Click OK to close the Network dialog box. When Windows prompts you to restart your

Appendix C ✦ Telecommuting Digital Subscriber Lines DSL are more expensive but much faster than ISDN lines. You con- nect two DSL modems to transmit the data at 160 Kbps. There are several types of DSL some- times represented as xDSL. Asymmetric DSL ADSL is the most commonly used xDSL line. ADSL transmits at speeds of up to 6 Mbps and is therefore somewhat expensive. Cable modems are another broadband device that you can use in your home or small business. Cable modems quickly transfer data and are targeted more to homeowners than business owners. Looking at communications lines Each type of modem or other data communications equipment has specific line types it can use. Analog modems, for example, communicate over plain old telephone POT wiring. The speed of the communications depends on the line. Generally, digital lines are leased from a phone or other telecommunications company, and they are nearly always dedicated lines. A company, for example, might install a digital line between two branch offices for faster communications than with a modem. The line is always there, ready to use when someone wants to connect. ISDN provides two types of lines: Basic Rate Interface BRI and Primary Rate Interface PRI. BRI is not quite as expensive as PRI and provides 128 Kbps speeds. PRI provides speeds of 1.536 Mbps, so it is considerably faster. Because of the expense, mainly larger corporations and government agencies use PRI. Cable modems use the same coax cabling used for TVs. The cable company installs the cabling for you. DSL uses existing phone lines. Frame relay, T1, Fractional T1, and T3 are other communications lines that are high in quality and quite expensive. The following briefly describes these technologies: ✦ Frame relay supports speeds of 56 Kbps, transmits voice and data, and has no distance limits. Frame relay’s equipment, however, is expensive, and the voice transmission quality isn’t the best. ✦ T1 is a high-quality communications line. Total speed is 1.544 Mbps, and a T1 line is reliable. Because of the expense, T1 is best for corporations connecting a large number of users. ✦ Fractional T1 is a part of a T1 line. The speed is less than that of a T1 line but better than ISDN and frame relay. Also, as your network builds, you can add Fractional T1 lines to increase speeds. ✦ T3 is a long-distance communications line that reaches speeds of over 44 Mbps. T3 is very expensive and is used almost exclusively by ATT and the regional telephone operating companies. Installing and Configuring a Modem If you don’t have a modem installed in your computer, you must install it before you can remotely access another network. You also can use a modem to connect to the Internet or another communications service, such as America Online. Most newer computers come with an interior modem already installed; however, if you must install a modem, purchase an exterior modem. Appendixes When using an exterior modem, you can easily reset the modem by turning it off and back on again. An interior modem requires you reboot the entire computer to reset the modem. Often you must reset a modem during configuration or connection. Installing a modem Generally, you can shut down your computer and restart it to get Windows to find a new piece of hardware. Make sure that the modem is turned on so that Windows can sense it. Windows automatically installs the modem software for you and is ready to go. Most external modems have a USB plug that makes immediate recognition easy. If, however, you want to install the modem yourself, or change the drivers that Windows used for your modem, you can do that by using the Modem icon in the Control Panel. To install a modem, follow these steps: 1. Open the Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Modems Windows 98 or Phones and Modems Windows XP icon. The Modems Properties dialog box appears, as shown in Figure C-1. Figure C-1: Install and configure a new modem in Windows XP.

3. Click the Modems tab in XP, and then click the Add button. In Windows 98, click the

Add button on the General tab. The Install New Modem Wizard appears, as shown in Figure C-2.

4. It’s easiest if you let Windows detect your modem. Turn the modem on, if it’s an exter-

nal modem, and then click the Next button. Windows searches for the modem using the serial COM1 or COM2 port. When it finds the modem, it lists a driver type. Figure C-3 shows the modem that Windows 98 located. If Windows doesn’t find a modem, it prompts you to select the modem from a list. Appendix C ✦ Telecommuting Figure C-2: Let Windows detect your modem. Figure C-3: You can change the modem type if Windows doesn’t choose the right one.

5. If the modem type is right, click Next. If the modem type is not correct, click the

Change button. The Install New Modem dialog box appears, as shown in Figure C-4. 6. Highlight the manufacturer of your modem from the list of manufacturers. 7. In the right window pane, highlight the model. If you don’t see the modem in the list, click the Have Disk button and insert the disk containing the drivers that came with your modem. 8. Click OK. In the Verify Modem dialog box, click Next. Windows installs the modem. 9. When installation is complete, the last dialog box appears, telling you that the setup was successful. Click the Finish button. Appendixes Figure C-4: Choose your modem from the lists. Configuring a modem You can set information about the modem, including the maximum speed, connection infor- mation, and other options, by using the modem’s Properties dialog box. Dialing properties Dialing properties enable you to set your computer to dial using an area code, calling card, and other options that might be necessary for its use. Table C-1 explains the options in the dialing properties. Dialing properties in Windows 98 are similar to in Windows2000 and XP; however, you might not find all of the properties in the same place in various versions of Windows. Consult your documentation for more information. Table C-1: Modem Dialing Properties Area Option Description I am dialing from New If you dial multiple locations, such as the Internet, your office, and your home, enter a name for each one and configure them separately. Remove Delete a location you no longer use. Countryregion Choose the country from which you’re calling. Area code Enter your area code. Area code rules Set rules for dialing a 1 before the number. When dialing For local calls, dial Enter a number to dial to get a local line, if applicable. from here For long distance Enter the number for long distance calls, if applicable. calls, dial Appendix C ✦ Telecommuting Area Option Description To disable call Check this box if you have call waiting. You want to disable waiting dial it while you’re attached by modem so that you don’t get kicked off when someone calls in. Dial using Choose either tone or pulse dial, depending on your phone and service. For long distance Check the box to use a calling card. calls, use this calling card Calling Card button Click to add multiple calling card numbers and set preferences for their use. To set dialing properties in Windows 98, follow these steps:

1. In the Control Panel, double-click the Modems icon. The Modems Properties dialog box

appears.

2. Select the modem in the list and then click the Dialing Properties button. The Dialing

Properties dialog box appears, as shown in Figure C-5. Figure C-5: Configure the dialing properties.

3. Set the dialing properties. 4. Click OK to return to the Modems Properties dialog box.