Laptops and Dial-Up Cable Problems
Making connections to the Internet with a laptop while traveling may entail the use of a dial-up modem when wireless connections aren't available. A laptop can have an internal dial-up modem with a phone jack on the chassis or use an external modem plugged into a USB or PCMCIA slot. With either, there can be cable problems.
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Dial-Up Modems
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At the time of publication, most new laptops come with wireless cards installed and not with dial-up modems. Older laptops may have a dial-up modem connected to the motherboard or installed in a PCMCIA port that could also accommodate an Ethernet or wireless card. Some have more than one port. With a newer laptop with an internal wireless card and no PCMCIA ports, you can plug a small dial-up modem directly into a USB port and plug the telephone line directly into the modem.
Poor Connection
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The connection to a laptop dial-up modem uses a standard telephone cord with a four-pin RJ11 plug that has a plastic tab that snaps into the jack to hold it in place. If the pins don't make a good connection, the signal will fail. Check the connection pins on the plug and in the jack for damage, dirt, moisture or corrosion. When connecting the cable, be sure the tab clicks into place and test it by gently tugging on the connector body.
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Bad Cable or Jack
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The cable has four conductors made of smaller-gauge wire that can easily break with continuous use. Some connectors are transparent and you can see broken wires by looking closely. But others have solid covering and you can't see inside. Check the cable for kinks, cuts or breaks. Test the cable by using it to connect a telephone to the line. You should hear a clean and clear dial tone when you pick up the handset. Replace the cable if necessary. If you use dial-up with your laptop extensively, carry a spare cable.
Cable Hazards
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In many cases, the laptop dial-up cable connection is temporary. Always route the cable away from foot traffic and where a chair's legs can't tangle it or roll over it with its wheels. With an exposed cable, you may get engrossed in your work and forget it's there. Inadvertently tripping over the cable can break internal wires, damage the jack on the wall or the laptop, break an external modem or pull the laptop off the desk and cause further damage.
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