Re: powerbook G4 modem disconnect

Hi Professor Ogus,

In the message "[MAGNet] powerbook G4 modem disconnect", dated
2004-04-19, Arthur Ogus wrote:

>A colleague recently bought his first mac,
>and is having trouble using the university
>modem pool with homeip: he gets disconnected
>after a minute or so. He doesn't have the problem
>with his thinkpad.
>I seem to recall there may be a modem initialization
>string or other fix for this.
>
>Any leads?

   The following AppleCare Knowledge Base article provides some good
general suggestions on troubleshooting dial-up connections from Macs:

   "Mac OS X: Troubleshooting a dial-up/PPP Internet connection"
   http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106748

   A couple of years ago, some MacInTouch readers suggested (below)
that Apple's V.34 or even V.32 internal modem scripts may be more
reliable at sustaining connections, compared with the V.92/V.90
scripts. It's a quick and easy first thing to try, at any rate ...

   Some alternative modem scripts -- written using the CCL connection
language, like Apple's scripts -- are also available from:

   Ross Barkman (free)
   http://www.taniwha.org.uk/

   MacTECHnicalServices.Com (payware)
   http://www.mac56ktest.com/macara50.html

Aron Roberts
Workstation Software Support Group

--
http://www.macintouch.com/flatpanelimac10.html#sep13
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2002 12:14:40 -0400
From: "Corjulo, Dan"
Subject: Modem solution we have developed
I have noticed a lot of complaints about modem connection issues with 
Macs. This was such a common complaint where I work that we did a 
extensive amount of research. We send Photographers and reporter all 
over the world and deal with an array of connection options from 
Satellite Phones in Pakistan to internet cafe in Saudi Arabia to cell 
phones at ground zero. In those cases where we are connecting to PPP 
service providers and the internal modem is being used we have found 
the changing the modem script from Apple Internal 56K Modem (V.90 ) 
or (V.92) to Apple Internal 56K Modem (V.32) fixes problems 75% of 
the time for G3 and G4 PowerBook's and desktop units. This is the 
case for OSX and OS 9.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2002 11:02:12 -0700
From: Dan Rempel
Subject: Apple Modem disconnects
When I used to use my G4's internal modem I also experienced lots of 
disconnects, and traced the problem to the modem connecting at a 
speed it couldn't maintain. The Apple modems (at least mine) seem to 
share a problem common to other V.90 modems, e.g. USR Sportsters, 
that they don't properly retrain under these circumstances, and the 
connection is lost. One solution is too instruct the modem to limit 
its connection speed to something it can maintain; unfortunately I 
was never able to create a modem script that would cause this to 
happen. I've noticed elsewhere that there are lots of scripts 
floating around, and that some of them apparently cure the disconnect 
problem, so perhaps someone has implemented this; not having looked 
at them I can't comment. Anyway, just thought that people might be 
interested in my observations.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 2002 11:50:29 -0400
From: "Larry"
Subject: iMac Modem Problems
It's really quite simple.
Apple internal modems are soft modems, not real hardware modems. Soft 
modems suck, whether they be PC or Mac. They are terribly sensitive 
to line noise and overall connection quality.
This is not an Apple specific problem. I fight WinModem problems on 
PC's, even of the highest quality, every single day.
The problem is made worse by obtaining v.90 class connections.
There is a simple cure. Use a V.34 script and don't connect above 33.6.
People wouldn't lose as much as they think. A good quality 28.8k 
connection is FAR superior to a shaky V.90 class connection by a long 
shot due to the excessive re-trains and re-transmissions that are 
common with V.90 class Soft modems. In the long run, V.34 connections 
can actually out-perform V.90 class connections.
I've been using V.34 scripts since Apple started using these stupid 
things several years ago, and it goes a long way to making dial-ups a 
much more pleasureable experience.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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