Can a direct pc to pc transfer of data be made WITHOUT the use of a
modem BUT via a phone line? That is, one pc dials a number and the
other pc responds and the first sends the data. Would any special
software be needed? are null modems what one would use? Some general
details needed. maybe a link.

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 13 Jul 2004 14:01 PDT

I'm not sure what you are asking. Are you wanting to know if you can
hook up two pc's to one direcpc modem as in a network, and surf on
both computers even though only one is actually connected via
satellite modem?

tutuzdad-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 13 Jul 2004 14:03 PDT

More clearly, I should have asked: Are you wanting to know if you can
hook up two pc's TOGETHER and use one direcpc modem as in a network to
surf on
both computers even though only one is actually connected via satellite modem?

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Clarification of Question by myq-ga on 13 Jul 2004 14:09 PDT

clarification to tutuzdad-ga: PC1 has files which need to get sent to
PC2 which is many many miles away. PC1 does not want to email or ftp
the files (i.e no net use).Nor can PC 1 use a dedicated cable or
satellite connection. Just has a plain old phone . CAn pc1 sned via
phone WITHOUT getting a modem first? say, using 'nullmodem' or xmodem'
etc?
crythias-ga seems to have already answered. Thanks! But crythias-ga ,
in the light of my clarification, does your answer hold?

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Clarification of Question by myq-ga on 13 Jul 2004 14:12 PDT

clarification to crythias-ga : I am not usinga  modem BUT I cannot use
a special cable either. The PCs may be many miles (maybe a thousand)
miles apart. Have to use a phone somehow I would think

You have recieved so many confusing  comments, that
you  may appreciate a stright answer, which is NO.

crythias-ga explained the reasons for it, correctly , but added 
 "..It's probably wrong somewhere .." to confuse things further.

One may argue that it is possible 'in principle' , or by improvising
a modem, but as a practical matter it does not make sense.

So, if you want to send a file, one way is to attach a modem to each
machine, set one to the 'answer mode' and make the other to dial the first.
http://www.modemsite.com/56k/autoanswer.asp

It is not a job for a complete novice:
Basic Hayes AT Command Set
 ... followed by <CR>. ATA - "Answer Mode" - This command initiates the modem
 into an auto-answer mode. Bn - "Select Communication Protocol ... 
www.modemhelp.net/basicatcommand.shtml -

But much more simple way is deposit the file on some host,
and have the other computer  pick it up. Host is a third computer,
permanently connected to the Internet. 

You are entitled to CRF (clarifications) for free if you need 
instructions how to do it. If you want that, please do specify if
content is private, what kind of connection (ISP) yiu have , how large
the file(s) are ..

 Of course, once both computers have a modem, both can attach to the local ISP
and exchange files by e-mail ot ftp.
 So if that is not desirable, it would help 
if you explain why.

Internet has special method for transfering files, called ftp.
It is the simplest way, but it assumes that computers are 'connected'
to each other, via phone, direct *digital* line or to the net.

If they are connected by a *digital* line,they do not need modem. All you need
is proper software on each, aperhaps a NIC and those are standard part
of modern machines.

Beginning FTP tutorials:
The ftp tutorials will help you post your web site using ftp.
www.pageresource.com/putweb/ftpmain.htm 

Beginner's Guide to FTP
 ... scripting utility. All of these features will be explained in later
 tutorials. First you need to download and install an FTP Client. ... 
www.ftpplanet.com/ftpresources/basics.htm

the answer was fine but I must add special thanks to crythias-ga  who
had already given a more complete answer (as a comment)

I've done this! And, sorta, yes, you can do it, but sneakernet with a
USB key is so much faster.

This isn't a network connection, mind you, and you have to go back to
using things like XMODEM, ZMODEM, etc. You can use Hyperterminal to do
it..

connect line jack to line jack on your modems.

You need hyperterminal or http://www.telix.com/delta/deltacom/tfd/
Telix or something running on both sides. Make sure both sides are
configured to connect to the modem, the modem running at the same
speed, 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, on one side, type ATDT[Enter].
on the other type ATA[Enter].

This will set up a connection as fast as your slowest modem ...

Now, it's been nearly 10 years since I've done this, and I may have
forgotten it exactly, but there are sooo many better, faster ways
including USB network cables
http://www.usb-port.com/ulk003.html or USB flash drives
://www.google.com/froogle?q=usb+flash

if you're not using modems at all, you would definitely need a null
modem cable to connect two PC's serially.

Laplink has been a key standard in this connectivity for a while
http://www.laplink.com/.

Thanks for your help. And sorry. I am new to this. I have 'commented'
in reply to your comments but placed the comments in the clarification
section. Please do check the 'clarifications' and perhaps you can
comment further. thanks again!

you need -- read: must have, no ifs, ands, or buts -- a modem, even an
external modem, to handle the connection.

How else are you connecting the phone to the PC? The only other way is
to have a typist who can sing 2400 baud :). What is preventing a modem
connection on either side?

A modem is a MODulator DEModulator. It converts computer tones to a
format that can travel over phone lines, then another converts it
back. Without equivalent equipment on both sides, there is no
possibility for the computer to understand phone compatible jibberish.
This is a function of the audio capabilities of a phone line. Phone
lines aren't/didn't use to be digital. They have a limited frequency
range which allows them to carry voice signals over long distances.
Since audible frequency for speech is limited to a very narrow range,
it allows phone companies to arrange for multiple calls over a given
copper wire. Now, a modem takes digital data of certain voltages from
a serial connection (let's say 0 volts for 0 and 5v for 1) and
converts that to a sound that can travel over copper longer distances
than voltage. The inherent resistance of copper means that 5V can drop
off very quick. At the receiver, there is no way to reliably detect
5V. But audio frequencies carry longer. A modem receives these audio
frequencies and converts them back to digital voltages that the
computer can understand. This conversion can only be done with a
modem.

This is personal knowledge/recollection. It's probably wrong
somewhere, but the gist is accurate.

Technically, you could do this without a modem, but it would be much
more difficult, expensive, and slow than doing it with a modem.  As a
practical matter, modems are the way to go, as crythias said.

It sounds to me like what the asker wants to do is to send files from
one computer to another via phone line without going through an ISP,
which would be the ordinary way of doing it.  crythias' answer should
do that, but note, both computers still require a modem to connect to
the phone line in the first place.  It just is used to connect
directly to the other computer's modem via the phone line, rather than
through the ISP's computer and whatever other intermediate computers
it would pass through along the way to the reciever's ISP's computer
and to the reciever.

In order to send files between two computers, you need some physical
connection.... A Modem connects a computer to a telephone line (or
cable TV lines if it is a Cable Modem). Without a Modem, you can not
connect a computer to a telephone line.

As of now, the only lines I know of that span the distance you
mentioned are Telephone, Cable and Power lines, though we can't send
data that far over power lines yet.

If you have access to the Internet, I would recommend either emailing
the files, or set up an FTP server (Software that allows connections
from other computers to send/recieve files).

You can also use most Instant Messaging programs to send files
directly to another computer fairly easily.

Your other alternative is to use removable storage (DVDs, CDs, Tapes,
Zip Disks, Floppys) and physically mail or carry the data to the new
computer.

Just to add on to telephone lines...
The frequency that we use on the phone when speaking is approximately
20hz at lowest and 20khz at highest.  When using DSL, there is a
filter that tells the computer to use any frequency but those.  That
is why you are able to talk and use the computer on one phone line. 
Pretty cool huh?

Don't try going and buying the filter thinking you'll get DSL for free
though.  The phone company has to set up those frequencies.  I would
imagine that the more you pay for speed, the higher frequency ranges
they set up.

Thanks for all of the comments too.  I was searching through the
entire internet trying to find out how to connect my computers via
modem.  There was a message board where you had to pay to recieve
feedback!  I also found out that their "proffessional" opinion said
that connecting two computers via modem is not possible.  Glad I
didn't spend money on that!

Still having trouble getting Telix to work though...

Jared22, I'd like to assist you further with regards to this issue. I
am not a GA Researcher, and my offer is for free help, but all I can
say is that I'm the only one on any search engine with my username.
The key with programs like Hyperterminal and Telix is that you may
want to be sure to turn off "check for dial tone before dialing."
This is usually ATX0
http://www.modemhelp.net/basicatcommand.shtml
Then ATDT on sender and ATA on recipient.

HTH

Our computers connected by LAN. We send files and messages with small
windows utility- Softros LAN messenger - http://messenger.softros.com