Modem doesnt hang up

[Bob Haller]

My one computers modem doesnt appear to ever hang up. When I connect it to the phone line I can hear it load the line bad. It will then dial out ok, but never hang up when done Its a us robitics 56K.

Can this be a software issue or is my modem fried?

[MarkA]

Modem's fried. Likely a phone line surge. Modems without physical relays (that is, all modern modems) are very sensitive to this. It happens all the time. I question the value of a power line surge protector (they do little), but a phone line surge protector is CRITICAL. I'd say more modems get fried like this than any other surge damaged component. I've had it happen, and I've known others who've had it happen. I've never PERSONALLY seen it on a modem connected through a telco line surge protector.

[Bob Haller]

Well at least I know not to waste any more time, besides theres oine on sale this week with rebate for FREE. Store trip coming up.

[MarkA]

Be careful about getting cheap modems. Good modems often have more reliable software with better compatibility. Really good modems even have a hardware modem chip, and therefore are 100% linux compatible, never need drivers, and don't slow down your computer. But we're talking $80 modems for the hardware ones...

[Steve Mehs]

My modem got fried twice. The second time, this past September, I actually saw the spark. It was pretty big too. I thought the whole PC was fried but it was just the modem. Called up the warrenty place and got a new one for free.

[Bogy]

Originally posted by Zac
I question the value of a power line surge protector (they do little), but a phone line surge protector is CRITICAL.
Zac, are you talking about an actual, real surge protector, or the power strip "surge protectors?" I agree the inexpensive power strips do little more than provide a place to plug things in, but that is not the same as a actual heavy duty surge protector, such as what is incorporated with a UPS. Our local electrical provider will provide a whole house surge protector for $5 a month. I've got to get that set up one of these days.

[MarkA]

UPSes actually often have quite poor surge protection. I'm talking about any kind of MOV surge protection. There are some non-MOV protectors that are okay. Plus bigger MOV protectors often provide some protection, but the problem with MOV protection is they burn up, and can do so DURING a surge. The problem with ALL localised surge protection (at the outlet) that tries to shunt the voltage away is quite simple - a surge will seek the shortest path to ground. A surge protector shorts hot to ground on a surge. But it often does not cut off power to the computer. Since both are a similar path to ground then at least a portion of the surge will hit the computer. If you'll notice, these things aren't even claiming to provide protection against common mode surges, which are the most likely to be highly destructive.

To be efficient, surge protection will have to allow a shorter path to ground. It must be installed at the service enterance. If the electrical company will install and maintain it for $5 a month, that's the best way to go. Unless you happen to be an electrician, it will take a long time to pay for setting up such a system yourself.

There IS a type of outlet based surge protection that works on a different principle. It actually tries to block the surge and all power. These devices have potentially more value than the almost non-existant value of MOV protection. I got a unit that claims this at Costco for $26. But I'm not counting on it to save my equipment :) But for $26, it's worth the money!

"My modem got fried twice. The second time, this past September, I actually saw the spark."

Just out of curiousity, did you have a phone line surge protector? The phone lines around here definitely seem to have surges (or more likely - spikes) as a very common occurance. I have my phone (a $100 Siemens GigaSet 4015) on a surge protector also...

[MarkA]

BYW, if you don't believe me - look at the specs on your UPS. I'm guessing it's "surge protection" is nothing more than a very low-capacity (far lower than most seperate surge protectors) MOV system.

[Bob Haller]

How about the stuff with the $25 of $50 K insurance if something gets fried. Do they pay claims easily or attempt to weasel out of it?

[Steve Mehs]

Nope no surge protector on my phone line.

[Bob Haller]

My telephone interface supposedly includes this. I will ask a friends son who works for Verizon if they do much.

[MarkA]

"Do they pay claims easily or attempt to weasel out of it?"

The latter.

"My telephone interface supposedly includes this. I will ask a friends son who works for Verizon if they do much."

All phone interfaces do have some form of surge protection, but it doesn't do enough.

For a surge protector, I personally have quite a few different ones :) But the one my computer is on is a $26 unit from Costco (no "insurance"). It's the only one of my surge protectors I'd expect to even have a chance of saving my equipment because it actually tries to block the surge, rather than using MOVs to route it to ground. I also have some high-rating MOV devices (about 1300-1500 joules) for the rest that are older. They reduce surges somewhat. Over this year, one of my goals is to get rid of the remaining MOV protectors I have. But I continue to use them because they help, and I've never had a power surge bad enough to do more than bring the lights up a little. Some friends down in a less nice neighbourhood DID, however, lost their powersupply to a surge. I was at their house when it happened. It was really a brief series of spikes. The power went off, spiked really high, off again, spiked high (don't know the voltage, I'm basing this on VERY BRIGHT lights), then stabilised. It was during a storm. Their power supply died in it. It was on a $5 power strip that didn't even claim surge protection :) They've also lost a modem (many months later). I convinced them to get a cheap MOV surge protector at Wal-Mart to help prevent this from happening again!

[Steve Mehs]

I almost bought a set of UPS at RadioShack last year. They had them on sale for $150.