How To Configure The Installed Modem

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Introduction

We all know in computer, information is stored in the form of binary digit (zero and one). When two computers communicate with each other through cable or telephone line , the binary information from the sending end need to convert into analog signals because information transferred on phone or cable line is transferred in the form of analog signal. And again at the receiving end these analog signals need to be converted to binary information so that the computer can use the information transmitted by the sender.

Hence the process of converting the binary information into analog signal is called modulation. And the process of converting the analog signal back to binary information is called demodulation. Therefore we can define MODEM as a communicator that enables a computer to transfer data over telephone line(cable). In short Modem stand for Modulator/Demodulator.

How Modem Work

Working of modem can be understand in following steps-

1. Firstly software such as auto diallers in the computer activates the modem, which listens for the dial tone on the telephone line.

2. Once the dial tone is available, the modem dials a specified number.

3. In third step modem at receiving end answer the call and send out a signal to the modem at the sending end. This result in the establishment of a connection.

4. Next modem at the sending end converts digital signal from a computer to a analog signals that can pass over the telephone line.

5. Now modem at the receiving end converts analog signal back to digital signal to be used by the computer.

6. The step 4 and 5 keep repeating during the online session.

7. And when online session is over, the computer issues a command to disconnect the session.

Following fig. shows the working of a modem-

Feature of modem

Modem differ from each other depending upon their characteristic like different modem have different transmission speed and they also work on different protocols and different modem have different kind of communication such as Data, Fax or Voice. Some of the most common feature of modem are-

1. Transmission speed-It indicates how fast the modem can receive and transmit data. It is measured in terms of bits per second (bps). One can achieve higher data transmission speed by compressing the data. One cannot receive the data faster than it has been actually send.

2. Voice or data communication- Many modem have build in switch that enable to change between voice and data mode. In data mode, modem work likes a standard modem and in voice mode, it works like a standard telephone. Modem which allows both voice and data communication has built in loudspeaker and microphone.

3. Data compression- Some modem has facility to compress the data before sending it over telephone line this leads to faster data transfer. One thing is important that while compressing the data that modem use same compression technique to decompress the data.

4. Auto answering-Some modem enable computer to receive call in your absence.

5. Fax capability-Some modem can communicate with facsimile machines apart from communicating with other computers. They have capability to send and receive faxes.

Types of Modem

1. Internal modem-It can be plug into a expansion slot on the motherboard. This kind of modem uses the power supply from the computer therefore it may turn on whenever computer is on. It is advisable to physically remove the telephone connection from the modem specially during lightning because lightning causes internal modem to burn through the connected telephone line which in result can also damage your motherboard.

2. External modem-It is connected to a PC through a cable, which is plugged into a serial port on the back of the system unit. They have their own power cord and you have to establish the connection in this.

Apart from this modem are further classified as X2, V90, ISDN, DSL and cable modem.

1.X2 Modem- It transmits data at the speed of 56Kbps over plain old telephone services(POTS).This speed is because of the high speed digital lines connect most of the phone switching station. It does not perform the digital to analog conversion and directly send the digit data over the telephone line because most of the telephone at that time is equipped with DS0 service.

Limitation -

A. Data transfer speed is high only when data is send to your computer. If transfer of data from your computer to dial up sever is done using the normal speed of 40 Kbps.

B. If you want to connect internet using X2 modem, than it must support the V.90 Standard.

2. V90 modem-It increases the data transfer speed from the internet to the computer. It support data transmission speed 56Kbps. This allows the download of web page with sound and video and also of other large file. This technology is build with the assumption that one end of the modem session pure digital connection to the telephone line.

3. ISDN modem- It stands for integrated services digital network. ISDN is a set of international communication standard for transmitting digital data over the telephone line. It enables to send data, voice and videos over digital telephone line or over any ordinary telephone line. Data transfer speed of ISDN id 64Kbps.

ISDN require an equipment called ISDN adapter to perform conversion between digital signals and analog signals. ISDN modem can be internal or external modem. ISDN needs modem at both the transmission ends. Therefore your ISDN access provider also needs an ISDN modem.

4. Dial up modem-Dial up modem has slowest transfer speed of 56Kbps through an internet service provider connection. It uses copper wire phone lines to connect with the internet.

5. DSL modem-DSL stands for digital subscriber line connection. It is a high speed connection that allows the phone wire to transmit modulated digital content at high speed. DSL can carry both voice and data simultaneously. Therefore you do not need to install another telephone line.

DSL need a device called DSL modem to convert digital signal to analog signal and analog signal back to digital signal. It provides high speed access to the information through the telephone lines. You can connect the DSL modem to the PC through USB or Ethernet connection.

6. Cable modem- It enables you to connect a PC to the cable TV line. It data transfer speed is much faster than the above all modems. Cable modem can be attached to the set top box that provides the channels for internet access on the TV set. Cable modem is provided when you subscribe for the cable access service. You cannot just purchase the cable modem and install it. While connecting the cable modem, you need to make two connections, one to the cable wall outlet and another to the PC or the set top box.

There are two types of cable modem-

A. External cable modem-For connecting external cable modem to the computer you need an Ethernet connection and for that you need an Ethernet card connected to the computer. In addition it can be connected to a computer through USB connection. In that case USB cable modem can only connect one PC at a time.

B. Internal cable modem-The internal cable modem is an add-in card that you can integrate with in PC or set top box.

7. Wireless modem

History of 1G, 2G and 3G

Mostly landline phone provide a RJ11 socket into which a normal landline modem, could be plugged, this provide a slow dial up connection with the speed of 9.6Kbps. To improve the speed, 2G or second generation phone arrived, they were digital and provide faster connection with the speed of up to 115Kbps.The main advantage of 2G is they do not required a separate modem.

Further improvement leads to evolution of HSCSD generation which uses multiple GSM channels, two or three in each direction. In this also users required dial up connection to provide internet connection. After that release of 2.5G phones solve this problem. 2.5G network uses both voice and data into small chunks and mixes both onto the network simultaneously in the process called packet switching, with the help of this voice and data both transfer at the same time. Now the network can link the data connection into the company network due to this you can use web browsing on your phone. With the help of this you can also connect your PC with your mobile phone.

Further development leads to 3G networks with data speed of 300Kbps and more, with this increased speed internet connection sharing via WLAN has become possible. 3.5G technology uses HSDPA which provide data speed in the range of Megabits per second. Many of the mobile phone network operators which provide 3G or faster wireless internet access provide various plans and modem that enable your computer to connect and access the internet. 3G wireless modem come in the form of small USB device or portable mobile hotspot which behave as a wifi to enable multiple devices to connect through the internet.

Most of the portable device such as laptop, computers, and mobile phones are connected through wireless modem. In this they receive signals in the air, such as from a cellular network, and not from physical line or cable. They are also called radio frequency modem.

Wireless modem can be installed inside a laptop or appliances or they may be external. External wireless modem is connecting cards; they are PC card that can be directly mounted on the slot like PCMCI/ PC card/express card slot on the computer.

Wireless modems allow computers to connect to a wireless local area network (WLAN) without physical cabling or wiring. Wireless modems use cellular, satellite or Wi-Fi protocols to connect to a WLAN, which can then provide internet services. This differs from dial-up and DSL modems which use telephone lines to connect to the Internet, while cable modems use cable TV lines for connectivity. For mobile applications, a PCMCIA wireless modem card in a laptop can provide access to the Internet through public "hotspots."

USB wireless modem use USB port of the laptop. USB wireless modem is also called as dongle or data card it allows a laptop, PC, or a router to receive internet service vie a mobile broadband connection instead of using telephone or cable line. In this user can connect through a wireless modem using internet service provider (ISP) to get internet access.

How to Configure the Installed modem

Once you have installed the modem and modem driver now we can configure the modem. Configuring helps to modify the properties of modem such as communication port to which modem is attached or the maximum port speed.

To configure the installed modem-

Select Start → Control panel → Phone and modem option. In phone and modem option a dialog box will appear as shown-

It contain flowing three tab-

A. Dialling rule- Specify the location from which the modem must dial.

B. Modem-Show list of all installed modem

C. Advanced-Show list of all telephony providers installed on the system.

2. Click on Modems tab following screen will appear-

Following options are available-

A. Modem-Display the name of the install modem.

B. Attach to-Shows the communication port to which modem is attached.

C. Add- Enable you to install the new modem.

D. Properties-Enable to view or modify the properties of the selected modem.

3. Click on Properties button following screen will appear-

Following option are available-

A. Device type-Shows the type of device is attached.

B. Manufacturer-Display the manufacture of the selected modem.

C. Location-Specifies the location of the modem.

D. Device status-Shows the status of the modem.

E. Device usage-Allows enabling or disabling the use of this device.

F. Troubleshoot-Allows to open the modem trouble-shooter from the help and support centre.

4. Click on Advanced tab following screen will appear-

Following option are available-

A. Extra initialization command-Enable to specify the commands that must be send to the modem when it is initialized.

B. Change Default Preferences-Enable to set the default call and data connection preferences such as the port speed, data protocol and whether compression is enable or not.

5. Type the required command in the Extra initialization commands text box.

6. Click on Ok button.

Written By-

Nikita Banthiya