The configuration of your modem, its drivers and firmware can have a significant impact on the stability of your connection. Every modem is different, with some better than others, however you should be able to achieve a stable connection regardless of the type you have. This section is designed to make sure that everything relating to your modem is correct and up to date. Just make sure you follow the correct instructions for your operating system! Note that you do not need to be online to do any of this.

Wrong modem drivers

Info: Modem drivers or scripts are what your operating system uses to control and work with your modem. If you have the wrong modem driver installed, your operating system can have problems working with your modem, and even if it connects you might find you have dropout or throughput problems. With the wrong drivers, your modem is most likely not working to its full potential.
Investigation: You need to check which driver is installed for your modem.
Windows 95/98/Me: Go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel. Double-click on Modems. Ensure that your modem name is listed. If not, you will need to install the correct drivers. Note that any driver marked as Standard (eg. Standard Modem) is a generic Windows driver and is therefore NOT the correct driver.
Windows 2000/XP: Go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel. Double-click on Phone and Modem Options. Click on the Modems tab. Ensure that your modem name is listed. If not, you will need to install the correct drivers. Note that any driver marked as Standard (eg. Standard Modem) is a generic Windows driver and is therefore NOT the correct driver.
MacOS: Go to the Apple menu -> Control Panels -> Modem. Ensure that your modem name is selected. If not, you will need to install the correct modem script.
Solution: A driver disk or CD and some instructions on how to install the drivers should have come with your modem. Remove the wrong driver and install the correct one as specified in those instructions.

Old modem drivers

Info: If you have the correct drivers, but an old version, it is possible that a newer version has been released by your modem manufacturer. New drivers often have fixes for connection related issues that might help with your problem.
Solution: Check your modem manufacturer's web site for a new version of your modem drivers. Download and install them as per the instructions that should be on the site. This simple step can give you much more stable connections, especially with internal modems.

Modem firmware

Info: If you have an internal 56k modem, you will have already covered this step above when you updated the drivers. If you have any external modem, or an internal 33.6k (or slower) modem, it is definitely worth doing.
Solution: Check your modem manufacturer's web site for a firmware (or flash) upgrade. If they have one that is more recent than the manufacture date on your modem (or when you bought your modem), download and install it according to their instructions. A word of caution: firmware upgrades work by writing to a chip inside the modem. If you use the wrong firmware, or anything goes wrong, it can render your modem useless. If you are unsure at any stage, contact your modem manufacturer for assistance.

Modem configuration

Info: Any problems with your modem configuration may also cause dropouts.
Solution: Check your modem configuration using the appropriate directions below.

Windows 95/98/Me:

• Double-click on My Computer
• Double-click on Dial-Up Networking
• Click with the right mouse button on the Alphalink connection that you normally use and choose Properties
• On the General tab, make sure that your modem is selected under Connect using, not Standard Modem or some other modem. If it is incorrect, select the correct modem from the list. If your modem is not available in the list of modems, stop right here and install the correct drivers first, as detailed above
• Once the modem is correct, click on the Configure button
• Make sure that Maximum speed is set to 57600 (or 38400 if you have a 33.6k modem or a Budget account)
• Make sure that Only connect at this speed is NOT ticked
• Click on the Connection tab
• Make sure Data bits is set to 8, Parity to None and Stop bits to 1
• Click on the Advanced button down the bottom
• Make sure that Use error control and Use flow control are both ticked
• Make sure that Required to connect is NOT ticked
• Compress data will usually be ticked, but it often helps to turn it off, especially for slow throughput problems, so untick it
• Make sure that Hardware (RTS/CTS) has a dot next to it
• If Modulation type is available, make sure it is set to Standard
• If there is anything under Extra Settings, and the rest of the settings have been ok, take it out. Otherwise, leave it
• Click OK
• Click on the Options tab and make sure that the only tick present is on Display modem status
• Click OK to each of the windows and you are done.

Windows NT 4:

• Double-click on My Computer
• Double-click on Dial-Up Networking
• Select Alphalink under Phonebook entry to dial, then click the More button and select Edit entry and modem properties
• On the Basic tab, make sure that your modem is selected next to Dial using, not Standard Modem or some other modem. If it is incorrect, select the correct modem from the list. If your modem is not available in the list of modems, stop right here and install the correct drivers first, as detailed above
• Once the modem is correct, click on the Configure button
• Make sure that Maximum speed is set to 57600 (or 38400 if you have a 33.6k modem or a Budget account)
• Enable hardware flow control should be ticked, as should Enable modem error control.
• Enable modem compression will usually be ticked, but it often helps to turn it off, especially for slow throughput problems, so untick it
• Click OK
• Click Close
• Go to the Start menu, then Settings, then Control Panel
• Double-click on Modems
• Click on your modem in the list and click Properties
• Make sure that Maximum speed is set to 57600 (or 38400 if you have a 33.6k modem or a Budget account)
• Make sure that Only connect at this speed is NOT ticked
• Click on the Connection tab
• Make sure Data bits is set to 8, Parity to None and Stop bits to 1
• Click on the Advanced button down the bottom
• Make sure that Use error control and Use flow control are both ticked
• Make sure that Required to connect is NOT ticked
• Compress data will usually be ticked, but it often helps to turn it off, especially for slow throughput problems, so untick it
• Make sure that Hardware (RTS/CTS) has a dot next to it
• If Modulation type is available, make sure it is set to Standard
• If there is anything under Extra Settings, and the rest of the settings have been ok, take it out. Otherwise, leave it
• Click OK
• Click on the Options tab and make sure that the only tick present is on Display modem status
• Click OK to each of the windows and you are done.

Windows 2000/XP:

• Go to the Start menu, then Settings, then Control Panel
• Double-click on Network and Dial-up Connections
• Click with the right mouse button on the Alphalink connection that you normally use and choose Properties
• On the General tab, make sure that your modem is selected under Connect using, not Standard Modem or some other modem. If it is incorrect, select the correct modem from the list. If your modem is not available in the list of modems, stop right here and install the correct drivers first, as detailed above
• Once the modem is correct, click on the Configure button
• Make sure that Maximum speed is set to 57600 (or 38400 if you have a 33.6k modem or a Budget account)
• Modem protocol is usually greyed out, however may be set to "Use error control" or "Standard error correction" or something similar, depending on the modem. Just make sure it is not set to something like "No error control" or "Forced"
• Enable hardware flow control should be ticked, as should Enable modem error control.
• Enable modem compression will usually be ticked, but it often helps to turn it off, especially for slow throughput problems, so untick it
• Show terminal window and Run script should not be ticked
• Click OK
• Close Network and Dial-up Connections and go back to Control Panel
• Double-click on Phone and Modem Options
• Click on the Modems tab, click on your modem in the list and click Properties
• Click on the Advanced tab
• If there is anything under Extra initialization commands, and the rest of the settings have been ok, take it out. Otherwise, leave it
• Click OK to each of the windows and you are done.

MacOS:

• Go to the Apple menu, then Control Panels
• If you have MacOS 8.0x, go to PPP. If you have MacOS 8.6 or 9.x, go to Remote Access.
• Click on the Options button, then click on the Protocol tab
• Make sure that "Allow error correction and compression in modem" is ticked
• Click OK, then the Close button
• When asked if you want to save the settings, click Save

You have now covered the modem basics. If your dropout issues are still persisting, work through the next section of the guide on Line and Exchange Issues.