************ Problems with the Capetronic 1200. ------------ Category 8, Topic 53 S.PROCTOR1 Has anyone had trouble with using the Capetronic 1200 modem??? My modem is thermally intermittent, causing effects when it overheats. Usually it starts when autodialing a string of numbers of 5 minutes, either by program or using its internal dialier, (X5 mode,) but at times it does it during use, causing it to not hangup, but turn off the speaker, and OH the solution, I have to rapidly pulse the line using ATHH1HH1HH1HH1, maybe several times. I've set the modem off to the side, & added rubber feet to the bottom to raise it just a little higher. I'Ve returned th modem to the company for in-warranty work, and it came back 3 weeks later no explanation & still with the same problem as when I sent it in. I called the company, (Not the return Dept.), & they said its possibly a MPU, or MPU filter from what I understood of their English, I haven't figured out what the MPU filter is either. When it starts acting up like this, it gets erratic, most noticable at ATD dialing wrong numbers, not Pulsing correctly, (I must Pulse dial,) but it also has passed bad data, print OK in a loop, only clearing DTR fixes. ------------ DEB I once had a modem which wouldn't pulse dian when it was COLD-not HOT. Have you tried putting a little fan on it?! I finally just nver turned my cold sensitive modem off, & when winter comes, and I go to bed, I cover the modem with some paper to help keep it warm... *deb!* ------------ B.JULIANI I've been using my Capetronic 1200 for about 1 year with only 2 minor problems. One is with excess humidity in the summer, it won't do diddly-squat until it 'dries' out, & the 2nd is that I turn ALL equipment on at the same time & sometimes I have to reset the modem so it dials. Try using ATI1 which returns the modems check sum of 424, at least in mine, my version # is 122. I fear that I will sooner or later face a serious problem, but don't plan to return it, just buy a better quality one. Good luck! Bill J. ------------ S.PROCTOR1 I checked I0 returns a rev of 123, and I1 returns a 115. I notice the modem also likes to crash on 300 baud modems when running at HS (1200). All I have to do is powerdown. Anything else can be aborted with any key, but I like the ATX5 mode, since my XModem program doesn't autodial busy numbers. Someone told me Compute! said the Capetronic was 1 of the better modems, I I haven't read this article, though. ------------ B.JULIANI Well, sounds like the Capetronic people need to take another look at yours. The problem is how to get their AT*. Try sending it back return rcpt requested, insured, etc. with a letter stating that you want it fixed or a new 1 in timely fashion. The real problem is to find out if you're contacting a distributor or the factory outlet. I'd threaten them with a phone call to the BBB etc. ------------ S.PROCTOR1 Julian, to use the * commands, you must first issue an ATX5 then the * commands will be enabled. This will also enable autodial, just ATD as normal, it will dial until connected or aboorted. I sent the modem back once, it came back unrepaired. Adding more rubber feet to eliviate it some, helps, but occasionally it happens. ------------ B.JULIANI [Bill.J] Hmmmm, very interesting, my manual states that dip switch #1 is (default) on which enables the AT codes, and does not mention anything about ATX5. Right around now I would remove the cover and find the overheating chip, then buy a chip heatsink and the thermal white guk & pop it on the hot chip. I had a similar problem with thermal runaway in a drive and solved it by doing the above. Could be that my manual and Modem is the older edition, The back page of my manual says '311-612-0206-139'. The old Timex Sinclairs had thermal problems that was also solved by drilling holes in the cover over the Z-80.