done@teklabs.UUCP (07/08/83)
This might be more appropriate for net.micro.atari, but I thought it is of general enough interest to put here. I recently bought a modem for my Atari 800 computer made by Microbits in Albany, Oregon. The modem is designed to be inserted into the loop which connects the telephone base with the receiver (obviously, this requires modular plugs on both ends of the coil cord, although modifications are possible for non-modular phones). Unfortunately, I discovered that GTE phones do not work with this modem (perhaps the signals lines inside the coil cord are rearranged), and I couldn't get a dial tone in voice mode. Next I borrowed an old Bell rotary phone, and this worked like a charm. But, when I shelled out the money for a new touchtone Bell phone, the modem wouldn't work properly, even though it worked ok in voice mode. Finally, I made an exasperated call to Microbits, and they didn't have the foggiest idea what could be wrong, either with the GTE phone or the newer Bell phone. I am hoping that one of you phone gurus out in netland will have a good idea of what the problem is here. It's very discouraging when the folks who designed the modem don't even have a minimal suggestion. By the way, I have since gotten rid of both the modem and the new Bell phone, and I am awaiting Atari's new direct-connect modem to be available in August. Don Ellis Tektronix