Richard,
It is an external USB Modem. Powered via the USB socket.
The modem is suspect. I am picking up bad vibes reading Google Groups. It is a brand new modem with the latest drivers installed. It seems that there is a problem with the modem.
I have a few more tricks up my sleeve to try and get it working but it looks like I am going to have to pop in and see my ISP (Pipex).
They are based a two minute walk from where I work so I can go and speak to them face to face and under that threat they have promised they will check my modem while I wait and replace it there and then if it does not work.
XP does not recognise that the drivers have been installed and therefore does not add it to the list of modems as it should. This is a known problem. I get other problems with the modem which are unknown problems as far as my ISP is concerned.
Thanks for your interest.
DeepC