About 7 years ago (how time flies) I had a problem that sounds exactly like this one. Some minor differences where we had the Telamon Async engines in the loop.

Ross' crew proved to be valuable in this as they got the modems to work at least sometimes. In the long run I converted to US Robotics modems (courier, bad luck with the sportsters) and have never had a problem again.

During this process we had Multitech on the line (they never really helped) and even sent a modem to Telamon to see if they could get anything out of them.

To be honest, I never spent so much time on a project with so little results. I had all of MIS and some of management forming a lynch mob.  After the conversion to USR, I swore off Multitech and stayed with the couriers.

-----Original Message-----
From:   Gary Wilkinson [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Tuesday, May 13, 1997 2:30 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        help, I have modem problems...

Help.  I am having problems with getting modems to work with our
HP3000.

We have an HP3000/957 and ever since we installed MPE/iX 5.0 with a
power patch last June getting modems to work has been a problem.  We
have six ports on a DTC (model HP 2345A) configured for dial access
use.  Usually LDEV 100 is used for troubleshooting purposes and has
the HP SupportLink modem (model 50759B) attached to it.  We have never
used more than three of the remaining ports at any one time and are
happy to be able to use two of them.  The modems used for Ldev's 101
to 105 are a Hayes product (Hayes Smartmodem OPTIMA 9600 V. 32).  The
modems are connected to the DTC with 92219Q HP cable.  The cable is
used in the proper unidirectional manner with the Data Set end
attached to the modem and the Computer end attached to the DTC.

Since the time when our problems began we have installed OpenView (HP
OpenView for Windows 7.2) and have upgraded to MPE/iX 5.5 with a power
patch.  Not that we expected the modem problem to improve, but it
didn't.

We have had the DTC's checked by HP Field Engineers and they are fine.
 We have tested the cables for pinout configuration and wire integrity
and they are fine.  We have sent the modems to another facility
similar to ours where they worked without a single problem.  We have
replaced the modems and encountered the same problems with the new
modems.  We have had the phone lines tested and they are fine.  We
have used numerous AT commands, the strings provided by HP Customer
Support.  At best we are able to have the modems operational for only
a few days before they go down.

The general problem manifests itself in any of the following ways:

1.      A connection is established via the modem, but no MPEXL: prompt
appears.
2.      A connection is established via the modem, the MPEXL: prompt
appears, but garbage appears on the screen when you try to log on.
3.      A connection is established via the modem, the MPEXL: prompt
appears, you are able to type your logon, but it freezes after
pressing the enter key.
4.      A connection is established via the modem, the MPEXL: prompt
appears, you are able to actually log on to the system, but it freezes
at this point.

At the present time we are unable to get any modem other than the HP
SupportLink modem to successfully connect to the system.  I might
mention that throughout our problems the HP SupportLink modem has
always worked, no matter what port it was connected to, what phone
line it was using, or what cable was connecting it to the DTC.

I would appreciate hearing from anybody who has had problems with
modems and the HP3000.  If you have any suggestions as to what I might
try next please let me know.  Thank you.

Gary Wilkinson
Northern Illinois Library System
4034 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
(815) 229-0330