It is not because you use a female DB-9 that your device becomes a DCE. A DCE Tx-pin is an INPUT-pin and an Rx-pin is an output. A DTE is the other way round (Tx=output)

Did you read http://www.8052.com/forum/read.phtml?id=60533 ?

What about using your PC and hyperterminal (or any other terminal emulator) to actually verify the comms between your controller and your modem?

BTW: if you want to follow the standard, you will have to configure your controller as DTE. This means: Tx=output, Rx=input, DSR=input, CTS=input, RI=input, RTS=output, DTR=output. The cable between a DCE and DTE is (always) a straight cable, no crossovers needed.

regards

Patrick