Seems funny to be asking for help on a modem but I have a problem I along with others can't solve.

I have a friend that lives 7 miles beyond commercial power, he does very well with solar, wind and an auxilary generator though. Bob recentlly bought a new Dell so he can keep track of his investments etc, problem is we can not get the modem to connect. The phone sounds clear both when you call from his place and when you call in. Verizon replaced the phone line anyway after we complained. Dell sent a service person that worked on it most one afternoon then later returned with a new modem board, still no go. Thinking the onboard modem might not have enough poop I tried an external modem that I know is good. Still get a no dialtone message. When the modem tries to connect there is a lot of crackling that is not heard on the phone. Thinking it might be a problem with dirty power I took a UPS out to his house to power the computer and modem, still no good.

any suggestions would be appreciated

Steve;
Very strange problem...

Unplug everything that could be plugged into a phone line... (Seen shitty Fax machines cause trouble)

You've tried a different jack yes? Or possibly run a wire directly to the main phone feed coming into the house and put a splitter there...

Possibly try reversing Tip/Ring on the jack the modem connects to. (Switch the Red/Green around on the jack for the modem only...)

Most likely though...

It's low line level on the phone line itself, you'll have to call Verizon again and let them know that voice communications are OK but the modem that you've changed and tested elsewhere will not get a dialtone.
They'll be able to turn up the level on the line but you'll have to convince them they need to do this...

Good Luck
Hope this helps...

good calls by troll
also , check to see if you get a full 48 volts , and does the phone wire have a long run under power? if so it may be getting induction and the phone company can install a discharge block

Thanks guys, modem is the only thing connected and I tried reversing polarity neither worked. I will call Verizon and ask them about the discharge block. Verizon has been quite involved with this problem and have been cooperative. I will keep you posted