Setting Up Communications; Connecting Your Modem To The Telephone Network - IBM Aptiva Handbook

Setting up communications

Your Aptiva computer has a modem already installed.
Using this modem, your computer can communicate
with other computers and telephones. If your computer
has a fax/data modem, your computer can also
communicate with fax machines.
Your Aptiva Personal Computer is designed for
communicating with other computers through a
Note: modem. Though you can install a network interface
card, no local area network (LAN) operating
environments are supported by your warranty.
Before your computer can use its modem, you must
complete two procedures:
•
Connect the modem to the telephone network
•
Configure your computer's communications
software
Your communications software uses the Hayes
AT command set to send and receive data over
telephone lines. If you decide not to use a
communications software program, you can still use
your modem. See "Operating your modem" on
page 149 for information about typing AT commands at
your DOS prompt. If you need more information about
modems, see "Appendix C: Modem information" on
page 149.
18 Chapter 2: Getting started with your Aptiva computer
Connecting your modem to the
telephone network
Modems are designed to operate over the public
switched telephone network (PSTN or PSN). This is an
analog network commonly used by most households
and businesses. Connect the modem to an analog
network only. If you are not sure about your telephone
line, contact your local telephone company.
Before you connect your modem to a telephone
network, read the safety notices in "Safety information"
on page xiii.
Excessive voltages can occur on telephone lines,
especially during lightning storms. To avoid any
possible damage to sensitive electronic parts, unplug
the computer and the telephone cords during such
storms.
Attention!
Some businesses, schools, and buildings have digital
telephone systems, known as digital private branch
exchange (PBX) systems. These systems do not work
with the modem. Connecting your modem to a digital
telephone system might damage the modem.
The telephone line your modem uses cannot be used for
any other purpose while the modem is operating. Any
interruption on the line your computer is using will stop
computer communications. You cannot pick up a
telephone on the same line your computer is using. You
must also disable any Call Waiting features on your
telephone service. Contact your local telephone
company for information about how to disable Call
Waiting. Your telephone company might have a dialing
sequence procedure that lets you temporarily suspend
Call Waiting.