OS/2 Shareware BBS: 3 Comm/03-Comm.zip/bgfax147.zip/READ.ME

Text File | 1995-05-02 | 12KB | 260 lines

If you want to quickly setup BGFAX, UNARJ the "HELPME.ARJ" file...

In it, you will find various step-by-step instructions on how to install
BGFAX with your existing software.  If you are lucky, you won't even need
to look at the BGFAX.DOC file!

<<<  NOW, TAKE THE TIME TO BRIEFLY SCAN OVER THIS FILE  >>>

===========================================================================

One quick note relating to all setups:

   Do NOT use your modem in 'auto answer' mode.  You must make your
   software physically send an answer string to the modem.  Therefore,
   register S0 _must_ be set to 0.  (S0=0).

===========================================================================

Rockwell V.FC and V.34 modems
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It should be noted that many of the Rockwell V.FC modems have flawed
adaptive answering.  (i.e., Many true data calls will be misinterpreted
as fax calls.)  You might want to keep an eye out for this.

It is unknown whether the Rockwell V.34 modems will have repaired adaptive
answering.  The Supra V.34 does have good adaptive answering, but it was
perfected about a week before it started shipping (last week in December
1994).  If you have a Rockwell V.34 modem other than a Supra V.34, it may
exhibit the same flawed behavior as their V.FC counterparts.

How do you know if you have a Rockwell chipset modem?  In terminal mode,
type "AT+FMFR?" to report the datapump/chipset manufactuer.


FD 2.02 (free version)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I strongly recommend using FD 2.12 rather than FD 2.02.  FD 2.12 is much
easier to set up with BGFAX and works much better.  FD 2.02 can be forced
to work with some modems (such as the Supra), but not all of them the way
FD 2.12 can be used.  Just say "no" to FD 2.02 and get FD 2.12.


Binkley
~~~~~~~
A new version of Binkley allows it to exit when a fax response is received,
but it doesn't work properly with all modems.  On many Rockwell-based
modems, for example, when Bink exits to run BGFAX, Bink will drop DTR which
causes the modem to hangup on the fax connection.  This is not good.  :-)

This DTR problem is definately in the DOS version.  It might not be in the
OS/2 version of Binkley.

However, Binkley can be used to internally receive faxes, which can then
be viewed with BGFAX's VIEW.EXE program.


USR owners
~~~~~~~~~~
BGFAX does not work with the 14.4K or 16.8K USR modems (Sportster/Courier).

BGFAX works "kind of" with the USR 21.6K Courier.  The fax firmware is very
nasty in this modem, and you really need to upgrade it to the V.34 28800
modem instead.  You can purchase a new daughtcard for this modem from USR
to upgrade it.

BGFAX will work with the 28.8K modems (V.34 Sportster/V.34 Everything).
Make sure you are using the latest FLASH firmware available for the V.34
Everything.  Currently, this is Supervisor 12/02/94.  Sportster owners will
have to order the new firmware from USR and install the chip themselves.
Owners of Sportster V.FC modems will need to pay $30 (since it adds V.34
into the modem), and owners of Sportster V.34 modems will get it free.

Ignore anything the USR manual says about fax commands.


Hayes owners
~~~~~~~~~~~~
BGFAX has been tested with the Hayes Optima 288 V.FC modem and the V.34
upgrade.

Make sure you are using the 3.10 ROMs.  Use the ATI3 command.  It will
produce a multi-line response.  In the V.FC only model, look for...

    04-00621-310 27232 PASS      <-- Notice the "310", that means 3.10
             ^^^
ATI7 will produce a more human readable response, but it is not reliable.
ATI7 will report the ROM version that ORIGINALLY was in the modem when it
was manufactuered.

If you are using a 14400 version of the Optima or Accura, you will need
to put a minus sign after the com port number so that BGFAX will use an
alternate method of 19200-shifting.  (i.e., po=1- inside the BGFAX.CNF
for COM1, Accura-style 19200 DTE shifting.)  Also, the 14400 Accura does
not like the answer string of "AT+FAE=1;A" like its 28800 counterpart.
You will need to use another initialize string of "AT+FAE=1" and use the
regular answer string of "ATA".


ZyXEL owners
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See the included FD-ZYXEL.TXT file for an example of how to use the ZyXEL
with FD 2.12/SW.

Basically, the init strings are:

ATZ
AT#P713 555 1212
AT#B1+FCLASS=6

And the answer string is "ATA".

The above strings basically use the ZyXEL's special fax mode.  People
report greater success with that method, as compared to using ZyXEL's
Class 2 implementation.  (ZyXEL's Class 2.0 implementation hasn't been
tested by me, as I only have infrequent access to an old 14400-only
ZyXEL, standard E model, not E+).

If you have trouble with BGFAX and the ZYXEL, you can always use REFAX,
or the ZFAX software that comes with your modem.

Supra owners
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I own a Supra 14400 with 1.8 ROMs myself.  I have not tested BGFAX with
the Supra 14400 with the 'newer' 1.4 ROMs (the newer board layout) or with
the Supra LC (14400, low cost alternative).

The Caller ID features in BGFAX's /HOST mode where developed using the
Supra v.32bis (the older 1.8 series) as a reference.

If you are using a Supra 288 V.FC (-16 firmware), the adaptive answering
is broken.  Call the Supra BBS and download the latest FLASH firmware for
the V.FC modem to fix it.

I've heard that some Supra 288 V.34 modems where released with the -18
firmware.  This firmware version has a bug that prevents it from receiving
faxes properly at 9600 bps.  Return to an older version (like -15) or
upgrade to a newer FLASH firmware (it is is available.)

The Supra 288 V.34 modem has very good adaptive answering.  It can even be
tuned, which is unique only to Supra and Multitech.  The tuning is made by
tweaking the S192 register.

    S192=2 (default)   Bad calls logged as "NO CARRIER"
    S192=0 (better)    Bad calls logged as "FAX"

The default value will make the Supra V.34 do adaptive answering like the
Supra V.32bis did.  In this case, the modem will wait for about 1 or 2
seconds before starting a data mode handshake.  If a fax CNG tone is heard
during the initial 1 to 2 second wait, the modem will respond "FAX" and
shift into fax mode.  On bad data calls, the modem will properly log the
failed call as "NO CARRIER".

So, what's bad about the default?  It sounds good, BUT... Many fax machines
out there don't send CNG tones during the first 1-2 seconds.  For example,
if a user tries to send a fax to you from a real-live fax machine, he or she
must hit the 'START' button on some models to make a fax CNG tone.  Many
times the person sending the fax will not hit 'START' until after they hear
noises coming from the modem.  If you use S192=0 (the default), YOU WILL
MISS THIS PARTICULIAR FAX CALL!

If you use the recommended S192=2 setting, the modem will report "FAX", and
you WILL get this fax call.  If getting all fax calls are important, you
should definately use S192=2.  So, there has to be a downside to this, right?
Yes, there is...  If a bad modem handshake occurs, rather than getting a
"NO CARRIER" result, you will get a "FAX" result.  This is the way that
S192=2 is _supposed_ to work.  IT IS NOT A BUG IN THE MODEM.  Many people
don't like 'false' FAX connects and that is why Supra choose to use S192=0
as the default.  So, in summary, if you want reliable fax operation, use
S192=2, just remember you will get the 'FAX' return result when it is
actually a failed handshake of a data call.

Multitech owners
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Multitech offers adaptive answering tuning, just as the Supra V.34.

    AT+FAAMOD=0 is equivilant to Supra V.34's S192=0
    AT+FAAMOD=1 is equivilant to Supra V.34's S192=2

The Multitech Class 2 mode will NOT shift to 19200 when receiving in fax
mode.  Because of this, make sure you put a '!' after the com port to tell
BGFAX that this modem will not need a 19200 DTE shift.  Example command line:

    bgfax /fax c:\bgfax 1! z      <-- keep locked at current rate

If you are able to receive a fax, but are unable to read the fax received
from the Multitech, you might want to add the AT+FBOR=1 string to your
initialization.

Zoom owners
~~~~~~~~~~~
Some Zoom owners have experienced more reliable BGFAX operation when using
the exclaimation point (!, bang) after the port.  This instructs BGFAX to
NOT drop the port speed down to 19200 bps when in fax mode.  Almost all
Class 2 fax modems require this shift.  SOME Zoom modems will not operate
with BGFAX unless you use the "!" after the port.  SOME Zoom modems will
NOT operate if you PUT the "!" after the port.  Just a little warning.

    bgfax /fax c:\bgfax 1 z       <-- change speed to 19200 when receivin
    bgfax /fax c:\bgfax 1! z      <-- keep locked at current rate

If you are using a 28800 Zoom modem, make sure you are using at least
firmware version 1.100.  (ATI3 will show you the version number.)

PPI owners
~~~~~~~~~~
Some of the earlier PPI modems do not include Class 2 fax.  You can buy an
upgrade ROM for approximately $30 that will let you use BGFAX, however, it
will only allow fax speeds up to 9600 rather than 14400.  If you want to
use 14400 fax, you will have to get a new motherboard and datapump that
will cost you about $100.  Most fax machines only support 9600 fax anyway
so this is not that much of a problem.

Please note that most PPI owners are using the newer models that include
both Class 1 and Class 2 fax at speeds up to 14400.  If you think you might
have an older model, issue a "AT+FCLASS=?" command from your terminal
program.  It it responds "0,1" you have an older model that needs the
upgrade in order to use Class 2.  If it responds "0,1,2" you have a newer
model and BGFAX should work fine.

It has been suggested to me by a member of PPI's tech support team, to tell
all users to use the &D3 setting instead of the, more usually used &D2
setting.  This &D3 setting seems to eliminate some 'odd' problems.

If you have the 2.17 version ROMs in your modem, you need to get it
upgraded to 2.30.  Many people reported problems with the 2.17 firmware.
Call PPI Tech Support for info on upgrading.  It should be free, but this
policy may have changed with the recent Hayes fiasco.  Note that if you
have an older FXSA [xA3] modem, you cannot upgrade the 2.17 to 2.30.  If
you have this [xA3] model, you're out of luck.  (The number in brackets
is given by the ATI3 command, and the "x" can be any number.)

If ATI3 reports [9R4] in brackets, you will have either 2.42 or 2.43
firmware.  Be sure to add an S7=125 in your init string.

I've had a few ports that the PM144MT/HCII [xxRx] version 1.03 mistakes
2400 data callers as faxes.  I am not sure if the 2.02 version does this
or not.

PC Logic owners
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The PC Logic adaptive answering seems to not work at all, in the 14400
model.  I haven't tried it with their new v.32terbo modem.  My advice is
to not try running BGFAX on the PC Logic.

DesqView
~~~~~~~~
If you have trouble SENDING faxes under DV, make sure...
            "Optimize Communications=YES"
...in your DV configuration screen

OS/2
~~~~
If you have trouble SENDING faxes under OS/2, make sure you use the native
OS/2 version of BGFAX to do the sending.  The DOS version of BGFAX, if
running in an OS/2 DOS-box, will have trouble using software based flow
control on some modems because of the way SIO handles XON/XOFF characters
when it is set for RTS/CTS flow control mode.  Using BGFAX2.EXE will solve
that problem.