Disconnecting old modem

[charleswb]

Re: Verizon high speed internet setup

Step 9  of the Guide to installing and using Verizon High Speed Internet says to "Disconnect the old modem from your computer" but it doesn't describe how to do so. How to? Where is the modem?

Usually my grandkids help with this but they're off at college.

Thank you

[jmw1950]

First of all, this is only applicable if you have dialup service AND an external modem. That has become a rare combination. There was a fairly long period of time that most computers had internal modems. The modem is a a device that converts between the digital signals your computer uses, and the analog signals the are used by most telephones. It allows digital information to be transmitted over an analog network at low speeds (compared to DSL or FiOS).

If you have an external modem, it will usually connect to the computer through one of the serial ports (typically COM1) and the telephone line via an RJ11 plug/jack. Just unplug the cable from the serial port of the computer,  and disconnect the telephone line from the external modem.

If you have a modem built into the computer (internal modem), just unplug  the telephone cord from the RJ11 jack on the computer.