SPORTSTER 14,400 CHAPTER 2. SET-UP AND TESTING Figure 2.1_Sportster 14,400 Modem PACKAGE COMPONENTS Your modem package contains the following items in addition to this manual. ù The Sportster 14,400 modem. ù An RJ11C phone cord. ù A power adapter. ù A tear-out Quick-Reference Card, at the back of this manual. ù A supplemental guide to a number of popular communications software products. This quick configuration guide provides modem DIP switch settings, information on important program features and helpful hints for using the software with your U.S. Robotics modem. ù Your warranty card, to be filled out and returned to U.S. Robotics, Inc. REQUIREMENTS_COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE If the modem is attached to a computer instead of a terminal, you'll need communications software to operate the modem. Communications software makes it possible for your computer to send and receive data via the modem and phone lines. It also interacts directly with the modem. Many excellent compatible programs are available, all based on the AT command set. Some users prefer their communications software to take control of the modem, and are more comfortable with a program that makes the modem almost transparent. Others prefer a program that allows them to use the modem's AT command set some times, and their software commands or menus at other times, depending on the task at hand. RS-232 REQUIREMENTS You'll need an RS-232 cable to connect the modem to your computer or terminal. Use a shielded cable to ensure minimal interference with radio and television reception. The modem takes a DB-25P (25-pin plug, or male) connector at one end of the cable. Computer equipment varies, however. Check the serial port at the rear of your machine, which may be labeled SERIAL, COMM PORT, or some other term (e.g., RS-232). If there are no labels, review your machine documentation to find out which is the serial port. (There may be more than one.) Don't use a port marked PARALLEL, PRINTER or AUX. The physical serial port on the computer or terminal will be either a socket (female) or plug (male) that typically accommodates 25 or 9 pins. For example, the port on the IBM PC/XT and most compatibles requires a DB-25S (socket) connector, while the port on the IBM PC/AT and some compatibles requires a DB- 9S connector. Apple computers require a DB-25P, DB-9P or, more typically, an 8- pin round plug connector. Check your computer documentation or with your computer dealer. NOTE: Appendix B includes a listing of RS-232 pin assignments required to operate this modem. Be sure to check the appendix if you're not sure what type of cable you need, or if you're building your own. If your machine has other than a 25- or 9-pin port, check your computer documentation or consult your dealer to find out what type of RS- 232 connector is required. NOTE: If you build your own cables and plan to use the fastest computer-to- modem rate of 57.6K bps, follow the instructions concerning the RS-232 cable in Appendix B. These guidelines will help you to avoid signal degradation at the 57.6K bps rate. HARDWARE FEATURES The following switches and indicators are located on the exterior of the modem case. Power Switch The power switch is located on the left side of the modem case. It is a push- button type switch; in the OFF position, it protrudes a little farther from the case. Volume Control Switch There is a rotary switch under the front panel, near the right corner. Turn it clockwise to increase the volume of the modem's speaker; turn it counter-clockwise to decrease the volume. Front Panel Indicators Below is a list of the modem's nine status lights, or LEDs. See Appendix B for descriptions of their operations. AA Auto Answer CD Carrier Detect OH Off Hook RD Received Data SD Send Data TR Data Terminal Ready RS Request to Send CS Clear to Send ARQ/FAX Automatic Repeat Request (Error Control)/Fax Mode (Fax modems only) DIP Switches An eight-position bank of Dual In-Line Package (DIP) switches is at the rear of the modem. These switches are set at the factory to the positions most users require. Figure 2.2_DIP Switch Factory Settings The quick configuration guide that came with the modem shows recommended switch settings for many widely-used communica tions software products. If your communications software is not listed, check your software documentation for its requirements, particularly for DIP switches 1, 4, 5 and 6. A description of DIP switch functions and options is in Appendix B in this manual and in the Quick-Reference Card; a summary is on the case bottom label. DIP switch 7, used to load power-on and reset defaults, is explained under Setting/Using Defaults in Chapter 5. Most users will want to leave this switch UP, write their own defaults to nonvolatile memory (NVRAM), and have those defaults loaded at power-on or reset. INSTALLING THE MODEM 1.Turn off the computer or terminal and peripheral devices. 2.Check the interfaces and labels at the back of the modem. From left to right, notice that there are jacks labeled TELCO and PHONE, the DIP switches, the RS-232 connector and the power jack. 3.Now review the attached interfaces in Figure 2.3. Figure 2.3_Connected Sportster 14,400 Modem 4.Plug the power adapter's small connector into the power jack at the back of the modem. Plug the adapter into a standard 115-volt AC wall socket. 5.Disconnect your present phone cable from the wall jack. Plug one end of the phone cable that came with the modem into the jack at the rear of the modem labeled TELCO. This allows the modem to switch into the telephone network, get a dial tone, and so on. Plug the other end of the cable into the wall jack. NOTE: The phone cable is equipped with two standard, modular RJ11C phone connectors. If you have an older type of wall jack, you can purchase an adapter and RJ11C con nector from your telephone company or computer dealer. 6.If you wish, plug your phone's cord into the second jack on the modem, labeled PHONE. This enables you to use your phone for conventional voice calls, and also allows you to switch between voice and data transmission in the same call. See Voice/Data Communications in Appendix E. 7.The final step is to connect the modem to the computer's or terminal's serial port with the RS-232 cable described earlier in this chapter. Attach the appropriate connectors to the modem and to the serial port. NOTE: To prevent overheating, do not cover the vents on the top or sides of the modem case. The modem is now ready to be tested and operated. TESTING THE INSTALLATION Follow these steps to verify that the modem is working properly. 1.Turn on your terminal or computer. Then press the Sportster 14,400's power switch at the side of the case to turn the modem ON. The following front panel indicators, or LEDs, may light up. CDCarrier Detect, if you have set DIP switch 6 DOWN, enabling the CD override TRData Terminal Ready, if you have set DIP switch 1 DOWN, enabling the DTR override CSClear to Send, if Clear to Send is supported by your computer or terminal 2.If you're using a personal computer, load your communications software and start the program. 3.Set the software's serial port rate to 38,400, 19,200 or 9,600 bits per second (or "baud rate," for some software). We recommend 19,200 or 38,400. The modem will detect this rate automatically when you send it a command. If your soft-ware supports 57,600 bits per second, you can set your serial port to that speed. 4.Specify the serial communications port used by the modem. IBM PC- compatible software requires a communications port address in the form of COM1, COM2, or higher. Other software may offer Communications, Phone, or other options. 5.Set the data format to a word length of either 7 bits plus Even or Odd parity, or 8 bits with no parity_it doesn't matter which for now_and 1 Stop bit. Some programs use formats such as 7-E-1 or 8-N-1 for these three parameters. 6.Perform the function that lets you send AT commands directly to the modem, that is, puts the computer in Terminal Mode. Some communications programs do this automatically upon loading. Others require you to display a communications or terminal screen, press a Function key, or per form some other operation. If necessary, refer to your com munications software documentation for instructions. 7.Check to see if your computer and modem are communicating with each other by sending the modem the following attention command. Type either upper or lower case letters, not a combination, and then press the Enter (Carriage Return) key, shown in the example below between angle brackets. (Don't type the angle brackets.) AT If everything is correct, the modem responds as follows. OK NOTE: The modem is shipped with DIP switch 4 UP, causing the modem to display (echo) your keyboard commands. If your entered command is not displayed, your local echo is OFF. To turn local echo ON, type the following command. ATE1 If double characters appear on the screen, both your modem and software are set to local echo ON. Either set your software to local echo OFF, or turn the modem's echo OFF with the following command. ATE0 Troubleshooting If no OK appears on your screen, review these checkpoints to try to correct the problem. Then try the AT command again. a. Make sure you type either all upper case or all lower case letters and press . b. Check to see that you set your communications software to the correct serial port. c. Make sure your software has put the computer in Terminal mode, so that you can send the modem commands. Review Step 6 on the previous page. d. Be sure that DIP switches 1 and 6 are set UP (Off) or DOWN (On), according to your software requirements. Check the quick configuration guide that came with the modem, or review the table in Appendix B and your communications software documentation if you're unsure. e. If you set DIP switch 8 UP for Dumb mode, reset the modem to Smart mode by setting DIP switch 8 DOWN. f. DIP switch 3 controls the display of the modem's result codes, including the OK result. The modem is shipped with DIP switch 3 DOWN, enabling the result codes. If DIP switch 3 is UP, reset it to the DOWN position and then initiate the new switch setting with the following reset command. ATZ Now try again to obtain the OK result code by typing AT. 8.Make a final check of the modem to see that it gets a dial tone. Type the following manual Dial command. ATD On receiving the command, the modem goes off hook and waits for a dial tone. The OH (Off Hook) indicator lights, and you'll hear the dial tone from the modem's speaker. If you don't hear the dial tone, increase the volume by turning the volume control switch higher (clockwise). To cancel the operation, press any key. If you don't hear a dial tone, check to see that the phone cable from the wall jack is connected to the jack labeled TELCO on the modem. If necessary, reconnect the phone cable correctly to the TELCO jack, and try the ATD command again. Be sure to return the modem on hook by pressing any key.