Outlook add-ins too.

By the way, you will need a DSL or Cable Internet connection for this to be viable, but everyone has that these days, right?

Joe

If you really want to make a voice call over a normal pots phone line you need to make sure you are using software that is designed for this.

If the message just says "Waiting for answer", then that is normal  for a program that is expecting to make a data connection to another modem and/or fax.

giltjr

Thanks for getting back to me. What do you suggest? Are you aware of any software that is designed for this?

Cheers mate.

Typically your modem, if it support voice calls, should have come with software to do this.

You make want to see if it is supposed to support voice.

Well,  if you read:

http://members.fortunecity.com/translacion/allhtm.htm

part of it says it does not support voice, but then as some of its features it talks about MOH, which deals with voice.

You may just want to search on the modem type and voice to see if you can find some software if you did not get any with your computer.

I will try and find some also.

giltjr

Thanks again for responding. The modem type is 'Conexant D480 MDC V.92 Modem'. I went online but I couldn't find any information on whether it supports voice calls....

giltjr

OK, I checked out link, and you're right, it doesn't support voice :-(

Don't know what to do now??

If you install a two way adapter in the telephone wall socket then once your modem has dialled the number you could pickup the handset of the telephone and speak to the person at the other end. Eventually the phone dialler app will give up listening for a connection and instruct the modem to drop the line. Your call will not be cut off because your telephone handset will be keeping the line open. You can carry on talking. You might hear a click on the line as the modem drops out though.

Joe

joesinc

Cheers mate I will give that a go and let you know how I get on.

cheers

I would like to follow up on this question. Is there anyone out there still willing to assist with this question or should i start if off again?

joesinc,

are you still out there?

I bought an external modem as you suggested and I have an adapter but I still can't get it to work.

If any other experts could further assist me that would be great.

Cheers

Carlton

giltjr

You mentioned using software that supports making voice calls. However, I'm using the software built into Outlook contacts so I don't have any choice but to use the software that Outlook contacts uses when making a call. Do you have any other suggestions?

joesinc,
you still out there?

Yeah, I'm here I was waiting for your feedback from the test. I'm interested that your external modem won't help with this. Does it dial the number at all?
When you pickup the phone handset can you hear a dial tone? That would indicate the passthrough is working OK.

You have connected the phone to the passthrough port on the external modem, right?

Joe

joesinc

I managed to get it to work the way you described above ....

'Phone' port on the back of the modem, then you could pickup the handset after using Phone Dialer to initiate the call. ie. when Phone Dialer was reporting "Waiting for Answer" you would lunge for the telephone, pick it and start talking to the other party'.


Cheers mate..

Excellent

Glad to hear you found a solution that works for you,
Joe