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Question about 56k Modem and Newer Laptops!

by jchengery
11 replies
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Hello everyone,

(Note: I'm sorry that some of my hyperlinks look like ads; I copied the URL links from a Notepad file I made some time back, taking those links directly from the sales pages of those companies selling those computers. The old forum software, to my knowledge, did not cause the text to appear like that when you copied and pasted the site URL. Please rest assured that I'm not trying to sell you anything - I'm just asking for information and provided the hyperlinks for your reference to help you answer the question I've posted below better - thank you for your understanding.)

It's been a while since I've posted here (since before the new forum software was initiated) - sorry it's been so long. My family has dealt with 2 deaths in the past few months, along with my grandmother being in a nursing home, so I've been quite busy over the past several months.

I had a question about newer laptops that have 56k modem capability, but don't have a RJ-11 (56k modem) port. For instance, the Toshiba line of A305-S6858 (sold at Best Buy and can be seen here: Toshiba - Satellite Laptop with Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology - A305-S6858), A305-S6857 (sold at Circuit City and can be seen here: Buy the Toshiba Satellite A305-S6857 15.4" Widescreen Laptop and other Laptop computers at circuitcity.com), and other similar models seem to list the capability of having 56k modem speed, but don't have the modem included.

I was wondering if something like the "US Robotics 56k modem device and software" (can be seen here: http://www.ciao.com/USRobotics_56K_U...odem__15529073) would enable me to connect to the Internet via a modem with the laptop models I mentioned above?

I'm looking into getting Hi-Speed Internet in the near future (it's been put on hold due to the recent family issues mentioned above), but I'd still like to have the option of connecting via an RJ-11 (phone line) modem in the event Hi-Speed Internet is down or not working optimally even after I get Hi-Speed Internet. For now, though, I'd primarily use the RJ-11 (phone line) Modem to connect to the Internet.

Therefore, would using a device such as US Robotics allow me to do that with those laptops I mentioned above or would I be better off purchasing a laptop that comes with an RJ-11 port, such as the Toshiba Satellite P305-S8842, seen here: Buy the Toshiba Satellite P305-S8842 17.1" Widescreen Laptop and other Laptop computers at circuitcity.com).

I'd appreciate any and all assistance and advice - thank you.

My current laptop is currently making a whining, whistling, or whirring noise when I boot up, and it continues even after the boot-up process is complete - I don't know if that is the fan or what it is - if anyone has any advice on how to clean the inside of a laptop and/or to rectify this situation, I'd greatly appreciate any advice and information on that as well - thank you.

Please take care and have a great day!

Sincerely,

Joe Chengery III
  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    The usb adapter to rj11 should work.
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  • Profile picture of the author jchengery
    Hello Kim,

    Thank you for replying - greatly appreciated! I was thinking it would work, but it's nice to hear someone else thinking along the same lines! :-)

    Please take care and have a great day!

    Sincerely,

    Joe Chengery III
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike Wright
      Hi Joe

      " Buy the Toshiba Satellite P305-S8842 17.1"

      According to the detailed specs, this has an internal 56K modem
      like my own Tosh. All you need is a patch cable to connect between
      phone socket and laptop. This might even be included in the deal.
      This is much better than lugging around a seperate modem imho.

      As the laptop also has integral wifi ....use that with a wifi modem/router
      when you get broadband. Direct cable connection will however be
      faster than wifi by some percentage ....20% in my own situation.

      As for your other laptop .... there are several potential noise sources.
      Fans and drives are crucial .... others less so. Maybe time to
      get a pro opinion .... or ebay it with appropriate caveats/disclaimers.

      good luck
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  • Profile picture of the author jchengery
    Hello Mike,

    Thanks for replying - greatly appreciated!

    After finding out the A305-S6858 (found at Best Buy), A305-S6857 (found at Circuit City and Office Depot), and A305-S6859 (found at OfficeMax) didn't have internal modems, the P305-S8842 is the one that is my new "frontrunner."

    I hope it comes down a bit more in price, especially during this upcoming holiday season (provided my current laptop holds out until them - knock on wood - it's not making that noise I mentioned above, and while not running any external fans on it, it's actually operating fairly quietly, with the internal fan running on low. There was some noise earlier that sounded like either the fans are wearing slightly or that some particles of dust or other debris are in it - perhaps compressed air can blow those out of there. Therefore, I'm somewhat optimistic that my current laptop still has some life in it, hopefully. I'll still try to have a contingency plan ready to go in case it does suddenly die on me, but hopefully, that won't be for a while. :-)

    I too have wondered if an internal modem is better than an external modem, such as the U.S. Robotics modem I mentioned above. Granted, it'd be a bit cheaper if it did work, but that's the caveat - if it doesn't work (or work well enough where there are no hassles of having the modem work properly on an everyday basis), there's the hassle of returning the laptop or holding onto it until I convert over to Hi-Speed (and I'd still like the option of switching back to dial-up if there's an occasional problem with Hi-Speed), along with returning the U.S. Robotics modem. Not to mention getting another laptop with its own internal modem.

    That's why I'm sort of leaning toward the "safe" option of getting a laptop with its own internal model, even if it means paying more to get it. Of course, the P305-S8842 does have a larger HD (actually, 2 separate HDs of 200GB - I hope that's an advantage and not a disadvantage to have 2 separate HDs, as I've never had a laptop or a computer in general that had two main HDs before).

    Again, thanks Mike for replying and for the great information you provided - greatly appreciated!

    Take care and have a great day!

    Sincerely,

    Joe Chengery III
    Signature

    My free ebook on pancreatic cancer: http://ow.ly/nPVhm Let's help my friend Courtney Reagan strike out cancer!

    Are you WORRIED about what wheat is doing to your waistline and your health? You SHOULD be! http://ow.ly/jSIY9 Internet marketer, copyeditor, copywriter, content creator, author - http://www.joechengery.com

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  • Profile picture of the author seodeveloping
    The best advice I can give you for fixing the whirring/whining noise is this...

    Take out the small laptop fan on the side of the notebook. Clean it off... I have a sneaky suspicion that it's really clogged with dust.
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    • Profile picture of the author jchengery
      Hello SEODeveloping,

      I appreciate the advice - thank you. I think that's possible, especially with the fans I have running to help keep the room cooler - particles of dust could have gotten inside of the laptop.

      One question: How do I go about getting to the fan - the side of my notebook (Toshiba Satellite A75-S213) does not appear to have any compartment to open. Not unless I create my own hole, which probably isn't a good idea. :-)

      I know there are two fans in the back that help to siphon heat out through the back of the notebook. They don't appear to be clogged, but it's hard to see throught the gratings, so it's possible there is some dust in there. Again, the gratings don't appear to be removable without cutting them open (again, likely not a good idea), so I don't know exactly how I would get to the fan, outside of maybe compressed air and hope that that does the trick.

      If you have any suggestions on how to get the fan, I'd appreciate hearing them - thank you.

      Thank you for the suggestion about the fan - I'll certainly consider it (maybe a repair service center or someone with more technical know-how than me can help to clean it out).

      As I mentioned above, it only made that whirring noise one time on boot-up, almost like something was caught or stuck in it. Since then, it has made a bit of noise like there could be particles of dust or something in it, but otherwise, the fan seems to be running smoothly at this point (hopefully that continues), so perhaps whatever was causing it to make that noise is no longer in there, though a good cleaning of it would likely still be a good idea.

      Again, I appreciate the advice - thank you.

      Please take care and have a great day!

      Sincerely,

      Joe Chengery III
      Signature

      My free ebook on pancreatic cancer: http://ow.ly/nPVhm Let's help my friend Courtney Reagan strike out cancer!

      Are you WORRIED about what wheat is doing to your waistline and your health? You SHOULD be! http://ow.ly/jSIY9 Internet marketer, copyeditor, copywriter, content creator, author - http://www.joechengery.com

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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    And if your edgy about trying that yourself, I have a resourse ( I have never used them yet tho) that says they can repair any laptop for a flat $165.
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  • Profile picture of the author jchengery
    Hello Mike and Kim,

    Thanks for the resources and links - greatly appreciated! :-) I'll make sure to check them out and keep them handy in case I need them in the near or even distant future!

    I'm happy to be back at the WF - there's always good information here from knowledgeable people, and not just on Internet marketing either (though that info. is very good too! :-)

    Please take care, keep up the great work, and have a good day!

    Sincerely,

    Joe Chengery III
    Signature

    My free ebook on pancreatic cancer: http://ow.ly/nPVhm Let's help my friend Courtney Reagan strike out cancer!

    Are you WORRIED about what wheat is doing to your waistline and your health? You SHOULD be! http://ow.ly/jSIY9 Internet marketer, copyeditor, copywriter, content creator, author - http://www.joechengery.com

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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Joe, feel free to ask me anytime you have a technical question, Until recently I had my own repair shop.
    Kim
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  • Profile picture of the author jchengery
    Hello Kim,

    I appreciate the offer - thank you. That's very good to know. I may be asking more questions in the near future! :-)

    Again, thanks for the help, information, and links - greatly appreciated!

    Please take care and have a great day!

    Sincerely,

    Joe Chengery III
    Signature

    My free ebook on pancreatic cancer: http://ow.ly/nPVhm Let's help my friend Courtney Reagan strike out cancer!

    Are you WORRIED about what wheat is doing to your waistline and your health? You SHOULD be! http://ow.ly/jSIY9 Internet marketer, copyeditor, copywriter, content creator, author - http://www.joechengery.com

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