Toshiba 8000 series, User Manual

Page: 71 / 288

Part I: Getting to Know Your Computer
Hardware Features
Using a modem
47
Now you’re ready to send a fax or use the modem to connect to an
online service or the Internet (see “Using the Internet” on
page 48).
HINT: If you’re using a telephone line at home, disable Call
Waiting before connecting through the modem. Call Waiting
interrupts transmission.
Determining your COM port
Your modem is connected to one of the computer’s COM
(communications) ports. The default setting is COM2.
DEFINITION: Although the terms are often used
interchangeably, the serial port and COM port are two
different things. The serial port is the physical port on the
back of the computer. The COM port is a unique identifier the
computer uses to communicate with the serial port or other
serial devices.
If you’re using a Windows 95 or Windows 98 communications
program, such as RingCentral
®
or HyperTerminal, it determines
the COM port automatically. Skip to the following section.
If you are going to install and set up a non-Windows
communications program, you must tell it which COM port your
modem is using.
To find out which port your modem is connected to, refer to your
operating system documentation or online help.