OK,
I tried connecting the modem to my serial port on my PC via a MAX232 and did not have any luck all I got through the terminal windo was some garbage. One thing I was thinking ok, (Im not a Electronics Guy) is it possible that the modem is getting some of it's power through the 48V of the phone line? I have not had the phone line hooke up through most of my testing? I do have a 20MHZ Crystal and tried hookinig it up to my 16F84A but can't get it to work(can't even make a LED flash). The data sheet says it can go up to 20MHZ.
I am going to try the single character statments as suggest by
Luciano.

thanks

Jim