connecting w/o an internal modem?

N

nil

Registered
I bought my mac without an internal modem. I thought that I wouldn't need it since I've got an external USB ISDN at home. Now I can't set it up. Network prefences won't show me Internal modem settings, and that's apparently the only place where I could insert the PPP settings.

Anyone got any ideas? Should I buy an internal 56k modem to able to set up the ISDN?
 
Can you use the ISDN with network cable instead of USB?

Which external modem do you have more precisely? Unluckily, not all them work with a Mac. :(
 
You probably need a special driver for the ISDN modem. What model is it? Does the ISDN modem manufacturer offer any support on their web site?

And I don't think installing an analog modem to your iBook will help you set up a digital modem. They are separate devices that use different technologies to connect to the net.
 
I've got a 867 DP, running OS X.2.4. The modem is Zyxel Omninet USB.

I can see the modem listed in the 'devices and volumes' under the apple menu. It's, like should be, connected to the USB port.

The problem is that I can't access modem settings. I just don't see 'Internal modem' listed in the pulldown.
 
I think I know what you mean...you mean that in the Network Preferences, next to "Show:" it doesn't list a modem, right?

If that's the case, select Show: Network Port Configurations. Then put a check in the box next to Internal Modem.

Then you should be able to configure it.
 
Hi Chabig. You got it right. I can't see 'internal modem' in the network panel pull down. But it's not in network configurations either.

Could it be that OS X won't let you see internal modem setting unless you have one installed?
 
did you try creating a new configuration in network configurations? this should give you all the options your computer recognizes. i would guess you would need it plugged in during this.
 
Yes, I've tried that as well. I had my modem on and plugged in. Checked that it's visible in devices and volumes. Then I tried to create a new network port configuration, but I still didn't get access to internal modem settings.

I'm puzzled.
 
I don't think the internal modem setting is specifically for internal modems. I think it's just Apple's name for the modem port on machines that have a modem installed. I assume there would be some other port named ...modem for an external modem. And if there isn't, your OS probably doesn't see a modem attached to the computer, which makes me wonder whether there needs to be some kind of special driver.

I do have a modem panel, and it doesn't list Zyxtel in the list of modem scripts. Perhaps OS X doesn't have built in support for this model. I don't know how expensive they are but can you try another model? Even better would be to get a terminal adapter with a built-in router and then just connect via ethernet.
 
Thanks for your help. I'll have contact my local phone company, now that I know that my Mac is not the problem. The modem was supplied to me by them. I guess they should know if it works under OS X.

Have a good weekend. I'll let you know what was wrong as soon as I find out myself.
 
i have question - are you sure you don't need PPoE, not PPP? is this dsl or dialup? dsl uses PPoE. dial up uses PPP. Just asking because i've never heard of anyone supplying dial up modems.

oh, and you'll be lucky if your phone company supports os x. just because they don't, doesn't mean it won't work.
 
Hello all,

I'm still here with my problems.

It took me some time to get a OS X compatible ISDN TA. TA is the box between the ISDN and Mac. On my previous posts I called it modem, but now I stand corrected. I should have said 'ISDN Terminal Adapter'. Sorry, for any misunderstandings.

Well, anyway, I've got a new TA and it does work with OSX. I tested it with my G4 Powerbook, which of course, has an internal modem. I plugged the TA to the Mac's usb port. After that I went to system preferences/network. As soon as I did it I got an alert box which told me that I've got a new usb modem connected, and I should check if all the settings are right.

I typed in the settings, made sure that I was using the external modem, and got connected. Great!

When I tested it with my desktop G4, the one without an internal modem, nothing happened. I plugged it in, went to system preferences/network. Got no messages. And the worst of all, I still can't see the modem listed in the pull down.

I guess I'll have to buy that internal modem after all. Seems like the only way to access PPP settings. :(
 
No. An internal modem is not neccessary to get an external device working like this. The 2 are completely independent devices. Adding an internal modem is a waste of time and money in this situation.

You mentioned that it worked with your PowerBook, but not your desktop machine. There are a few things you can look for to correct this...

1. Is the desktop machine running the same version of the OS as the PB? Apple has continually added support for various devices over the different updates. For example, if your PB is running 10.2.4, you should make sure that your desktop machine is too.

2. Have you checked System Profile with the new TA attached? Is it showing up? Are you connecting directly to the machine or through a USB hub? I've seen all kinds of problems with cheap hubs preventing things appearing as they should.

3. Have you quit out of System Preferences completely? I noticed that with Bluetooth, the prefs wouldn't appear unless System Prefs were quit and then reopened.

4. Logout/Restart. If none of the rest of this works, try logging out and logging back in with the TA attached. I've also seen problems with new usb devices showing up unless I logged out/in. If all else fails, restart with the TA attached and powered-on.

Again, the internal modem has nothing to do with this, but hopefully one of these suggestions will help. Let us know how you get on... :)
 
Originally posted by kenny
No. An internal modem is not neccessary to get an external device working like this. The 2 are completely independent devices. Adding an internal modem is a waste of time and money in this situation.

You mentioned that it worked with your PowerBook, but not your desktop machine. There are a few things you can look for to correct this...

1. Is the desktop machine running the same version of the OS as the PB? Apple has continually added support for various devices over the different updates. For example, if your PB is running 10.2.4, you should make sure that your desktop machine is too.


Both are running X.2.4. Both have the same version of TA driver installed.


2. Have you checked System Profile with the new TA attached? Is it showing up? Are you connecting directly to the machine or through a USB hub? I've seen all kinds of problems with cheap hubs preventing things appearing as they should.


Yes, it's there. I've tried connecting through a hub and directly, that makes no difference. Then again, just seeing the device in the System Profile doesn't mean that you can use it. The previous TA I had was also visible, it just didn't work with X.


3. Have you quit out of System Preferences completely? I noticed that with Bluetooth, the prefs wouldn't appear unless System Prefs were quit and then reopened.

4. Logout/Restart. If none of the rest of this works, try logging out and logging back in with the TA attached. I've also seen problems with new usb devices showing up unless I logged out/in. If all else fails, restart with the TA attached and powered-on.


I've tried quitting, restarting, logging in, you name it. Nothing seems to help.

I've been working with Mac's for about 10 years now. I've seen all kinds of weird problems with peripherals, but this is the first time I'm willing to wave a white flag, raise my hands, and walk out.


Again, the internal modem has nothing to do with this, but hopefully one of these suggestions will help. Let us know how you get on... :)

I admit that it sounds crazy. Why indeed should I need an internal modem? I just can't figure out any other solutions. I'll try it this weekend, and if it doesn't work I'll call Apple helpline (47 € or dollars / phone call). Call that surrendering, if you like.

-Janne
Click to expand...
 
It works! I upgraded to X.2.5 during the weekend, no problems after that. This problem made me feel so stupid. Everything I tried seemed useless. Boy, I'm glad it was a bug in the OS, not something I did.

Big thanks to all of you who offered help. Thanks also to Apple for bug fixing.

-janne
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top