Is my modem fried? or is it something else

Question

I suspect that my iBooks internal 56k modem may be fried, and am almost ready to order a replacement from ifixit and attempt the surgery to install it myself, BUT I'm beginning to suspect my problem may be elsewhere. I've noticed that they also sell something called an "RJ-11 Board," and am wondering if that might be the culprit?
I realize that most people don't use modems any more, but any help would be greatly appreciated.
Here's the story:
I was using my dialup during a thunderstorm the other night. The power went out, and ever since, when I plug in the phone line, even before trying to connect, it's as if the phone were off the hook. Eventually a phone company recording comes on saying "please hang up & try again." When I try to connect, the modem indicator in my menu bar says "connecting" for a while, then it turns to "Disconnecting" and continues like that for 2 hours or more, unless I reboot.
The connect log reads as follows:
Mon Jul 30 21:22:58 2007 : Version 2.1
Mon Jul 30 21:23:14 2007 : Connect script failed
Mon Jul 30 21:23:51 2007 : Hangup (SIGHUP)
Mon Jul 30 21:23:51 2007 : tcsetattr: Interrupted system call
Mon Jul 30 21:26:42 2007 : Hangup (SIGHUP)
Mon Jul 30 21:26:42 2007 : Terminating on signal 15.
I've run the Apple Hardware Test, which only told me "device recognized." The Apple System Profiler also recognizes the modem.
So I'm wondering if it might not be the modem that's the problem. Could it be this RJ-11 board, or something else??
Does anyone know of a way to test the modem? Is there some readily available software that can diagnose my problem?
Thanks!

Answer 1

I don't really know, but I'm guessing that this RJ-11 board houses the port that the phone line plugs into. If it is bad, then the external Apple modem won't solve the problem. However, have you gone through all the troubleshooting to determine if the problem is indeed within your computer and not externally? It sounds as if the modem thinks the line is in use. Have you unplugged all other phones in the house from their jacks to see if it makes a difference? It's also possible that the wall jack or phone cord got zapped. Have you tried a different cord and/or a different wall jack? Have you looked inside the jack to see if wires are touching each other? Have you plugged a telephone into the same jack and dialed the modem number and listened to what's going on at the other end? If there is static in the line, then you should go out to the D-Marc box outside where the line comes from the pole and plugs in. If you can hear static, then call your phone company to come fix it, it is their responsibility. If no static there, but inside the house, then the problem (at least one of them) is in the wiring on your end. If there is no static at all, and you can hear the modem on the other end pick up when you listen with a telephone, then it is inside the computer, somewhere.
Of course borrowing someone else's phone line for a minute or two would also work to eliminate any uncertainty.
Assuming the RJ-11 board has something to do with the port (and it may not, I'm only speculating) by plugging a known-to-be-working modem into it and testing the connection would determine if it's the port or the modem. If you don't have a friend who has a modem you can try, maybe a store like CompUSA would let you check it out before you buy. If nothing else, buy one and return it if it doesn't work.
And of course as mentioned earlier, repairing permissions is a good place to start, but also repairing the disk by booting from the #1 install disk is worth a try.
Good Luck!
Message was edited by: elko