Apple USB Modem rarely connects via PPP

Greetings from Antarctica. My employer offers me dialup internet from my dorm room here in Antarctica. Using my Apple USB external modem, V.92 (error correction and compression in modem enabled) and all the correct username/password items, I am able to connect to the local dialup network maybe one time in ten.
The modem gets a dial tone, dials, goes through the concert of tones, the tones disappear just like when a connection is made, but only about once in every ten tries will it actually establish a connection. The other times it will sit there saying "Connecting" until eventually it times out and disconnects the phone line. I have tried using v.90 and v.92, with and without error correction and compression in modem. No difference.
The PPP configuration is to send PPP echo packets, verbose logging is off, Terminal script is none, the box is checked to use TCP header compression.
I am using a Santa Rosa MacBook with 10.5.5, 2 GB RAM. If there is a log file somewhere that would help someone troubleshoot this with me, please give me specifics on where I might find it. If you want me to try and connect with the Terminal window instead, then I will need very specific instructions.
Thanks from McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

I'm not positive here as it could be a hardware failure of my usb modem, but leopard seems to have broken this device for my G5 iMac. Even in Tiger this modem was never as good as the built in ones on the G4 models and would be buggy sometimes and not as fast as the internal G4s. I had wondered if it would work on intel versions with Leopard better, but your experience isn't a good sign.
My solution was to use a G4 mini using it's internal modem and internet sharing via airport which worked well and gave me more freedom on my other laptops as well, though it be at the slow speed of dialup. I would imagine a G5 PowerMac would also work with this modem especially if running Tiger. If this was an early Macbook, it might also have shipped with Tiger, but no idea how this would play out with the Intels vs PPC.
Not sure how you get phone service in Antarctica but I'm guessing there is some sort of satellite device involved. Is anyone else having trouble connecting with modems through the setup? I know PPP is not well supported in certain compression modes such as Voip, but I would imagine if you had voip broadband would be available.
Bottom line seems to be the G4s are gold if you need dialup service. Best of luck!

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Message was edited by: Scott Rochford

Check this link from apple support http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1821
Apple suggests disabling 802.11 wireless from windows xp. hope this will solve your problem. The funny thing is apple is not even sure it will fix the problem because they mentioned on their website "in some cases".
Symptoms
The Apple external USB modem may not connect, or may not maintain a connection for longer than a few minutes if you are using Microsoft Windows XP on MacBook Pro, MacBook, or Intel-based iMac computers that have built-in AirPort/Bluetooth.
Products Affected
Boot Camp, Apple external USB Modem
Resolution
In some cases, disabling 802.11 wireless networking in Windows XP may resolve this issue.

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I tried posting earlier, sorry if both show up.
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I get the following error message when I connect a usb ethernet adapter to my new MacBook Pro: Unsupported - You cannot use an Apple USB Modem with this computer. I live were we only have dial-up and the Apple Store said this is what I need.

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"I am confused, QuickDraw. If the poster cannot get online via Windows XP, how does he or she get the drivers?"
I was speaking of the Boot Camp drivers that comes on the Leopard Disc. This could possibly be the answer to your troubles as well if you haven't already installed them yourself. After you've successfully installed Windows via Boot Camp, you need to boot up into Windows, then stick in your Leopard Disc and the drivers are supposed to install automatically. If after you've installed the BC drivers you still cannot get online via your router, then post back.
Hope this helps.
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When I attempt to dial out from Windows, the modem sound coming through the speakers seems to be scratchy, and to drop in and out. When the host computer responds, instead of the normal sequence of harsh sounds, there is a new, horrible, mangled array of bizarre sounds I have never heard emit from modems. It is such that I was sure either my telephone line or modem had suddenly failed... That is until I booted back into OS X and found the modem to work just fine again.
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I managed to get mine to connect once at 56k and once at 33k, but as you said it just drops very quickly. I think this is a driver issue, but I don't know why it works for some and not others. Apple seems to think the driver they supply with Boot Camp works with it or they wouldn't provide it. An Apple document from an older Boot Camp version (1.1.2 I think) says they now fixed it to work with the Apple Modem, but here I am with Boot Camp 2.1 and it's not working.
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Vic,
I'm not sure if this is part of your problem, but there have been some less than laudatory user experiences with the Apple USB modem. Apparently, USB modem connections are less than optimal for Macs, whether the connection is high speed internet or dial-up (for fax). You can do a search around here for particular problems with the USB modems.
By the way, do you use the USB modem and dial-up for your other web activities or do you otherwise use broadband?
Regards,
Steve M.
Here's one thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1811003&#1811003
Message was edited by: Steve M.

Apple USB modem issues

I use an Apple USB modem on my G5 Quad to send/receive faxes.
From Apples Apple USB Modem FAQ: "It is not recommended to attach the Apple USB modem to the USB port of an ADC display or to an external USB hub. This modem works most reliably when connected directly to your computer."
Yes it does and it did for me for about 2 years with Tiger.
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kextd[10]: IOKitWaitQuiet() timed out waiting to write kernel symbols
configd[14]: InterfaceNamer: timed out waiting for IOKit to quiesce
The boot process stalls for about half a minute at these errors.
And the Quad doesn't shutdown any more. Just displays the desktop wallpaper without icons and menu bar until I do a force power down.
If I connect the Apple USB modem to an USB hub, these issues and the error messages are gone.
So I think something is seriously wrong with the driver for the Apple USB modem in Leopard.
Peter

I'm sitting at a G4/DP800 at home running Leopard (I have a Mac Pro 2x3 in the office so don't feel bad for me!). The internal modem (info below) simply will not work (modem errors), though it worked fine under Tiger. Thankfully I already had an Apple USB modem on hand (purchased to use with a laptop), and tried it out. It works more reliably, though I've had a few system freezes and I wonder if the modem is involved (see crash log below where it is mentioned).
I just read on this thread about not using the USB modem attached to the Apple 17" display, which I have been doing; I will try it on the back of the CPU next.
Mike
www.plugsandpixels.com
(Internal) Modem Model: Spring
Interface Type: Serial
Modulation: V.90
SKU Name: UCJ
Hardware Version: 3.0F
Driver: com.apple.driver.AppleSCCSerial (v1.3.2)
External Modems:
Interface Type: USB
Modulation: V.92
Firmware Version: 2.2
Country Code: B5
Driver Name: MotorolaSM56KUSB.kext (v1.5.9)
SW Version: 1.5.9
Number of Modems: 1
USB Bus Location: 1822
Fri Dec 14 22:13:13 2007
panic(cpu 1 caller 0x000AE584): "Uncorrectable machine check: pc = 000000003B203D60, msr = 000000000014B030, dsisr = 40000000, dar = 000000003ACF2108\n" " AsyncSrc = 0000000000000000, CoreFIR = 0000000000000000\n" " L2FIR = 0000000000000000, BusFir = 0000000000000fff\n"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1228.0.2/osfmk/ppc/trap.c:975
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 1:
Backtrace:
0x0009AD18 0x0009B6BC 0x00029DC4 0x000AE584 0x000AE804 0x000B22F8
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x2ebbec80)
PC=0x3B203D60; MSR=0x0014B030; DAR=0x3ACF2108; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x3B204B44; R1=0x2EB776A0; XCP=0x00000008 (0x200 - Machine check)
Backtrace:
0x00000001 0x2FE42EAC 0x3B204DD0 0x3B205834 0x3B207020 0x3B1FC048
0x3B05C6C0 0x3B049D24 0x3B0D2D64 0x3B221C48 0x3B221B2C 0x3B01CAB0 0x00358D94 0x0003F8D8
0x000AFE54
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.apple.driver.MotorolaSM56KUSB(1.5.9)@0x3afa3000->0x3b290fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily(9.1)@0x2fc55000
dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleSM56KUSBModemFamily(1.0.8)@0x29fc5000
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily(3.0.3)@0x2fe2c000->0x2fe60fff
Exception state (sv=0x29dedc80)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x0000D030; DAR=0x00000000; DSISR=0x00000000; LR=0x00000000; R1=0x00000000; XCP=0x00000000 (Unknown)
BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task
Mac OS version:
9B18
Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.1.0: Wed Oct 31 17:48:21 PDT 2007; root:xnu-1228.0.2~1/RELEASE_PPC

Apple USB Modem - No Sound

I still have to use an external modem to connect with a government agency (still in the dark ages!)
My Apple USB Modem (v.92 - Firmware 2.2) works great but, since upgrading to 10.6.7, no sound comes when connecting/dialing/disconnecting.
My Sound Pref Output is via Internal Speakers (Apple 24" Display Monitor)
In Network Pref -> Ext Modem --> Advanced --> Modem --> Sound is set to ON.
Any suggestions on how to restore the Modem's sounds?
Many thanks!
...John

Problem Solved!
Switched Sound Output setting to Display Audio & also Play Sound Effects through Display Audio (had to set both to Display Audio)
This greatly improved all sounds from the Mac.
Once again a small problem with an easy (for most) solution!

Apple USB Modem not seen in Network System Preference

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In the "Print and Fax" area of the System Preferences, I have no luck either. When I hit the add button ( + ) to add a device, the "fax" button at the top only shows the word "Bluetooth" and it is listed as a Fax. Any suggestions would be wonderful.

Gee,
You've gotten no response for over two weeks, I see. So, maybe you're resolved your issue.
If not, I'll just say that I have an Apple USB modem on my 2009 Mini, though I connect to the Internet via WiFi most of the time, and the modem has been pretty effortless to use. It's recognized in Network Preferences, even when not in use.
Maybe your issue is electro-mechanical, i.e., is it wrongly plugged into the Ethernet port?
Or, is your USB modem plugged directly into your Mini, instead of a powered or un-powered USB hub?
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I am ready to connect the MJ to my iMAC. Do I still need to use my Apple USB modem ?

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Apple USB Modem rarely connects via PPP

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