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Only broadband connection works ?
Question : We are a nonprofit organization, and we recently received a used
Macintosh G3 computer with a built-in dial-up modem. Our old Windows PC
dial-up connection worked fine, but now the Mac can't seem to dial, and
someone suggested that only a broadband connection would work. Why is that,
and what might be wrong?
Answer : Macintosh computers with built-in modems work the same as
Windows-based machines with modems inside. You should check the modem's
software and hardware to make sure everything is functioning properly; the
wrong software or a broken modem could be causing your dial-up problems.
Many modems have their own driver software, which needs to be installed on
the computer so that modem hardware can communicate with the operating system.
Check the Mac's Control Panel or System Preferences area for the settings to
make sure the modem is installed, turned on and set up to dial. (If you don't
know what brand of modem is in the Mac, use the Apple System Profiler program
that comes with Mac OS 9 or the More Information button on the "About this
Mac" box under the Apple menu in Mac OS X to see what hardware and software
components are inside the machine.)
Old Internet or dialer software on the Mac from its previous owner could be
interfering with your ability to connect. Try uninstalling any old Internet
service packages and reinstalling your company's preferred Internet dial-up
software and settings.
You should also check that you are plugging the modem line into the modem
port and not the Ethernet network jack on the Mac — the connectors are
similar, but the standard phone jack for the modem is slightly narrower than
the Ethernet jack. If the Mac recognizes the modem and the software settings
look correct, the modem may be broken and may have to be replaced.
A broadband Internet connection can bypass a malfunctioning internal
dial-up modem. Broadband services have their own external modems, but connect
through the Ethernet jack or a USB port instead of a telephone modem port on
the computer. |
