Modem on office phone system

[Guest_imported]

Hey there-

The other day, a woman asked me to help her connect to the internet with her new laptop. It's been working fine at home, so it's not the modem or the laptop, but when she tries it at work, she doesn't get a dial tone.

This is an office phone system, and when you want to make an outgoing call, you pick up and press a button for the line you want to use, as opposed to dialing 9. We plugged into their fax line, and everything worked beautifully. I assume that's why she's not getting a dialtone.. it's expecting her to push a line number. Is there any way to make the modem indicate that it wants to use a line, or a way to override this entirely? Or are we better off just getting another data line installed? I know very little about phone systems, so please tell me if I've misdiagnosed the problem entirely.

Thanks for your help!

-brendan

 

[Comtech]

You've got the problem figured out.
Have a line connected directly to the PBX (the big switch box on the wall) that runs to the modem. She won't have to push a button to get a line then, and you can use one of the existing office lines, without paying for another line.
Myself, I would just use the fax line, and logoff every hour or so to recieve faxes. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[gunthnp]

some pbx's will let you get the 1st aviable line by hitting 9 so try "9," and the the phone number. the "," is a wait. also trun off check for dial tone in the os for the modem. So long and thanks for all the fish.

 

[ATCal]

Careful what you wish for. Most phone systems more than a few years old will only allow 28.8 speeds (I have had many a fight with the Telecom guys over this and wound up having to physically demonstrate it). If possible get an outside line dropped. This will solve all your issues.

Al
atc-computing@home.com

 

[conceptumator]

STOP what you are doing immediately and unplug the modem! You are plugged into a digital phone system and you will be very lucky if you haven't already damaged your modem. The reason it works with the fax line is that the fax line is analog, not digital. You cannot run a modem through a digital connection. If you don't have a way to get an analog line to your modem, there are some connection devices available that will allow you to connect a modem to a digital line (it's a small black box which connects between the phone handset and your modem), but these will severely limit your connection speeds and typically cost about $100. If you choose to go that way, you have install the device between the handset and the phone, then lift the handset and push a button to select a line. The modem will do the rest. Again, you are VERY lucky if you have not already damaged your modem -- DISCONNECT THE LINE NOW!!!

 

[gunthnp]

not all pbxs are digital So long and thanks for all the fish.