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HSTQM.DOC
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1988-01-01
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365 lines
CONFIGURING YOUR HST FOR USE WITH QMODEM - A ROADMAP
This document will help you set up your Qmodem program AND your
USRobotics Courier HST modem reasonably quickly. These various
hardware and software settings have been used by many others
successfully when communicating with bulletin board systems
running PCBoard and other BBS Software. The steps required are
shown in logical order. Patience; 1100cps downloads are only a
few minutes away.
STEP 1. INSTALL MODEM
Follow the instructions provided by USR on how to attach the HST
modem to your computer. ATTENTION: your serial port AND modem
cable MUST have the following signals available and connected:
Signal 9-pin 25-pin
line connector connector
DCD 1 8
RD 2 3
TD 3 2
DTR 4 20
GND 5 7
DSR 6 6
RTS 7 4
CTS 8 5
RI 9 22
Before you connect the modem to the computer, make sure it is
turned OFF, then turn the modem around so that you are facing
the "interface" end of the modem. There are two switch blocks
in the middle of the modem bacplate. The left switch, called
the Quad Switch, should be in the UP position for attachment to
a standard RS232-C serial interface. The other switchblock has
ten miniature toggle switches. Set them as follows:
SWITCH #1 : UP
SWITCH #2 : UP
SWITCH #3 : DOWN
SWITCH #4 : DOWN
SWITCH #5 : DOWN
SWITCH #6 : UP
SWITCH #7 : UP
SWITCH #8 : DOWN
SWITCH #9 : DOWN
SWITCH #10: UP
You may now connect the modem to the phone line, telephone
handset if necessary, and to the computer's serial port.
Lest you forget, power on the modem at this time.
STEP 2. READ THE QMODEM INSTRUCTIONS
Read the update documentation which came with Qmodem, such as
README or ERRATA files. They may contain important information
required for the success of your software installation, such as
conversion of the QModem configuration file (QMODEM.CNF) and of
the phone directory (QMODEM.FON), if you are upgrading from a
previous release. These instructions apply to QModem release
3.1A, the release which was current at the time of this writing
(January, 1988).
Read any addendum information which may have been included with
your HST modem. It may supersede some of the information in
this package.
STEP 3. INSTALL QMODEM
Follow the Qmodem instructions regarding basic installation of
the package, including copying all necessary files, setting up
various directories, performing whatever necessary conversion
steps may be required if you are upgrading from a previous
release etc....
STEP 4. RUN QINSTALL
Start the QINSTALL program. If this is a first-time
installation, a new QMODEM.CNF file will be created for you. If
you are upgrading releases, or just wish to configure Qmodem for
the HST, your existing QMODEM.CNF file will be used.
A. Set Modem Parameters
-----------------------
At the main menu, select option #2, 'Hardware"
At the hardware menu, select option #1, 'Modem Setup #1'
Make the following changes:
Initial Modem Settings: Baud=19200 Data=8 Parity=N Stop=1
String to send BEFORE changing baud rate : LEAVE BLANK
String to send AFTER changing baud rate : LEAVE BLANK
(1) Number of seconds between redial attempts : 2
(2) Number of seconds before cancelling a call : 45
Number of seconds for DIAL pacing : 0
(3) Initial COM port your modem is attached to : 1
COMMENTS:
(1) You may change this value to suit your preference
(2) You may change this value to suit your preference
(3) This is for a COM1: setup. Supported ports range
from 1 to 8, but DOS only supports COM1: and COM2:
Hardware-dependent information will be required in
modem setup #3 if you are using a COM port >2.
Press the F10 key to record the changes, then <Esc> to return
to the hardware menu.
Now select option #2, "Modem Setup #2"
Make the following changes:
Message your modem returns when connected : CONNECT
Four messages your modem returns when dialing was unsuccessful:
[NO CARRIER ] [BUSY ] [NO DIAL TONE ] [NO ANSWER ]
Text sent to cancel a redial attempt : DTR
Text received that cancels a redial attempt : RING
Modem initialization text : ATZ{~~~AT&B1{
Modem dial prefix : ATDT
Modem dial suffix : {
Text sent to hang up the modem : DTR
Chars (if any) to be sent twice in BINARY xfers : LEAVE BLANK
Press the F10 key to record the changes, then <Esc> to return to
the hardware menu.
If you are using a COM port address other than 1 or 2, you
should now go to option 3, which will allow you to specify
address/interrupt information for the COM port you are using.
There are no standard assignments for COM ports above 2.
B. Set Runtime Parameters
-------------------------
From the hardware menu, press X to return to the main menu.
Select option #4, 'Runtime Setup'
At the runtime menu, select option #1 'Defaults #1'
Make the following changes:
Do you want to use XON/XOFF : N
(1) Do you want Qmodem to make noise : N
(2) Do you want to add LINEFEEDS to CRs : N
(3) Do you want MUSIC played when found : N
Do you want CTS signal checking : Y DON'T MISS THIS ONE!
Do you want redial to set baud rate : N
Swap the BS to DEL on startup : N
(4) Memory for Stack/Heap in K : 96
(5) Use BIOS screen write method : N
(6) Download buffer blocks : 8
COMMENTS:
(1), (2), (3) are personal preferences; (2) may be required in
certain cases where Line feeds are not sent to your system
following carriage returns.
(4) Stack/heap memory allocation will determine the size of the
scrollback buffer.
(5) BIOS screen writes are much slower than the default direct
screen writes. BIOS writes may be required if you are running
under a multitasker like DDOS or DESQVIEW or if you are using a
weird off-the-wall display system.
(6) You may wish to experiment with this value. One the # of
blocks is filled, QM writes the data to disk. With a very fast
hard disk or a RAM disk, use the lowest value possible (8). If
the number of blocks is very large, you will cause delays when
large amounts of data are written to disk, and you will not take
advantage of disk and COM i/o overlap.
Press the F10 key to save the changes. MAKE SURE YOU PRESS THE
F10 KEY. This will actually update the QMODEM.COM file as well
as the QMODEM.CNF file.
Press <Esc> to return to the Runtime Setup menu.
Select option #2, 'Defaults #2'
Make the following changes:
(1) Does your screen blink when scrolling : N
(2) Status window duration : 1.5
Additional seconds added to transfer timeout : 5
(3) Are you using a PC Jr : N
(4) Connect tones, up to 3 may be defined : 100 200 300
(5) Download completion tone : 1608
(5) Upload completion tone : 1609
(6) Default terminal emulation : B
You may now press the F2, F3, and F4 keys to hear the various
connect , ul and dl completion tones. See comments.
COMMENTS:
(1) Original and cheap Color Graphics Adapters showed 'snow'
when scrolling. If yours does not, don't mess wqith this.
(2) Personal taste
(3) You gotta be kidding! What a waste of an HST modem!
(4) Personal preference
(5) If you can tell the difference between 1608hz and 1609hz, you
ought to rent your ears. Personal preference also. Of course,
you can specify all you want but if you told QModem not to make
noise earlier, you are wasting your time.
(6) ANSI emulation is recommended if you get on BBSs which
display color/graphics screens. There is no need
for the ANSI.SYS device driver; QModem emulates all of its
display functions.
Press F10 to save the changes, then <Esc> to return to the
Runtime Setup menu, then X to return to the main menu.
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have now specified and saved all the parameters required for
proper operation of the HST modem.
If this is the FIRST time you run Qinstall, you should select
the other main menu options for Color/Windows, directories,
etc... Please refer to the QModem documentation for assistance
in completing the remaining tasks in QINSTALL.
STEP 5. START QMODEM
---------------------
At this point, the modem's MR and CS lights should be lit. As
you start QModem, pay attention to the modem's lights.
Start Qmodem. If all is well and you have followed instructions
so far, QModem will establish contact with the HST modem.
During Qmodem startup, the TR and CS lights will come on, the SD
and RD lights will flash briefly, and the MR light will blink
once. The final status of the modem's lights will be TR, MR, RS
and CS all ON.
QModem will display its Copyright Notice, your registration
notice, the screen size, the number of scrollback lines
available, "Qmodem SST Ready", followed by two "OK" replies
received from the modem in answer to the initialization string.
STEP 6. RUN THE HST17 SCRIPT
----------------------------
This is the easiest part. Of course, the HST17.SCR file should
be in the script directory you defined during QINSTALL. To
invoke the script, press Alt-F, and type HST17.SCR in response
to the script name prompt followed by <Enter> twice, indicating
that no script parameters are required.
The script immediately determines the ROM level of your modem;
that message will appear briefly on the screen's upper right
corner. After a few seconds, the HST17 main menu will be
displayed. The HST's ROM level will be displayed in a box near
the lower right corner of the menu.
Select the script's QM option. You will be presented with a
display of the required switch settings first, which you have
completed earlier. Press Enter. The script will then prompt
you for FAST or SLOW operation. Type F for fast and <Enter>. A
series of setup strings will be displayed, each followed by an
"OK" reply from the HST. Upon completion of the setup, you will
be prompted to write the settings to NRAM. Reply Y to this
prompt. Wait a couple seconds for this process to complete,
then <Enter> to return to the main menu. Select 99 to exit the
HST17 script. Reply Y to the last prompt, which resets the
serial speed to the 19200 default. You are 99.8% done.
STEP 7. UPDATE YOUR PHONE DIRECTORY
-----------------------------------
It is a good idea to force the serial speed to its highest
value, 19200, in each phone directory entry. Since both the HST
and Qmodem are smart enough to figure out what speed the
connection was established at, there is no need to indicate
anything but 19200 in the speed column of each directory entry.
At this point, QModem's status line indicates 19200-N-8-1.
You are done.
Almost done, actually.
Dial an HST-equipped BBS. Notice that when the connection is
established, you will receive a CONNECT 9600/ARQ or
CONNECT 19200/ARQ message. Your heart is beating faster, your
palms are sweating, your whole body is shaking and you are
breathless with anticipation.
On PCBoard, change your protocol default to YmodemG by entering
'T G' at the main prompt.
Select a file for download. Once PCB tells you it's waiting to
send you the file, press PgDn. Select G from Qmodem's download
protocol menu, and press <Enter>. Qmodem will search the screen
for a file name, and it finds it 99.5% of the time, and inserts
it into the filename window automatically. Press Enter. Watch
those 1,024-byte blocks being transmitted faster than the old
128-byte Xmodem blocks at 1200bps. Gasp at the average cps
display. Let a few tears roll on your face; you've made it.
Best of success.
You're still almost done. One important step remains.
LAST STEP - REGISTER QMODEM
---------------------------
Of course, you are a Gentleman (or a Lady) and a scholar, and
you have paid the miserly contribution requested by John Friel,
author of Qmodem (QModem is John's only source of income,
incidentally). If you haven't, do so at your earliest
convenience. You will be impressed with the results of this
excellent package and it is well worth whatever John asks for
it. Just think, you could have paid $120 for CrossTalk or $75
for Procomm Plus. Yuck.
DO NOT SEND ME MONEY. I did this as a challenge to learn about
the HST and Qmodem's excellent script language (read the script
itself, it is a standard CR/LF ASCII file), and to help others
reap maximum benefits from this fantastic Qmodem SST/USR HST
combination. If you want to thank me -or curse me, for that
matter-, leave me a message on one of the following excellent
BBSs supporting 9600bps communications via PCBoard software and
USRobotics HST modems:
The Forbin Project, Home of QModem SST (319) 233-6157
The LANS BBS (219) 884-9508/1173/1174/1179
The Executive Network BBS (914) 667-4567
Compudata (609) 232-1245
Professional's Choice (317) 925-9633
Genesis (302) 475-7598
If the HST17 package has been helpful in setting up your HST
modem and QModem 3.1A, and if you do feel generous, please
register QModem if you haven't done so already. If you have,
support Bulletin Boards to the best of your financial ability.
The dedication of Sysops and their huge expense in time and
money to maintain their boards is only equalled by that of people
like John Friel, Vern Buerg, Jim Button, Chuck Forsberg, Phil
Katz, and many others who have provided the personal computing
community with outstanding software at fantastic prices.
Support them also.
Dan Moore
January, 1988