PC Access for Windows Reference Guide

for PC Access Version 4.30

Connection Failed

Possible causes:

· Be sure you have the correct telephone number (and any necessary prefixes) in the Dial from Home # or Dial from Office # fields on the MLS Setup (Dialing Tab) window. If you dial the wrong number you will probably reach someone's voice line.

· Also check for the correct Dial Command on the Modem Setup window. If your dial command is not a valid modem command, your modem will not respond. Even if your dial command is a valid modem command, it could still be inappropriate for your telephone line. For example, a common error is to specify ATDT instead of ATDP on a telephone line that only has pulse (rotary) dialing. That may also show up as a No connection error.

· Occasionally PC Access reports Connection Failed when it should report that it received a busy signal. For PC Access to detect a busy telephone line, you may need to initialize your modem with an X4 code. If your modem's speaker is on, you can readily hear a busy signal when you get one. (If your modem's speaker is off, you can turn it on by adding M1 to your modem initialize command.) If you are actually getting busy signals, see the help for No Connection to (service) in NN redials.

· If you are dialing the correct telephone number with any necessary prefixes, the problem may be an incompatibility between your modem and the modems at the MLS. Normally when you dial your MLS or another remote computer service, your modem will negotiate with the remote modem to determine a connect speed and protocol both modems can handle. If your modem's speaker is on, you'll hear a characteristic sequence of sounds during this negotiation. (If your modem's speaker is off, you can turn it on by adding M1 to your modem initialize command.) If you get the Connection Failed error after this sequence of sounds, then your modem may be incompatible with the modems at the MLS.

¨ You may need to call the responsible modem vendors and report the modem incompatibility. Sometimes selecting a lower DTE speed makes the problem go away (see Speed Radio Button Group ). Sometimes the only solution is to try another kind of modem. Occasionally an external modem works better than an internal modem of the same brand and model. Internal modems are sometimes less reliable because they may have an emulated UART instead of a genuine UART. (See PORTINFO.)

· To see exactly what is happening, try dialing your modem manually with the test terminal window. Click the Term button on the Modem Setup window. You may then type commands directly to the modem, for example: ATDT555-5555. Write down the messages coming back from your modem so you can recite them to your PC Access support representative.

· Some modems require you to type a specific parameter in the Default Initialize Command on the Modem Setup window.

¨ If you have a Compaq Presario modem, and your MLS has V.FC modems, you must add S37=11 to the Default Initialize Command. This is necessary to allow your modem to connect to the modem at your MLS.

If you can't fix the problem on your own, be sure to write down the complete error message before calling for technical support. PC Access displays the last command it sent to your modem along with the error message, and your technical support representative must know this.

Last modification date: Friday, January 17, 2003 00:58:48