I tried the one or so carriage returns but it didn't work :(
I also consulted another person who told me that I should try the ATO
command (or ATO0 command on my Roadster) after and before dialling but this
also did not work. Just so you know:

-This project is being programmed in QBASIC which has a baud limitation of
19200. If you are a BASIC Programmer, the following might mean something to
you

'Upon opening COM2: at 19200 and initialising the modem at 9600 AS #1

DialString$ = "ATDT" + CHR$(13)
EnterOnLine$ = "ATO0" + CHR$(13)

PRINT #1, DialString$
PRINT #1, EnterOnLine$

DO
 FromComChar$ = INPUT$(1,1)
 FromComString$ = FromComString$ + FromComChar$
LOOP UNTIL INSTR(FromComString$, "CONNECT") > 0 OR
INSTR(FromComString$, _
"BUSY") > 0 OR INSTR(FromComString$, "NO CARRIER") > 0

' The above caters for all three possible reactions

IF NOT (INSTR(FromComString$, "CONNECT") > 0) THEN
 'Tell User That Line Is Busy OR No Carrier Was Detected
ELSE
 PRINT "CONNECTION ESTABLISHED"

'Start afresh with the FromComString$
 FromComString$ = ""

'Print any characters read from the modem onto the screen and loop until
other 'end drops carrier
DO
 FromComChar$ = INPUT$(1,1)
 PRINT FromComChar$;
 FromComString$ = FromComString$ + FromComChar$
LOOP UNTIL INSTR(FromComString$, "NO CARRIER") > 0

The above program DOES open the communications port in both write and read
mode (FOR RANDOM AS #1) so, considering there are no problems with the
above code, which is simply a test, there should be nothing stopping the
program from reading the simple greeting message from the required service.

By the way, I use the SAME initialisation strings in my BASIC program as I
do my Windows terminal program (COOEE). I actually went into COOEE's Local
Mode and typed each string one by one to see if I needed to type anything
extra (i.e., if COOEE was sending something which it wasn't showing), but
it connected to the service as it usually does.

I also got a friendly SysOp to help me test the program and he concurred
that whilst the program established a connection at 9600 (also indicated at
my end), it just sat there until I dropped carrier. Actually, his system
sent me various messages such as "Please press  twice to
load " and also the opening ANSI screen. I didn't get
a thing!

My project is actually supposed to, as a BBS setup and management package,
answer calls and, I suppose, send and receive data from the client. Is this
process any easier. I presume it would be.

*Initialise the modem
*Wait to receive the verbal response code "RING"
*Answer (ATA)
*Connect automatically
*Send the greetings etc
*Follow on from there

I am just worried that if I cannot write a program capable of calling
another BBS, how on earth should I approach writing a program that creates
a BBS. I will continue to troubleshoot until I am positive I have covered
all possible solutions.

Thank you very much for your help and, now that I have analyzed the problem
in greater detail, I hope you can assist me in solving this annoying
setback. I am certain that once this piece of the puzzle is solved, the
rest will fall into place. 

Regards,
        Damian Harden 

--- Maximus 2.02