gb74219@scgvaxd.UUCP (Gordon Barbay) (03/10/88)
Keywords: I have a very frustrating problem with Avatex 2400 modem's. I first purchased one last fall. It worked for about a month then died. The TR light would come on when I ran my comm program but not the MR light. The OH, SD and RD lights would illuminate when sending a signal to make a call (well, sometimes anyway) but nothing would echo on the screen as was the case when it was working properly. I sent it back to Avatex and three (yes, 3) months later after getting a 1200 baud model back from them I finally got another one. This one worked for a week before exhibiting the following symptoms: All applicable lights (MR,TR,OH RD,SD,HS) come on at the correct times but the modem doesn't seem to recognize a dial tone, i.e. no tone comes over the modem speaker even though the OH light is on. By "correct", I mean the lights act as they did when the modem was working. The modem no longers echos characters as they're typed but the first time a signal to call is sent to the modem it sends a "0" or sometimes a "3" to the screen. That's it. Also, when the DATA/VOICE switch is out then pushed in to the DATA position the modem normally goes off hook and a tone is heard through the speaker. Pushing Return will hang up the phone. Now, I hear the relay click in, the modem lights come on like before, but no dial tone. Return, as before turns off the OH light but nothing is echoed to the screen. At one point the modem was acting like the first one -- no MR light -- but that was brief. OK, back this second modem went to Avatex and a week and half later I get my third modem. This one is acting like the second one -- everythiog "correct" but no dial tone -- but this one has never worked correctly. Grrrrrr.... I have an A1000, an A2000 and use VT1002.6 and Online!. Same modem behavior with both computers. Same modem behavior with both comm programs. Also, I have been using a borrowed Hayes 2400 with absolutely no problems. So, I believe this should rule out the computer or the software as the source of the problem. Nothing was done differently from when the modems were working correctly from when they weren't. Literally, the modems worked one day then didn't the next. So before I call these guys once again and once again traipse off to the Post Office and UPS, can anybody shed any light on this (the guys in Avatex product support don't seem to be able to handle problems except simple errors in modem operation)? If anybody has experienced a similar problem, I'd really appreciate learning how it was resolved. This is really perplexing since I've never heard any other complaints about this modem. Mucho thanks in advance. -Gordon {ihnp4,trwrb,cadovax,cit-vax}!scgvaxd!gb74219 gb74219@scgvaxd.scg.hac.com or {cadovax,ihnp4}!gryphon!gbarbay gbarbay@gryphon.cts.com
R38@PSUVM.BITNET (aka Marc Rifkin) (03/11/88)
I too had an Avatex (1200), and it worked fine until after a few weeks, when it died, not responding to any commands/calls and exhibiting strange light signals. But, I did never figure out what was wrong, and I sent it back to the place that I bought it from (Megatronics, I believe) and they sent me a new model that works to this day. All I can offer for explanation is that these modems are probably not amply protected against whatever stresses (electrical) that they may be subject to. Another thing, not entirely related, but when I ordered my modem, they asked if I had an Amiga so they could send a cable. It turned out they sent me the cable matched for the A1000, and I have a 500. I had to go and get a gender changer. But that was good, because the adapter only passed through the necessary pins for serial communication, so that the 500's zany voltages did not reach the modem. Well, good luck and bye... ------- ____ _ __ __ __ \Marc Rifkin \ / / /| /_ / / \ of \ / \R38@PSUVM.EDU \ /--- /-| /__ /_/ / _\ \\ // \132 Beaver Hall\ / \ \\// E R T E C H , Inc.\Univ. Park, Pa.\ "No Matter Where You go, \/ --=======-- \16802 \ There You Are." -BB & MM \814-862-6892 \
diamond@hubcap.UUCP (David Lee) (03/16/88)
In article <35621R38@PSUVM>, R38@PSUVM.BITNET (aka Marc Rifkin) writes: > I too had an Avatex (1200), and it worked fine until after a few weeks, > when it died, not responding to any commands/calls and exhibiting strange > light signals. But, I did never figure out what was wrong, and I sent > it back to the place that I bought it from (Megatronics, I believe) and > they sent me a new model that works to this day I have been thru 3 Avatex 1200s myself. 2 of the supposedly "fully" compat's that weren't and am now on the 3rd which is 1200hc . > All I can offer for explanation is that these modems are probably not > amply protected against whatever stresses (electrical) that they may > be subject to You hit it square on the head! My first two were dead within a week of each other due to surges in the phone lines due to a lightning storm in the area When I called Avatex, One of the engineers made the comment that the 1200's are extremely suspect about handling any type of phone line surge,spike or whatever. They did offer a 25$ fix or replace settlement. In which they would either fix it if damage was minimal or replace it if it was beyond the point of no return. Imagine my surprise though when I received the newer 1200hc's. Now this is the way all hardware upgrades should be done. . > ------- > ____ _ __ __ __ \Marc Rifkin \ > / / /| /_ / / \ of \ / \R38@PSUVM.EDU \ > /--- /-| /__ /_/ / _\ \\ // \132 Beaver Hall\ > / \ \\// E R T E C H , Inc.\Univ. Park, Pa.\ > "No Matter Where You go, \/ --=======-- \16802 \ > There You Are." -BB & MM \814-862-6892 \