Making Connections

Usually your setup program will try and find your modem and its COM port. If it can't, it will ask you which COM port your modem is attached to. If you don't know, the easiest thing to do is try them all. Even if you only have two serial ports, you may be able to select one of four COM ports. Also, there are some other devices that use the COM ports. In some computers,the mouse is plugged into a serial port. This is known as a serial mouse. If you've got a serial mouse plugged into COM1, then just plug the modem into COM2. If you don't have a second COM port, you can purchase a card that goes inside your computer that will give you a second COM port. If this is necessary, you should check with the manufacturer of your computer.

Your modem will likely have a connector on the back with space for 25 pins. You need to make sure that the serial modem cable you purchase has the right number of pins on either side and is the correct "gender." The best thing to do is to look at the back of your computer and list the various connectors, the number of pins, and the gender. When you go to purchase your modem, find the cable that matches the connector.

Lastly, you'll need a standard phone cable to connect the modem to your phone line. The standard connector on a telephone cable is called an RJ-11. On the back of your modem, you'll probably have two RJ-11 jacks. One is for connecting the modem to a wall jack, and the other is for connecting the modem to a telephone.