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Configuring a Modem


When you install a new modem, the modem installation wizard uses an appropriate set of default parameters for that modem. You might need to change those settings to optimize the modem's performance or tailor it for specific applications.

To configure a modem, open the Control Panel and choose the Modems object. From the General modem property page, select the modem you want to configure; then choose Properties. Windows 98 displays a property sheet for the modem.

The General property page enables you to specify the port to which the modem is connected, the volume level for the modem's speaker, and the connection speed you want to use for the modem. To specify the port, just select the appropriate port from the Port drop-down list. To set the modem's volume, move the Speaker volume slider control. Most modems support four volume levels: off, low, medium, and high. Set yours according to your preference.

When you set the Maximum speed for the modem on the General property page, you need to take your modem's capabilities into account. If you set the speed too high, you could experience problems with the modem. To determine the optimum setting, run the diagnostics on the modem as explained in the section "Testing a Modem," later in this chapter. One value the diagnostics reports is the maximum speed for the modem. In general you shouldn't go any higher than the diagnostics-specified maximum.

Tip
If you want the modem to connect only at the highest possible speed and not renegotiate the connection to a lower speed, enable the check box labeled Only connect at this speed. If you want to connect to your pay-per-use online service only at the highest possible speed, for example, enabling this option will prevent a connection from taking place at a lower speed.


 

Specifying Connection Settings

The Connection property page enables you to specify a variety of settings that control the port and other connection options. Some of these settings — Data bits, Parity, and Stop bits — override similar settings in the Port Settings property page for the selected COM port.

The following list details the other settings on the Connection property, located in the Call preferences group:

Note
Some online services and remote dial-up connections disconnect you automatically after no activity occurs on the connection for a specified amount of time.


 

Setting Advanced Options

In addition to the standard settings in the Connection property page, you can use a few advanced settings to control other parameters for the modem. To set these advanced settings, choose the Advanced button from the Connection property page to display the Advanced Connection Settings dialog box. The following list explains the settings in the Advanced Connection Settings dialog box:

After you specify the necessary advanced settings, choose OK to exit the Advanced Connection Settings dialog box.