I inserted a modem card into my PowerBook, but nothing happened. What’s wrong?

In first release of the PCMCIA Expansion Module, modem cards don’t appear on the desktop. If the PCMCIA Quick Eject control strip module is visible, then its appearance will reflect that either the upper or lower slot (or both) contains cards. If the control strip isn’t visible (or isn’t installed) then there will be no visible change when a modem card is inserted. However, the insertion of a modem is sensed by the software, and the modem is added to the list of devices available in the CTB (Communications Toolbox).

Programs which support the CTB (including MicroPhone, ARA) will display either upper card slot or lower card slot (or both, if you’ve inserted two PCMCIA modems) when you have the program open and are looking at the Connection dialog. The name and location of this setup command will vary from program to program. There’s a popup menu in which you specify which port contains the modem you wish to use. With a PCMCIA modem, the names of the ports will always be either upper card slot or lower card slot. These ports only show up in the list while a modem is inserted in a slot.

This is different from the traditional printer and modem ports, which always appear, regardless of whether you have an external modem plugged into them. In the case of the PowerBook 500, 5300, 1400,and 190 series, which has only one physical serial port, it’s called Printer-Modem Port.

With the PowerBook 5300, 1400 and 190 series, a PC Card’s icon should always appear on the desktop if it is being recognized. If the icon does not appear, check to make sure all of the appropriate software is installed.

Knowledge Base