Version 5.2 is a maintenance release of version 5.0.
For those of you familiar with Modem Doctor, here is a brief look at the improved and added features of version 4.0. If you are new to Modem Doctor, take a look at the users manual file (MDRFIRST.TXT) that accompanies your Modem Doctor package.
Some of the improved and added features of Modem Doctor 4.0 include;
1) Expanded on-line help. Each menu section has help available from the main menu or by pressing ALT-H.
2) Expanded use of hot keys -
a) Alt-F is now a force micro on/off line toggle.
b) Alt-B changes baud.
c) Alt-H selects help (as noted above).
All of these keys operate, even inside of menu selections.
3) Improved Menu system -
a) Selection Bar remembers your last selection.
b) Escape or left-right arrows quit a selection menu.
4) New Alert-Bar functions point out setup or assignment errors.
5) New Diagnostics and enhancement of some previous diagnostics
a) Setup Mode
1) Maximum Baud rate is now 56k.
2) Confirms Uart Dlab register sets to the correct baud rate.
3) Expanded Error message explanations.
4) Checksum test of Modem microprocessor memory.
5) Addition of a Color Selection Mode
- You can use default colors, monochrome shades or save a color setup to a file (MDR.CFG).
b) Options Mode (formerly Manual Mode) expanded to include a report generator which keeps track of which diagnostics have been run and how successful they have been. You can use this menu to;
1) View current statistics.
2) Reset them to zero.
3) Print them to a file or a printer.
c) Loopback tests
1) Speed of Digital test improved for tri-state uarts to equal speed of 8250's.
2) Auto-detection of IRQ failures.
d) Carrier tests
1) Auto detection of carrier fallback to a slower baud rate (important for fixed-DTE modems).
2) Auto detection of IRQ failures.
3) Addition of Several new modems for comprehensive carrier tests.
4) Future file capability. Modem Drivers can be accessed from an external file which makes it possible to update support for new or custom modems without updating to a new version of software. Any future use of this (with the exception of custom-created drivers) will be at no cost.
e) Login
1) Checks for proper DOS assigned COM1 and COM2 addresses, prompts user for correction if desired.
f) Regs
1) Addition of several handshaking tests to make sure that modems and computers are communicating properly. You can set your modem to use this handshaking for the tests or to use its current default settings;
a) DTR/DSR & RTS/CTS - This test checks that handshaking signals are implemented between the modem and the Uart.
b) Dynamic RTS/CTS - The RTS signal to the modem is dropped and characters are sent in a simulated carrier connection. If the modem works properly, it will not send any characters back to the Uart until the RTS line is raised again.
c) Dynamic Xon/Xoff - This works like the RTS/CTS test except it uses the Xon/Xoff ascii characters as its control mechanism.
What's New in Modem Doctor Version 6.0
For those of you familiar with Modem Doctor, here is a brief look at the improved and added features of version 6. If you are new to Modem
Doctor, take a look at the users manual file (MDRFIRST.TXT) that accompanies your Modem Doctor package.
1) Adds IRQ support for IRQ's 7-15 for AT Class Computers with dual Priority Interrupt Controller Chips.
2) Improves 16550AFN tests. Buffers are tested 14 levels deep (instead of 8) in both normal and new "burst mode" tests.
3) Tests for FAX modems, indicates Fax Group and Class.
4) Increase Baud Rate to 115200 in registered version.
5) Diagnostic Toggle mode for DTR and RTS signals, helpful in finding bad cables or missing signals in cables.
6) Improved Modem Recognition and Modem Drivers.
7) Burst and Signature Rate Tests for Analog loop and Carrier.
8) Support for DIGIBOARD Comm ports via the Digiboard Driver.
9) Improve FOSSIL throughput routines.
10) Detects AT, PS-2 and Dual Bus Computers, Supports Dual 8259 PIC's.
11) Support for Digiboard Intelligent Serial ports that use Digiboard's TSR comm port driver. Modem Doctor can test and support up to 4 boards with a maximum of 16 serial ports on each board.
In addition to these new features, existing commands have been enhanced or rewritten to accommodate the changing technical features of
contemporary hardware.
1) Manual Login feature active in both shareware and registered versions.
2) New /E switch to accommodate older display adapters (IBM 8541's) that use Com4's address as a video display adapter address.
3) Improved interrupt stack routines for PS/2 machines.
4) Support for 28.8kbps modems.
5) Improved uart hardware I/O routines.
6) Default startup mode uses polled TX operations. Some uarts in inexpensive modems have a well-know defect detected by Modem Doctor and other communication program authors that cause transmit interrupt problems. You can change this selection with the ALT-T command at any time
7) Accommodations for BOCA modems with non-standard uarts. The Line Status registers of most uarts are meant to be read only except for bit 1. In the BOCA uarts, all bits are read/write, causing communication lockups. Uart routines in Modem Doctor have been changed to work with this problem.
