Unless the modem is line powered (i.e. powered by the DC supplied down the
phone line, a very rare thing), there is usually no problem getting the
modems to communicate with each other -- they generally ignore the DC.  It
can be tricky getting the two modems to initiate a conversation without
going through the full song-and-dance involving rings and dialtones, though
with careful reading of the manuals and some experimentation, it can usually
be done.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Duilio Foschi [SMTP:foschid@SHUTTLE.ETRURIA.NET]
> Sent: Thursday, December 09, 1999 9:36 AM
> To:   PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject:      communication btw 2 modems
>
> can 2 modems communicate w/o supplying the canonic 30 volts to the
> connecting copper pair ?
>
> If not, why not ?
>
> Thank you
>
> Duilio Foschi