failure of PCMCIA card - a challenge?

[dvdooren]

Hi,
I currently own an upgraded series 7 (7 book) and a dynalink 1456 CS PCMCIA modem. They don't seem to get along too well. What happens?
I can connect (dial up) to internet. Works fine. And most of the time there is data troughput. Sites are loaded, mailboxes opened and mails can be copied to the mailbox. But at some time (unpredictable) the data just stops coming in. After a while Opera gives a "network problem" and mail just keeps copying the email without showing any progress.
I'm aware of the fact that some series 7 devices don't give enough current to the cards. My build was (before upgrading to the netbook) 756. I heard those didn't had that problem anymore. And if my device had that problem it seems strange it can actually dial up and just stops after a while, afterwich I can dial-up again. The problem doesn't seem to be lying in opera or email, both programs experience it, separate form eachother.

So, maybe it's the init string. I tried the usual ATZ en AT&F. No difference. I have a set of commands specific to this modem. But what I don't know, which are the do's and don'ts for the netbook (v.90, fixed speed, DCR, etc). Can some help me with that. I also attached the command set of this modem. If someone could take a look at it or maybe there is another solution I would be "much obliged". Thanks a million (billion) in advance.

Regards,
Daan van Dooren

[diem]

I think you are entirely correct that the problem is not related to the card being used in a 7Book - yours is a recent Series 7 so current limiting is very unlikely to be the problem.

First of all, did the card work fine when your machine was a Series 7?

[dvdooren]

Yan,
I cannot confirm that. I bought a second-hand series 7 and simultaniously ordered the upgrade module and installed it. Then I realised, hey, I must have a PCMCIA modem card lying around somewhere. Maybe I can use that one.
The strange part is that I can connect and login in. Has it somthing to do with error flow control (I'm no expert on modem language)?

Daan

[diem]

I doubt it. If the problem was a low-level modem communiction issue, then I think it would fail very quickly. How long does the connection tend to work before it breaks?

Um, I've realised that since this is a modem question not a 7Book question, I've moved it to the wrong forum. I'll now move the thread (again) to the Modems forum.

[dvdooren]

Well, that differs. Sometimes five minutes, sometimes one. But seldom any longer than five.

Greetz,
Daan

[ias]

Hi Daan,

I'm trying to debug a similar problem with my Netbook and an old COM1 PCMCIA modem.

What I've found useful was a tip from Mike McConell's excellent web site

http://www.mikemcc.net/

which was to obtain a log file of your connection by creating a directory called

c:/Logs/Etel

and then trying to connect. This will create a log file called Etel.txt which will contain all the AT commands sent to your modem and the responses.

It seems to be that receiving an "Error" response from the modem after it is connected causes the call to be torn down (although getting Errors before the connect is okay - the dialler is just trying to figure out the capabilities of the modem)

Hope this helps

Ian

[dvdooren]

Well, I tried it (with the ETel thing). I get ok's. But that mostly in the fase the modem is connecting. After it's connected the logfile doesn't tell me whether the connection problem is caused by some error or command. The last code in the logfile is the ATH command, but thats caused by the fact I manually force email to stop.
Another (new) problem occurred. IT was rather hard to shut email down. It was busy copying an email to the local inbox when the data throughput stopped again. I had to shutdown email with the shift button. After that I tried to connect again. It gave " Problem connecting to remote Mailbox. It already exists". I don't know what this means. Anyone?
It was modem independant cause it occurred with the PCMCIA modem, my mobile and the travel modem. I had to reset my netbook to get it function again.
Any suggestions?

Greetz (and thanks),
Daan

[diem]

Originally posted by dvdooren
[B]I had to shutdown email with the shift button. After that I tried to connect again. It gave " Problem connecting to remote Mailbox. It already exists". I don't know what this means. Anyone?[b]

Did you close Email with Ctrl-Fn-Shift-K or Ctrl-E? Either way, if it was in the middle of doing something and you had to 'kill' it, it is common for the mailboxes to be left in an unexpected state.

I would immediately suggest increasing levels of reset, but it seems that you have done this already and your mailbox is accessible again now yes? If so, this is fixed.


Back to your original problem. I guess you've tried connecting to the same ISP but using your travel modem and/or mobile phone? Do either or both of these stay connected indefinitely, or do they bomb out in the same way as the PC Card?

If it is just the PC Card, then I can only imagine that it is either that the card is close to the current limit, or is perhaps faulty. Do you have a PC you could test the card in? If you are prepared to pay the postage, I will quite happily try out the card in my netBook.

[MikeMcC]

But at some time (unpredictable) the data just stops coming in. Try using the Init string AT&F&K4 with Software (Xon/Xoff) flow control or AT&F&K3 with Hardware (RTS/CTS) flow control and see if either of these improve things.

[tornado]

I thought the Dynalink card was a 'Win Modem' i.e. works with Windows only?
David

[MikeMcC]

Originally posted by tornado
I thought the Dynalink card was a 'Win Modem' i.e. works with Windows only?
David I don't think it would have worked at all if it had been a "Win Modem" and the manual that dvdooren posted did say it could be set up in DOS.

[tornado]

Mike, It looks like you're right. I have just dug out my old Dynalink 1456 PCMCIA card which I know is a 'Win modem' but it is a slightly different flavour, it is a 1456VQC-T5. It looks like Dynalink were making full modems and win modems under the same model prefix.
Regards,
David

[dvdooren]

Originally posted by diem


Back to your original problem. I guess you've tried connecting to the same ISP but using your travel modem and/or mobile phone? Do either or both of these stay connected indefinitely, or do they bomb out in the same way as the PC Card?

If it is just the PC Card, then I can only imagine that it is either that the card is close to the current limit, or is perhaps faulty. Do you have a PC you could test the card in? If you are prepared to pay the postage, I will quite happily try out the card in my netBook.

Guys
Thanks for your replies. Firstly, everything works normal when using the mobile or travel modem. Nothing to report here.
About the card. It's not faulty. I tried it in my laptop and it works like a charm. You could be wright about the current. I figured this wasn't the problem since it does connect okay. (and maybe the fact that i have a series 7 book with build 756).
I keep puzzling. I will try the init string. Maybe that helps.

Greetz,
Daan

[ian.procter]

Interesting to read the postings on this thread. Until I started to visit the forum I was convinced I still had the netBbook I purchased from Expansys about 18 months ago.

However, it was returned to Psion for a new screen under warranty after about 6 months, then re-returned in Nov 01 for a new motherboard (took 10 weeks to repair and return). It worked great, I even manged a system upgrade, thanks to all the advice from Yan etc. I normally connect with my mobile on Ir to receive e-mails on the move. However, I decided to connect the other day with my trusty Dynamode PC Card (1456VQC-T2) which had worked faultlessly in the netBook before the last repair. It now suffers the same symptoms as Daans. It connects and will download 'small' emails only, and when using Opera, hangs up after 30 secs or so.

Surprise, Surprise when I check the Machine in the System Screen I find Psion have kindly down-graded my netbook to a 7book!!.

As the PC card worked prior to the upgrade this confirms that the current capacity of the PC slot in a 7 is inadequate, Or is it the new OS?? By the way my netbook is currently with Psion, I hope having another transplant, despite them trying to convince me that a netbook and a Series 7 are the same except for the higher spec processor!! Moral: check what you've got after a Psion Repair immediately on return. Maybe someone sent away a Series 7 and got a netBook and can tell a good luck story.!!:

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by ian.procter
Surprise, Surprise when I check the Machine in the System Screen I find Psion have kindly down-graded my netbook to a 7book!!.

Good grief, Ian - what a horror story! I hope they sort it out for you PDQ.

I'm curious to know if you didn't find your machine a tad sluggish when you got it back? I guess, though, that after 10 weeks without it, it could be difficult to tell.

Julie