Help! Using Computer as a Phone?

DM786DM786
edited January 2004 in Science & Tech
I bought myself an old PCI 56k modem because I'd like to use my computer as a phone. Right now, I'm trying all this with Windows Phone Dialer, but if you know anything better, please let me know.

Here's my issue. I have my modem connected and plugged in. I am able to place calls just fine, however I can't get any of the sound to go from the phone to the speakers on my computer. I've included 2 diagrams to try to explain my problem.

The green lines represent connections that are made. The red lines are connections that I need.

On the phone to computer diagram, windows dialer detects the ring and signals accordingly (a beep). When I'm connected, something I say on the computer's mic can be heard on the phone, but what I say on the phone CAN NOT be heard on the computer.

On the computer to phone diagram, I hear the call being placed on the modem's internal speaker. The phone rings and we are connected. Again, anything I say on the computer's mic can be heard on the phone, but what I say on the phone CAN NOT be heard on the computer.


I know this kind of thing can be done. I knew someone who had their computer set up this way about 6 years ago :p. I'm not quite sure if its possible with my modem though. Am I doing something wrong? I would greatly appreciate any input, even if you can not answer my problem.

Comments

  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    You need to make sure that your modem is a "voice modem". Voice modems have 4-wire speaker outputs on the PCI card itself, and you use an internal audio cable (exactly like a CD-ROM audio cable) and plug that into an input on your soundcard.
  • DM786DM786
    edited January 2004
    No outputs on the card. :(

    Thanks for the info anyways. At least now I can stop wasting my time trying to work this. Looks like I'll be needing a new modem.
  • MrBillMrBill Missouri Member
    edited January 2004
    primesuspect wrote:
    You need to make sure that your modem is a "voice modem". Voice modems have 4-wire speaker outputs on the PCI card itself, and you use an internal audio cable (exactly like a CD-ROM audio cable) and plug that into an input on your soundcard.
    Yep, that's how mine was. I still have the modem installed in one of my computers, but I haven't used it in a couple of years.

    The software I used is called Phone Tools. Worked great. It even had an answering machine. :)
  • drasnordrasnor Starship Operator Hawthorne, CA Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    Do you have any ISA slots? I've got a spare 28.8 voice/fax hardware modem you can have.

    -drasnor :fold:
  • DM786DM786
    edited January 2004
    No ISA. Just PCI. Actually, I think I have an ISA modem stashed somewhere too.
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited January 2004
    USR makes decent Vioce\fax\data modems, and the thing could work for backup internet access also, at need. They used to bundle BVRP Phone Tools also (french software company). I run a fax\data external as a backup, but if you want to call over the internet and not with a regular phone line via voice, you need a VoIP phone and not a pure modem, or a voice link from a modem-to-modem voice piping service. Technically, with the old voice to voice services out there on internet, you could work with what you have, the input from conversation is routed to sound card, the output from a headset mic. But, MSN Messenger does support audio some, and so does Yahoo Messenger.

    I have talked to friends in NC with a broadband modem and a headset plus mic, over MSN Messenger, using broadband.

    John.
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