Tips on Using Your Modem in Windows 95/98 General All Staff
Follow the Bouncing Red Diode
Most external modems have a set of status lights that tell you something about the existing connection. Here's what some of them mean:
CD (carrier detect): Shows whether the other end of the connection answered.
AA (automatic answer): The modem will pick up all calls until you reset it.
OH (on hook): This tells you your modem's line is available for connections.
SD (send data): also seen sometimes as TX-transmit. Shows that your modem is sending data.
RD (receive data): sometimes Rx; your modem is transmitting data back to your system when this light is on.
Lights, Modem, Interference ...?
One fact that many do not realize: If a modem is placed near a fluorescent light of any sort, the modem connection will experience intermittent line failures and data losses. So if you have a desk lamp with a fluorescent bulb, position it a good distance (several feet) away from your modem.
Many Modems
If you actually have more than four comm ports on a Windows 3.x machine, you'll want to make sure the system recognizes all of them. In the SYSTEM.INI file, make sure the "MaxComPort=" setting has the correct number of serial ports listed.
Shed Some Light
If you have an internal or PCMCIA modem, but you want status lights, try using one of the many shareware modem light programs. These are tiny applets that sit on your desktop and simulate the lights on the front of an external modem.
Well-Adjusted Sessions
You can adjust communications session settings without launching HyperTerminal. From within the HyperTerminal folder right click on a HyperTerminal Session file. A menu will appear with Connect, Open, Send To and Properties options. Click on Properties and make the adjustments to the settings.
