Dial number 4. Listen for a ringing tone 5. Listen for the remote phoneto be answered Now if you pick up the handset and do not recognise the dial tone you would probably not proceed to the next stage of dialling. On the other hand you would be able to make the assumption that in a foreign country the dial tone may differ from what you are used to. Modems are not that clever.
Many software packages allow blind dialling to be selected in the modem setup options.
It may be known as 'blind dial' or 'ignore dial tone'. Whichever it is if this option is present make sure you select it. If such an option is not present in the software it will be necessary to add a command into the modem initialisation string. The command to add is X1 this will mean your modem will ignore dial tone. Check blind dial is working by disconnecting your modem from the phone line and instructing it to tone dial.