mssql_xxx() and characters

I tried different solutions and it has led me to suspect a something-or-another in mssql_query() function. However, the problem could originate from mssql_connect() or mssql_select_db() as well since there is no way I can verify otherwise, unless I start debugging. And debugging is exactly what's on the menu next. Still, has anyone come across the same problem or the lack of the problem? A correction would be in order as well. Since I thought it was weird of *it* to replace some chars with two (e.g.. "ä" with ",," as I recall mentioning) I double checked that. Actually, of course, its replaced by one char, in this case the lower quotation marks which look like two consequent commas. Sry for that. Thanks, Karl.