Connection Problems with the Dell/Aztech MDP 3900/3880 and Gateway/GVC Conexant HCF modems
By: Alexander Feazell (2001)
Many owners of the Dell computers that were shipped with the MDP #### modems ( MDP 3900, MDP 3880 MDP 3800, and a few others) and Gatway
computers shipped with the 56k pci voice SF##### (sf1156iv r9a and others that have similiar names) are reporting major problems getting
stable 56k v90 connections when dialing into 3COM/USRobotics ISP head end equipment. These modems use the Conexant/Rockwell HCF 56k modem chipset.
From all the data I've been able to collect, users with these modems are seeing problems nearly accross the board with these modems
connecting properly when dialing into 3COM/USRobotics ISP head end equipment.
First off, to dispell any fears or misconceptions ***THE MODEM IS NOT BROKEN***, meaning the HARDWARE portion is not broken. This problem appears to be ***DRIVER ISSUE***, meaning the SOFTWARE used to run the modem. The
original drivers shipped with these modems (versoin 2.1.2.162.###) seem to have some interoperability problems that can only be resolved by newer drivers.
There are work arounds and driver updates to fix this, but that will be discussed below.
Facts:
- Gateway and Dell started shipping some Conexant/Rockwell HCF chipset based modems in December '99.
- These modems have had problems connecting at V.90 most of the time, sometimes at v.34, and sometimes entirely when dialing into 3COM/USRobotics ISP head end equipment.
- V.90 connections between 34333-46666 are usually unstable and cause dropped connections.
- V.90 connections at 48000 + are usually quite stable
- V.90 seems to only work if the user is VERY close to their CO or have very clean phone lines.
- Most DSL and ISDN users would be able to get v90 with these modems due to the nature of their clean lines.
- (original info) The drivers availilable for these modems (when shipped) were the NEWEST drivers availiable from any vendor (that is not the case now)
- (updated info) Dell and Aztech have updated drivers availabe (2.1.2.164.### family) for the MDP modems that should solve a lot of these problems, but these are by no means the latest HCF drivers available.
- (original info) Gateway and Dell are denying that their modems are "defective" and are refusing to believe that their customers are having problems...
They are telling their customers to use their respecitve services... dellnet and Gateways/AOL so they will not have problems other ISPs.
- (updated info) Dell has admited there are problems and has an FAQ on this that you can reach by clicking this link.
- Most of the time using one of the following strings gets the user connected to a 3COM/USRobotics head end ISP access number in order to get the updated drivers:
Forcing V90
Disabling V90
Drop port speed to 38400 first
if need be drop it to 19200 second
- To force v90 use AT&F+MS=V90,0
- To disable v90 use AT+MS=V34 or
- To disable v90 use ATZ+MS=V34 or
- To disable v90 use AT+MS=V34,0 or
- To disable v90 use AT&F+MS=V34 or
- To disable v90 use ATZ+MS=V34,0 or
- To disable v90 use AT&F+MS=V34,0 or
- To disable v90 use AT+MR=1;+MS=V34
- Modems that are on Dell Computers:
the MDP #### modems ( MDP 3900, MDP 3880 MDP 3800, and a few others)
On Gateway computers
56k pci voice SF##### (sf1156iv r9a and others that have similiar names)
- The driver versions for HCF chipset modems in the 2.1.2.162 family seem to be having problems:
DELL shipped Aztech MDP modems:
2.1.2.162.009.002 and 2.1.2.162.009.004 (possibly others)
GATEWAY shipped GVC SF modems
2.1.2.162.007 (possibly others)
Conclusions drawn from these facts:
- Apparently the 2.1.2.162.xxx driver family has problems with v90 interoperability when connecting to 3COM/USRobotics head end ISP modems more often than not and will most of the time connected at v34 after an init string is used.
- These modem hardware itself is not bad at all. This comes down to a driver issue. The 162 driver family looks like it has some problems connecting with v90 properly when connecting to 3COM/USRobotics head end ISP modems on a normal PSTN phone line, and will not connect at all at v90 on a PBX phone line.
- I believe that once some drivers are available outside the 162 driver family, then v90 will again be stable to work interoperably on most dialup connections
- (original info) Dell and Gateway have not be helpful with this issue in the past when their customers have contacted them.
- (updated info) Dell has admited there are problems and has an FAQ on this that you can reach by clicking this link.
Work-arounds and Fixes:
- Currently the problems with these modems are only on Dell/Gateway computers with these modems. Fixes would be new or different drivers. One work-around would be to use the init strings above to get connected. This usually means the user will
only be getting a v.34 connection. This is acceptable for someone to get connected so they can then either get different drivers and install time.
- Another work-around is to get an alternative ISP access number that is *not* utilizing 3COM/USRobotics modem equipment. In nearly all cases, this proves effective in allowing a user to achieve a stable v90 connection when the 3COM/USRobotics access number would not.
Remember, this is a work-around and does not fix the underlying problem that the 162 driver has. Ultimately the user will need to get a different driver that does not have the interoperability problems the 162 family has.
- (original info) The Win2000 & WinME both came with generic HCF modem drivers (version 2.1.2.160.006 and 2.1.2.164.012 respectively) that have not seen the problems on these modems that the 162 driver family has had.
Dell does have available Aztech MDP 3900 specific drivers (version 2.1.2.164.013.025) and MDP 3880 specific drivers (2.1.2.164.013.009.002) available for
WinME if you really want to update, but it should not be necessary. Dell also has MDP 3800 specific drivers (versions V2.1.2.164.01 & 2.1.2.164.013.003.001)
for Win2000 if you really want to update, but it should not be necessary. Gateway does have available GVC specific drivers as well: version 2.1.2.164.013.007.00 for Win2000 and 2.12.164.013.021 for WinME.
Again, if you really want to update the drivers when using these OSes you can, but it should not be necessary
- (updated info) Although Win2000 & WinME came with generic HCF modem drivers there are now newer ones available in the 2.1.2.171.### family avaliable from Conexant themselves. These 171 drivers will more than likly provide you with better performance from your modem.
- (original info) For Win98 Dell has made avaiable a different set of drivers (version 2.1.2.161.001C1) for the MDP3880-W. These drivers, once installed, should not have the same problems the 162 family drivers have had.
These drivers may be obtained directly from Dell's FTP site at ftp://ftp1.dell.com/comm/thr9xwor.exe.
- (updated info) Dell has available MDP3900 2.1.2.164.### family drivers for Win98, WinNT, WinME & Win2000 on their FTP site although they only list the WinME driver on their searchable web site. See the URLs below:
Dell MDP 3900 Win2K driver Dell MDP 3900 WinME driver
Dell MDP 3900 Win98 driver Dell MDP 3900 WinNT driver
Dell Driver Website for the MDP 3900 WinME driver
For the MDP 3880 you can go to http://support.dell.com/us/en/filelib/search/index.asp and search for "3880" to gain access to the Dell MDP 3880 2.1.2.164.### family drivers.
- (updated info) Aztech has available MDP3900 2.1.2.164.### family drivers for the varieties of Windows and available at http://www.aztech.com/support/analogmodem.htm
- (original info) For Win98 Gateway still has not made available any other drivers other than a 162 family driver for the GVC SF1156IV (r9a/r9d) modem they ship even though GVC has newer drivers available.
The site, ftp://ftp.gvc.com/Drivers/Modem/download.htm, has version 2.1.2.164.013.003.001 drivers avaliable for the F1156IV-r9a model and verion
2.1.2.166.003 & 2.1.2.166.003a drivers available for the SF1156IV-r9d model. I have seen both of these drivers successfully used to update a the GVC modem on the Gateway systems and work perfectly.
Dell also has 2.1.2.164.013.016 drivers available for the GVC SF1156 model modem they just started shipping. I've also seen these drivers succssfully used to update the GVC modem on the Gateway system and work
perfectly.
- (updated info) Gateway has made the 2.1.2.164.### family drivers available as well as the 2.1.2.171.### family drivers available for the GVC modems they were shipping. You can find these at http://www.gateway.com/support/product/drivers/modem/6001260.shtml
- (original info) If all else fails, at best users should be able to request a new modem... in particular requesting a USRobotics modem or a Lucent modem. If a new modem is requested, then the user will be liable for any charges their vendor may impose.
(updated info) Dell has outlined the process to follow if you do this in the FAQ you can reach by clicking this link.
This page was last modified on Saturday, 05-Feb-2011 15:10:48 EST.
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