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Z-288-1.TXT
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1994-03-22
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513 lines
Information, Instructions & Parameters for the ZOOM 28.8K Modem.
By: Joe Medeiros - (A.K.A. Joe Masters)
PROLOGUE
--------
Before I begin this file understand that I am happy with my Zoom 28.8K
modem. I understand how it works, how to control it, and that it does
have a few limitations, BUT If for some reason I had to buy another
modem tomorrow, I would buy another Zoom 28.8K modem.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
All 28.8K Modems with Rockwell RC288ACL/VFC and RC288ACi/VFC chips and the
manufacturer ROM chips (as of early 1994) are still in a developmental stage,
and will remain so until the CCITT formalizes the V.34 protocol this summer.
Rockwell and Hayes in a joint venture agreed on their own V.Fast protocol
which is currently being marketed by both companies.
My source of reference for the information in this file is a combination of
Rockwell International's Modem Designer's Guide, Data Pump Manual, The AT
Command Reference Manual, my owning and setting up by trial & error a 14.4K
high speed modem two years ago, and applying that knowledge to the Zoom 28.8K
modem. So far Rockwell has been kind enough to send me over 400 pages of
technical specs about their 28.8K chips, data pump, and AT Commands to aid
me in this endeavor.
The Zoom 28.8K and any 14.4K modem with Rockwell Chips are closely related.
Zoom did not bother to include an updated owners manual for the 28.8K. They
simply stuck a 4 page addendum into the old 14.4K manual. The 28.8K and
14.4K are cousins, BUT they are not "Kissin' Cousins!"
IMPORTANT! - UNDERSTAND THIS:
----------------------------
Equate your modem to an automobile engine - "How does your engine run?" If
you don't put oil in it, and you don't have gasoline for it, then it isn't
going to run properly, if at all! All three are equally important. You need
all three together to have a working engine. In this case the modem is the
engine, the PROFILE is the oil, and the Init string is the gasoline. You
need properly configured Profiles and a correct init string for the modem to
run correctly. - Am I making my point here?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ZOOM 28.8K SETUP INSTRUCTIONS:
------------------------------
First print this file, then follow these instructions:
1 - Shut off XON/XOFF in terminal or BBS program.
2 - Shut off DSR/DTR in terminal or BBS program.
3 - Turn on CTS/RTS in terminal or BBS program.
4 - Change the Connect String word from CONNECT to CARRIER in your
terminal and/or BBS program. (The S95 register needs to see CARRIER)
5 - Set the baud rate speed of your terminal or BBS program to 115,200
baud, or 57,600 if 115,200 is not available as a choice.
Run your terminal program type the following lines:
AT&F [ENTER]
ATL0M3&C1&D2&S1ATS6=12S10=60S11=50S46=136S48=128S95=127&W0&W1 [ENTER]
OK, let's examine each command of the above instruction line:
AT&F - Resets modem to all factory default settings.
L0 - Loudness of modem speaker (range 0 - 3)
This is a personal preference setting.
M3 - Speaker on during modem negotiating only (range 0 - 3)
This is a personal preference setting.
&C1 - Follows the state of the data carrier from the remote modem.
&D2 - Determines action taken by the modem to the DTR.
&S1 - DSR operates in accordance with the EIA-232-D specification.
S6=12 - Longer delay. Needed to switch from voice directly to data connect
without having to redial.
S10=60 - Delays disconnect in case of loss of carrier detect. This loss
is mostly caused by marginal telephone lines.
S11=50 - Forces modem to dial at the fastest speed possible.
S46=136 - Executes modem error correction with NO compression. (I will
explain more about modem compression in a later paragraph.)
S48=128 - Forces modem back to S36 register which is default 007.
Attempts MNP connection: if fails normal connection is established.
S95=127 - This setting gives maximum information upon connect with remote
modem. It is NOT documented in the Zoom manual.
&W0 - Writes the settings into PROFILE 0 of the modem's NVRAM.
&W1 - Writes the settings into PROFILE 1 of the modem's NVRAM.
You only have to do the above ONCE - the profiles will store the data.
The reason you want to write the same settings to both Profiles is in case
you run a program that changes the settings without telling you that it
does modify Profile 0. Programs like Modem Doctor, QM Pro For Windows,
and Procomm For Windows all write to Profile 0. If this happens you can
quickly reprogram it by typing: AT&F [ENTER] ATZ1 [ENTER] AT&W0 [ENTER]
INIT STRING SETUP
-----------------
NEXT USE THIS MODEM INIT STRING: AT&F^M~~~ATZ0^M~~~~AT%E2^M
OK, let's examine each command of the Init. String:
AT&F - Resets the modem to all factory default settings.
ATZ - Uses the settings in Profile 0 (ATZ1 uses Profile 1 settings)
AT%E2 - Turns on the line quality monitoring, and fallback/fall forward.
This is a better choice than %E1 or %E3 because RETRAIN only
trys to initiate recovery at the previous connect speed.
%E0 disables monitoring so you don't want that either.
The Init string must be run each time you start the modem - it is normally
configured in your terminal or BBS program - You should NOT have to type
it in each time you run start using the modem.
Type: AT&V [ENTER]
You should now see the following settings in your profiles. If any of
the settings are different than what is below, change them, and save
them using: AT&W0 (For PROFILE 0) and AT&W1 (For PROFILE 1).
ACTIVE PROFILE:
B1 E1 L0 M3 N1 Q0 T V1 W0 X4 Y0 &C1 &D2 &G0 &J0 &K3 &Q5 &R1 &S1 &T4 &X0 &Y0
S00:000 S01:000 S02:043 S03:013 S04:010 S05:008 S06:002 S07:065 S08:002 S09:006
S10:060 S11:050 S12:050 S18:000 S25:005 S26:001 S36:007 S37:000 S38:020 S44:020
S46:136 S48:128 S95:127
STORED PROFILE 0:
B1 E1 L0 M3 N1 Q0 T V1 W0 X4 Y0 &C1 &D2 &G0 &J0 &K3 &Q5 &R1 &S1 &T4 &X0
S00:000 S02:043 S06:002 S07:065 S08:002 S09:006 S10:060 S11:050 S12:050 S18:000
S36:007 S37:000 S40:105 S41:192 S46:136 S95:127
STORED PROFILE 1:
B1 E1 L0 M3 N1 Q0 T V1 W0 X4 Y0 &C1 &D2 &G0 &J0 &K3 &Q5 &R1 &S1 &T4 &X0
S00:000 S02:043 S06:002 S07:065 S08:002 S09:006 S10:060 S11:050 S12:050 S18:000
S36:007 S37:000 S40:105 S41:192 S46:136 S95:127
Other items you should fully realize AND understand:
1 - These commands/settings were not devised nor do they belong to Zoom.
Rockwell International devised the chip, and programmed it with these
commands before they sold it Zoom. Rockwell is the ultimate authority
on information about this chip, not Zoom.
2 - These settings shut off modem compression. You do NOT want any modem
compression when transfering ZIP, ARJ, LHZ, ARJ, etc. files. These
files have already been compressed, and trying to recompress them again.
V.42BIS or CLASS 5 will actually slow down the file transfer. Only if
you are transfering text, acsii, or uncompressed files does modem
compression ever increase file transfer speed.
LAP-M, V.42BIS, CLASS 5
-----------------------
To turn on LAP-M, V.42BIS, and Class 5 use the following inits:
For LAP-M No Compression: AT&F^M~~ATZ^M~~~~ATS46=136S48=7%E2^M
For LAP-M with V.42BIS Compression: AT&F^M~~ATZ^M~~~~ATS46=138S48=7%E2^M
For MNP CLASS 5 Compression: AT&F^M~~ATZ^M~~~~AT%C1%E2^M
To return to normal MNP - No Compression: AT&F^M~~ATZ^M~~~~AT&E2^M
The ^M is a carrier return command = [ENTER]
The ~ are 1/2 second waits giving the modem time to respond to each
command.
These strings may be used as keystroke marcos in your terminal program
to reprogram your modem by pressing one key. I have setup my F10 - F12
keys in Telix to do exactly that.
You need to set up the Zoom 28.8K with the above instructions about the
Profiles BEFORE you attempt to use these strings. Some of the settings
are dependent upon the profiles.
A FEW TERMS YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND
---------------------------------
LAPM
----
Link Access Procedure for Modems, the primary error control protocol
method defined in CCITT V.42 (now ITU-T V.42).
MNP5
----
Microcom Networking Protocol- Service Level 5, a data compression
protocol used in conjunction with error control. It can theorectically
deleiver a throughput increase of approximately 2:1. When presented with
data that has been pre-compressed, MNP5 actually expands the size of the
data stream, thus retarding throughput.
V.42
----
CCITT Recommendation V.42 (now ITU-T V.42) is a error control
negotiation protocol which defines LAP-M as the preferable and primary
method of error control, but includes a workalike to MNP2-4 as a
fallback compatibility mode.
V.42bis
-------
CCITT recommendation V.42bis (now ITU-T V.42bis) is a data compression
protocol that is used in conjunction with error corrected links. As
typically implemented, it has the theorectical capability of delivering
a 4:1 increase in throughput. It also has the capability of operating in
a "transparent" mode which will not allow it to expand data presented to
it which has already been compressed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINE NOISE
----------
3 - I CAN NOT EXPRESS HOW IMPORTANT THIS SECTION REGARDING LINE NOISE IS!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone Line noise is critical to your connect speed. Marginal lines
will prevent you from obtaining any speeds at, or near 28.8K. The area
that I live in, 20 miles north of Boston, MA., is plagued with corroded
telephone wires and antiquated relays & switches.
REMEMBER, higher connect speeds pass data at higher speeds. The faster the
data is traveling, the more susceptible it becomes to line noise! Line noise
is the AIDS of telecommunications!
When I got my first 14.4K high speed modem two years ago, I kept saying,
"What the f___ is wrong here?" Then it dawned on me to start keeping track
of the line quality of my CONNECTS with the AT%Q command. Was I in for a
shock! The my owners manual said that "NORMAL CONNECTIONS RANGE FROM 0 to 2,
AND APPROACHES 8 FOR PROGRESSIVELY POORER CONNECTIONS." If I get down to the
10 to 20 range with the crap lines in my town I am happy! Many times I have
connections that go as high as 50, 100, and 127 using the AT%Q . I have seen
127! 127 is as high as the modem will measure. That is SERIOUS line noise!
If you get 000 line noise then you have lost the CONNECT - the manual was
wrong. It should have read: " GOOD CONNECTIONS RANGE FROM 1 to 3, AND
APPROACHES 15 FOR PROGRESSIVELY POORER CONNECTIONS." Around 50 or above
means you are about to be disconnected.
I have seen hundreds of high speed modem owners complaining in the national
High Speed Modem Forums and on Zoom BBS about how many modems are junk. It
is NOT the modem, it is the Ma Bell telephone lines. People get disconnected
so they change a register and call back. When they call back the second time
they do not get disconnected so they assume that whatever they changed worked.
- That is NOT what happened. If they called back without making any changes
they still would NOT have been disconnected because they were on a different
and better quality telephone trunk line.
Modems with Rockwell RC96xx, RC144xx and RC288xx chips have a fantastic
feature, an E.Q.M.! It will actually measure line noise and allow you
to observe it with the E.Q.M. ("Eye Quality Monitor.")
Before you condemn your high speed modem, use the following test when you
have connected to a BBS. You may be in for a very rude awakening concerning
the poor quality of your telephone lines!
Test Procedure:
1 - CONNECT to another modem. (A BBS at ANY speed is OK for testing.)
2 - TYPE: +++ (You will receive an OK - meaning you are in Command Mode)
3 - TYPE: AT%Q <ENTER> (You will see a number.)
4 - TYPE: A/ (Do A/ repeatedly and quickly about 25 - 30 times.)
5 - Watch the number that keeps appearing after each A/
The number should be anywhere from 001 to 010. If it says over
30 you have serious line noise. It it gets near 50 you are
going to loose the CARRIER DETECT. If it drops to 000 you have
lost the CARRIER DETECT.
6 - TYPE: ATO to return to the on-line state and continue with the BBS.
^ that is the letter O not a 0 (zero.)
Try this test with a BBS that you usually have no problem connecting with.
The AT%Q will probably show readings about 002 to 009. Next call a BBS or
two that you usually have problems obtaining high speeds with. You will
probably see much higher readings with the test. I have seen normal readings
for 20 or 30 seconds, then it sky rockets to 100 or more for a few seconds.
This proves your problem is with line noise, not the modem.
I called NYNEX repair service for over two years about my line noise
problems. I was repeatedly told that I needed "a new pair," but there
were none available in my area. I received no satisfaction from them.
I finally called the President of NYNEX in Post Office Square, in Boston,
MA. His executive secretary apologized for my problems and promised me
that it would be rectified. The next day I had FIVE telephone trucks in
front of my house! The workers acted like I was God! "Yes Sir, we have
been instructed to free up a new pair for you!" 80% of my problems went
away. It is still not perfect, but it is far better than I had ever had.
The ultimate answer is called fiber optic lines, but they are not available
in my area.
THE ULTIMATE MODEM CONNECT SPEED TEST:
--------------------------------------
There is another way to test your CONNECT modem speed and to completely
eliminate the "Is it line noise" question. Bring your computer to the home
of another person who has a 28.8K modem. Rather than plugging your modem
into a telephone wall jack, plug it directly into his modem jack. There
will be no dial tone, but you won't need one. The connect will be
instantaneous. There will be NO line noise. There will be no chance of
any external interference.
1 - Run a terminal program on both computers.
2 - On computer type: ATS0=1 [ENTER]
3 - On the other computer type: ATDT [ENTER]
This will affect the CONNECT.
If you still have a problem connecting at 26.4K and 28.8K then you can blame
it on the modems, but not until you do this direct modem to modem test.
In short, STOP blaming your modem as being crap until you understand how
to set it up, how to control it, and you have run these tests. If line
noise is your problem, then go after your local telephone company. You
should also be aware that your telephone company will probably tell you
that they do not guarantee noise free telecommunications lines, they just
guarantee good quality voice lines.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUILDING A NOISE FILTER
-----------------------
Another way to help line noise is with an in-line filter. I have done a
couple of hit or miss filters that have had some effect on line noise, but
not entirely eliminated it. The way to resolve the line noise problem is
for Ma Bell to replace it's antiquated and corroded wires with fiber optics.
That will take a few years. A more complex filter may help, but I do not
have the time, energy or patience to design one. The following has done
an adequate job for me.
:-------------:
< RED WIRE > ------------------------------------------| :
| | | : Z O O M :
= = X : :
| | | : M O D E M :
< GREEN WIRE > ------------------------------ 0 ---------| :
:-------------:
|
The = represents the capacitors.
|
|
The X represents the 12K resistor.
|
The --0-- represents the 12 volt miniature lamp. (light bulb)
Do not connect anything to the yellow and/or black wires. Place the
capacitors, resistor, and the miniature lamp as close to the modem as you
can. The miniature lamp has two wires running out of it (red & white.)
It does not matter which way you hook them up.
When you buy the resistor, I do not believe that the value is critical.
I used a 12K resistor but a 10K to 14K might do just as well. A rating
of 1/2 watt seems OK but if you want to put in a 1 watt resistor, that
wouldn't hurt either.
The value of the capacitors are .01 Microfarads - ceramic, non polarized.
The total cash outlay for these parts will be under $4.00. Not too much
to spend to help reduce such an irritating problem.
The light will illuminate when the modem goes off hook. This is an extra
feature and a needed one for internal modems.
BUYING A NOISE FILTER
---------------------
AT&T sells a telephone line filter. The model number is Z100A. Call your
local AT&T Phone Center for the price. Buy it and try it. If it doesn't
help, return it and get a refund!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
! ! ! S U R P R I S E ! ! !
There is no documentation in the current Zoom manual for this, but the new
Rockwell 28.8K chip supports "Caller ID" and the Zoom BIOS chip is setup
to use it! Here are the commands for it:
COMMANDS
--------
AT#CID=0 - Disables Caller ID. (Default)
AT#CID=1 - Enables Caller ID with formatted presentation to the DTE.
The modem will present the data intems in a <Tag><Value>
pair format. The expected pairs are data, time, caller code
(telephone number), and name.
AT#CID=2 - Enables Called ID with unformatted format to the DTE. The
modem will present the entire packet of information, excluding
the leading U's in ASCII printable hex numbers.
INQUIRIES
---------
AT#CID? - Retrieves the current Caller ID mode from the modem.
AT#CID=? - Returns the mode capabilities of the modem in a list with each
element seperated by commas.
FORMATTED FORM REPORTING
------------------------
The modem presents the data in the <Tag> = <Value> pair format as described
in the data table below. Spaces are presented on both sides of the equal
sign.
TAG DESCRIPTION
--- -----------
DATE DATE=MMDD where MM is the month number (01 to 12)
and DD is the day number (01 to 31.)
TIME TIME=HHMM where HH is the hour number (00 to 23)
and MM is the minute number (00 to 59.)
NMBR NMBR=<number> or P or O where <number> is the telephone
number of the caller, where P indicates that the calling
number information is not available since the originating
caller has requested private service, and where O indicates
that the calling number information is not available or out
of service at the calling location.
NAME NAME=<listing name> where <listing name> is the subscription
name.
MESG MESG=<date tag><length of message><date><checksum> in
printable ASCII hex numbers. This tag indicates a data
item not listed above. The message is only possible for
Multiple Message Format.
NOTES
-----
1 - The modem does not present any Caller ID information if the DCE detects
a checksum error in the Caller ID packet.
2 - In the event of an unrecognized data tag, the modem will present the
data in ASCII hex numbers following the MESG tag.
EXAMPLE OF FORMATTED FORM REPORTING
-----------------------------------
1 - The following example illustrates the standard Caller ID message packet.
RING
DATE = 0321
TIME = 1405
NMBR = 5045551234
NAME = A J CONSUMER
RING
RING
2 - The following example illustrates the case where the tag of the packet
is not recognized by the modem.
RING
MESG = 060342424231
RING
RING
UNFORMATTED FORM REPORTING
--------------------------
The modem presents all information and packet control information found
in the message. The modem, however, excludes the leading U's (channel
seizure information) from the presentation. The packet is presented in
ASCII printable hex numbers, the modem does not insert spaces, or line
feeds, for formatting between bytes or words of the packet.
EXAMPLE OF UNFORMATTED REPORTING
--------------------------------
RING
041230333232323430353931435353132333435
RING
RING
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOES THE ZOOM 28.8K MODEM HAVE ANY BUGS IN IT?
----------------------------------------------
Yes, - This is not a total defense of the Zoom modem. I have found four
problems with the modem so far. ( My ROM Version is V0.510-VFP - 01C To
find your ROM Version, start your terminal program and type: ATI3 [ENTER]
1 - My modem occasionally has difficulty sensing a busy sound and recycling
to redial.
2 - I also sometimes have a difficult time disconnecting from another modem.
The ATH command sometime fails.
3 - When I dial a number and it is busy, during the pause before redial I
can hear an AM radio station coming from the modem speaker! The station
transmitter is located about 5 air miles from my home. It transmits on
680Khz. The modem still dials properly but it is strange hearing these
voices while it is waiting to redial! This is known as R.F.I. (Radio
Frequency Interference.)
4 - I have had much difficulty connecting at 24K and 28.8K. This problem
will be addressed by the CCITT this summer when V.34 becomes offically
standardized. Rockwell may be forced to redesign areas of their RC288
chips to be more noise immune, or it may be as easy as Zoom simply
doing a ROM update to upgrade it to V.34. The price for this upgrade
has been rumored at $40 - $50. Until then I remain very happy connecting
at 24K and getting 2700 CPS transfers on compressed files.
The first two problems are in the ROM of the modem and can be corrected with
a ROM upgrade. Will Zoom upgrade the ROM before the CCITT formalizes the
V.34 protocol? You will need to get a crystal ball to answer that question,
but I 99% sure they will. The R.F.I. problem can be easily corrected with
a ferite bead or two.
That's all for now...
Last Update: 03/21/94