| Question:
I am using only one phone line, and I don't get phone calls when I'm online.
So I bought a modem with caller notification in order to get phone calls.
The only problem is how to find an ISP that provides this service. My
current ISP says that they provide this service, but the modum mfg. US
Robotics say it would work if that was true. What do you recommend?
Answer:
Here's the jargon... hopefully the modem you have has "V.92", with the
feature called "modem on Hold".
Many ISPs that have v.92 modems do NOT have the Modem on Hold (MOH) feature turned on!. MOH requires
that the ISP's modem be configured to support the feature. Some of the larger ISPs
found that when they turn on modem on hold, it breaks some older modems, and there was no fix for that. So rather than losing customers with incompatible modems, and running up huge support costs, they asked the dialup networks to turn the MOH feature off.
Here is how it is supposed to work. In addition to have a v92 MOH
connection, your phone line also needs to have call waiting. Basically what
happens is when call waiting "rings", the computer pops up a message asking
if you want to answer the call.
If you answer the call, your modem connection waits patiently for you to end
the voice call - how long it will wait is set by the ISP. When you hang up,
the computer takes the line back and continues surfing. You cannot both
talk and surf at the same time with v.92.
Many things on the internet, however, will not survive your computer not
responding in a timely manner, and will disconnect from you, even though the
connection to the ISP remains.
Another solution out there is a service like CallWave (google should find
it)... rather than using v.92 modem on hold, the voice call gets forwarded
to CallWave's computers, which then turn around and connect to your computer
through the internet - the advantage to this is that you can hear the
person's voice as they're talking before you decide if you want to "pick up"
the call.
V.92 was (in my opinion) too little too late. Most of the promised features were never delivered or didn't live up to the hype. They were trying to hold back the outflux of dialup users to broadband... It didn't work.
So, if you really want v.92 modem on hold, do NOT assume that just because an ISP lists V.92 next to the modem that the modem supports MOH. Ask for the ISP to tell you in writing, and guarantee a complete refund if the modem doesn't actually support MOH. | 