Do you have a modem dedicated to a relay connection and want to access the Internet as well? Many florists need a modem for their relay orders, but there is a way to access the Internet at the same time. At Petals Exchange we have done some research to help florists do just that!

Important Notes:

1. It is not possible to know whether this retrofit procedure will work on all computers in all situations because of the huge number of configurations that are possible.
2. The relay modem referred to in this document is controlled by software from an organisation not affiliated with Petals Exchange or Petals Network. Petals Exchange and Petals Network undertake no responsibility and give no guarantees regarding this retrofit procedure.
3. Although the USB solution is relatively straightforward, the Serial Port solution requires advanced technical skill and should not be attempted without technical advice.
4. Modem, USB and serial port makes are numerous and results may vary depending on the hardware used.

Petals Exchange has received reports of this retrofit being use successfully on a number of computers, with no conflict between the relay modem and the Internet connection modem. If either modem is in operation and the second modem connects you may find that the whole system will slow down momentarily due to the extra load.

Much of what we discuss below is fairly technical. Although it's unlikely that you can permanently damage your computer, it is possible that you can upset some of the settings in the system. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you get technical advice if you are not familiar with computers. Follow the instructions below carefully and only invest in the suggested components at each stage, so that you do not make purchases unnecessarily.

There are three questions we try to answer in the following material:

1. Can I run a second modem at all?
2. What method should I use to do this?
3. How do I set up the modem?

• Minimum Computer Requirements 

• USB Solution 

• Serial Card Solution

• Setting up a Second Modem

• Internet Connection

There are some types of computers that it is just not worth trying connecting a second modem.

To try either of the following methods you must have a 486DX2/66 PC or higher. Your computer technician can tell you this when the machine is first switched on. Also, you must be able to run Windows 95 or better. If you don't meet these minimum criteria, you shouldn't bother trying as you are most likely to be disappointed.

If you have a Pentium 133 or better and Windows 98 or better, probably go for the ultra simple Universal Serial Bus (USB) solution. Otherwise, you will probably need to install an extra serial card. The latter is definitely a technical job.

The USB solution is an ultra simple method developed fairly recently to allow people to install extra devices to their computer - often without even switching it off! If you have a Pentium 133 or better and Windows 98 or better this option should be available to you.

1. You may well find that your computer already has a USB port. If unsure, have a look behind the computer for a small rectangular socket that you can plug into. It may be marked USB port. Otherwise have a look at the manual or ask an expert.
2. If you machine does not have a USB port, you can buy an add-in USB card at equipment suppliers and plug it in. Before buying the card, have your technician look inside your computer to see what type of slots are available to accept new cards. This will ensure that you get a card that is compatible with your machine. The cost is $40 - $50.

Either way, you now have a USB port available to you.

The next step is to obtain a modem to connect to the Internet.

1. You can buy a USB modem for about $150. Plug it in and it is most likely to go immediately.
2. If you already have a spare serial modem, you can buy a USB hub which will allow you to plug the serial modem into the hub and consequently into the computer via the USB port.

If you have to buy a USB hub you may get one with both serial and parallel ports, which will allow you to connect older serial devices and/or a parallel printer.

By the time you've got to here, you have all the hardware connections that you need to connect to the Internet. You can now skip down to the section below that describes setting up your modem.

If you don't have a USB port and your machine is too old to install one, you will need to consider installing a serial card. This is definitely a job for a technical person.

Most computers come with serial ports. The mouse normally uses one serial port, while the other is used by your existing relay service modem. Therefore, in order to get an Internet connection with another modem, you have to add more ports.

This is not a particularly difficult job, although outcomes can be a little uncertain depending on the exact computer configuration and nature of the software. There is no guarantee that this solution will work but we have successfully tried it on DX 100 machines running Windows 95 - and that's about as old as you are likely to want to get for this retrofit.

1. Before buying the serial card, ask a technician to look inside the computer and decide what type of slots you have left over, as you will have to buy a serial card that suits the type of slot that you have available.
2. Buy the required serial card from any reputable computer dealer. Ideally, you want one that adds to a COM 3 and COM 4 port and is "plug and play" because this makes it a lot easier to set up. Typically these should be less than $100 and fairly readily available.

You will need to buy a second serial modem. These cost between $200 and $300 new. You would be wise to buy the fastest modem you can reasonably afford to ensure that you will get the fastest possible Internet connection.

Setting up a Second Modem

Once you have either a USB or serial port set up and the modem connected, you will need to configure the software to tell it that you have a second modem. This is quite a straightforward procedure and your Windows software will probably help you to set up. However, I would suggest that you use a technician to assist you with this, as much of the jargon used to set up a modem is not clear.

Many of the older modems are very difficult to set up but the new generation ones tend to be "plug and play" and much easier to install. Make sure that you do not remove the connection to your existing serial modem that runs the relay service.

Once the modem is set up and operating, you will need access to a second telephone line to connect to the Internet. This doesn't have to be a dedicated line and you could use an existing telephone or fax line. Just remember that when you're connected to the Internet, people will not be able to reach you on that phone or fax line, so if you think you'll be using a lot of the Internet, you might want to consider installing an additional telephone line.

In order to access the Internet, you will need an account with an Internet service provider (ISP). (Link to Internet Connections page). Once you have been issued with this, you will need to set up a "dial-up connect" system on your computer so you can simply click a button to connect to the Internet. Your technician can advise you on this and you will also find that your ISP has a help desk and/or software that will help you set up and configure your machine.

Petals Exchange can give you only limited extra advice over and above the information already given, as we cannot access your machine directly. If you need more help, contact a local technician and show them this information sheet.