Audio Modem Riser - K7VZA MOBO - MS XP os - External Modem = error 680

[David Kelly]

Hi there,

I have a new base unit. It's an ECS k7vza mobo with a T'bird. Everything works fine but the modem.

I loaded XP as the os but would like to think XP could recognise an external modem and is therefore not part of the problem, I'm thinking of loading 98se but don't think it will make any difference...

The modem itself works, the telephone line is fine. With the telephone connected to the modem we can dial out etc. The computer can run a diagnostic check on the modem and tell you it's working fine but everytime you try to connect you get 'error 680' = no dial tone.

The modem is a 'Rockwell 56000 External Modem PnP'and is connected to a com port.

I tried another external modem and the result was the same.

I'm a tech newbie and all I can think is that the AMR [audio modem riser] is the root cause of the problem and that this requires the computer to use an internal modem utilising the AMR slot or device etc.

Any ideas?

[Explorer]

I just took a quick look at the manual for your motherboard. It indicates that JP4 on the motherboard is used to select onboard audio with pins 1&2 shorted and onboard AMR with pins 2&3 shorted. I didn't see anything in the manual that indicated changes within the BIOS were necessary to enable/disable the AMR.

You might try checking that jumper on JP4 to make sure it is set to pins 1&2.

However, you mentioned modem diagnostics can communicate through the comm port with the modem so I doubt that's the problem.

"The modem is a 'Rockwell 56000 External Modem PnP'and is connected to a com port". This may be your problem. It sounds like XP is using a generic driver to enable the external modem. That generic driver may not send the appropriate signal to tell the modem to take the phone line "off hook" to get a dial tone.

With appropriate drivers/software installed from the modem manufacturer I would expect the modem indentification to be more specific. For example, the external 56K US Robotics modem on my daughter's computer has US Robotics drivers and shows in Device Manager (Win98SE) as a US Robotics modem.

I'd check the modem manufacturer's website for specific drivers for the modem. However, getting drivers written for XP might be a problem at this point as a lot of manufacturers haven't written them yet.

[David Kelly]

Thanks for the help!