Forum Home
Press F1
Thread ID: 113971	2010-11-12 12:43:00	Where to get a 56K PCMCIA modem and cables?	Robin S_ (86)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1152314	2010-11-12 12:43:00	My wife has a Sony Vaio laptop around 5yrs old, Win XP Pro, on dial-up. Recently it has begun dropping the internet connection about 1 min after it is first established, then about 2 min after reconnecting and then at about 5 - 20 minute intervals thereafter. Another cptr using the same phone line and ISP does not have the problem and switching modem cables and phone jacks has no affect. The fault appears to be in the (OEM built-in) modem or perhaps the mb and is suggestive of a poor connection or component that improves with warming up. I have spent many hours trying to source a replacement 56K PMCIA modem (new or 2nd hand of a reputable brand such as US Robotics) without success. I have found some, but most have drivers only for Win9x and NT (occasionally for Win 2000). Some 2nd hand ones are without their cables and opinions vary as to whether any use a universal cable or whether the cables are all proprietory. I have the opportunity to buy a working Multitech MT5634ZLX/E complete with cables and Win 2000 driver, but have been unable to establish whether it would run under XP (perhaps on the Win 2000 or a generic driver). I have on appro a Xircom CM-56G. This is recognised and installed by XP but I have no cable for it (and apparently Xircoms in particular require proprietory cables) so cannot test it for compatibility with XP. This modem is called a Xircom GlobalACCESS credit card modem, and there is some suggestion that it might be for providing internet access for a mobile phone rather than a laptop (or perhaps both). It has 2 small "input" sockets. Does anyone have for sale or know where I can get - 1. a cable for the Xircom modem 2. a suitable complete and functioning PCMCIA modem 3. any other helpful info regarding the above problems Pricespy list a number of enterprises that sell new Cnet CNFM560-CF PCMCIA modems but I am suspicious of these. They seem to carry only something like a 14-day warranty ("because they are very old") yet they are reputedly made under licence in Taiwan (the original manufacturer, Cnet Technologies, has disappeared or has stopped making them). I am aware that there are external and USB modems but the space where my wife uses her cptr is only just big enough for it so a PCMCIA modem would be the ideal solution because it would not require extra space and add further cables etc. Her 4-place USB hub is well loaded already. Any help would be greatly appreciated. TIA	Robin S_ (86)
1152315	2010-11-12 19:12:00	a USB modem would still be the way to go I think	gary67 (56)
1152316	2010-11-12 19:28:00	+1. DSE sell them as cheap as anyone. I doubt you can buy PCMCIA 56k modems new now, if you really want one though try checking trademe.	wratterus (105)
1152317	2010-11-12 21:07:00	I agree, get a USB modem. They are very small so won't take up much space. Plus you can use it if your wife decides to get a new laptop at any stage. New laptops don't have modems built in anymore and also don't have PCMCIA slots.	CYaBro (73)
1152318	2010-11-12 22:39:00	had (might still have) a xircom Broadband PCIMCA, also have a PCIMCA linksys cards. only really good for broadband so not much use to you. as already said, check trademe or get a USB adapter	The Error Guy (14052)
1152319	2010-11-13 00:17:00	If you have a serial port you could also consider an external RS232 effort.	Snorkbox (15764)
1152320	2010-11-13 01:06:00	A PCMIA modem with win 2k drivers should run on XP (XP is based on 2K).	pine-o-cleen (2955)
1152321	2010-11-13 01:06:00	If you have a serial port you could also consider an external RS232 effort. With a max baud rate of 9600 bps? err, slooooooooooow.	pine-o-cleen (2955)
1152322	2010-11-13 03:19:00	Thanks for the replies. As I said in my post I would prefer a card modem because of limited space considerations, but another strong reason is that I want to use that as a cheap test system to find out whether the fault is in the modem or the mb. If it turns out to be in the mb then the laptop will be bin fodder. I don't want to fork out for a new modem of any type and then find that it doesn't solve the problem.	Robin S_ (86)
1152323	2010-11-13 04:14:00	DSE has refund policy. I'm back on dial up now until I get a new modem router. As a average Joe, it's not bad, does what I need. I'm not into games or vids or music. Or ISO downloads .. After having broadband for some years now, I think the greatest thing is not typing up the line and it is still cheaper than a 2nd phone line, OTOH a bit of downloads doesn't hurt either. But I consistently use less than the 10GB that's alloc. to me.	Nomad (952)
1 2