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technote.txt
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1995-01-14
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STraight FAX! 2.20 Tech Support Notes
=====================================
(C) 1994-95 NewSTar Technology Management
01/14/95
Note:
The following recommendations are based on test results that we
have conducted at NewSTar Technology Management. These
recommendations have proven successful in our testing.
Individual results may vary, depending on the computer model,
TOS version, serial port used, FAX Modem, etc.
1. The STraight FAX! Master disk contains 3 patch programs (from
Atari) that are for the following computers/TOS versions:
a) TOS14FX2.PRG TOS 1.04 (520 ST, 520STFM 1040ST, Mega ST2/4 & STacy)
b) SERPTCH2.PRG TOS 2.05 (Mega STe) TOS 3.05 (TT030)
c) FPATCH2.PRG TOS 4.00-4.04 (Falcon030)
If you have one of these TOS versions, the STraight FAX! 2.20
Installation program will detect this and display a dialog box
that will allow for installation of the proper patch.
If you do not know how to determine the TOS version in your computer,
please refer to #15 below.
2. There are additional patch programs that either replace or
work in addition to the Atari patch programs, depending on the
TOS version in use.
If the computer is any model prior to a Falcon030, i.e. any ST,
Mega ST, STe, Mega STe or TT030 model, with a TOS version of
1.00 through 3.06, then the Serial Fix 2.0 third party patch
program is recommended for installation in the AUTO folder. This
should be used in place of one of the above Atari patch programs
for TOS versions 1.04, 2.05 or 3.05 and should also be used for
other TOS versions (1.00, 1.02, 1.06, 1.062, 2.06, 3.06).
Use of RTS/CTS Flow Control requires the Serial Fix 2.0 patch to
be installed in the AUTO folder.
Serial Fix 2.0 includes a CPX module that allows locking the
RTS/CTS Flow Control mode on the serial port (Modem Port/Modem
1). STraight FAX! versions 2.00 and higher will override the
RTS/CTS lock when accessing the Serial Port and restore the
state of the RTS/CTS lock afterwards.
Note: Do not install Serial Fix 2.0 at the same time as either
TOS14FX2 or SERPTCH2. Serial Fix 2.0 contains the capabilities
of these patch programs, so they should not be installed with
Serial Fix 2.0, otherwise these patches may conflict with Serial
Fix 2.0.
Serial Fix 2.0 (SERFX20.LZH) is available from our support BBS
and from the Atari ST support areas on major on-line services.
The file listing for Serial Fix 2.0 on GEnie is listed below:
Number: 27506
Name: SERFX20.LZH
Address: BPENNER
Date: 930130
Approximate # of bytes: 10880
Number of Accesses: 521
Library: 2
Description:
Serial Fix 2.0 is a patch program to correct a couple problems
with use of ST/STe/TT Modem 1 port (or the only serial port for
older ST's) with high speed modems requiring RTS/CTS operation.
This version also includes SERPATCH and TOS14FIX from Atari and
will automatically implement what fixes are required for your
version of TOS. Serial Fix 2.0 is a universal fix and works
with TOS versions 1.0 through 2.06 and 3.0 through 3.06
---------------
Use Quester's LHARC201 (lh5) to extract.
Keywords: serial,fix,patch,rs232,modem,serpatch,tos14fix
3. If the computer is a Falcon030 with TOS versions 4.00 through
4.04, then the Atari patch FPATCH2.PRG should be installed in
the AUTO folder. When FPATCH2.PRG is installed, the Serial Port
used by STraight FAX! should be set to "Device 7 (Modem Port)".
Device 6 should not be used, as it is not connected to any
physical RS-232 connector on the Falcon030.
The Bconmap Fix 2 third party patch program is recommended to be
installed in the AUTO folder so that it runs after FPATCH2.PRG.
Bconmap Fix 2 will allow STraight FAX! (and other applications)
to work with Device 6 or Device 7 as the Serial Port on the
Falcon030.
Bconmap Fix 2 (BMAPFIX2.LZH) is available from our support BBS
and from the Atari ST support areas on major on-line services.
The file listing for Bconmap Fix 2 on GEnie is listed below:
Number: 30081
Name: BMAPFIX2.LZH
Address: H.CARSON1
Date: 930918
Approximate # of bytes: 2688
Number of Accesses: 168
Library: 2
Description:
This is the latest version of the Bconmap Fix program for the
Falcon Auto Folder. It can also be run as a program from the
desktop. It should be plac aced after FPATCH2.PRG in your Auto
Folder. It is a final (hopefully!) serial port fix.
---------------
Note: Sysop unable to verify proper operation of file.
Use Quester's LHARC201 (lh5) to extract.
Keywords: Falcon,Bconmap,Auto,FPATCH2,Serial port,
4. STraight FAX! will operate will all TOS versions known to
date, including TOS 1.00 through TOS 4.04 and MultiTOS. However
for optimal operation of RS-232 and File I/O, a newer TOS
version is strongly recommended.
For 520 ST, 520STFM, Mega ST 2/4 and STacy computers, TOS 1.04
can be installed in either a 2 chip or 6 chip configuration.
For 520 ST, 520STFM, Mega ST 2/4 and STacy computers, TOS 2.06
can be installed in either a 2 chip configuration using an
add-on card, such as the TEC board from Codehead Technologies.
For the STe and MegaSTe, TOS 2.06 can be installed in 2 chip
configuration.
For the TT030, TOS 3.06 can be installed in 2 chip configuration.
For the Falcon030, TOS 4.04 can be installed in a single chip
configuration.
TOS Version Recommendation Table
================================
Computer Model First Choice Second Choice
-------------- ------------ -------------
520ST 2.06 1.04
520STFM 2.06 1.04
1040ST 2.06 1.04
MegaST 2/4 2.06 1.04
STacy 2.06 1.04
STe 2.06 1.062/1.06
Mega STe 2.06 2.05
TT030 3.06 3.05
Falcon030 4.04 n/a
Please contact your Atari dealer for TOS upgrade availability.
5. STraight FAX! supports both older FAX Modems that do not
support automatic baud rate sensing and newer FAX Modems (such
as those that support V.42bis, V.32 and V.32bis Data
communications) that do support automatic baud rate sensing.
If the FAX Modem supports automatic baud rate sensing, then the
Auto Baud parameter in the Modem Preferences should be enabled.
This will allow for faster initialization of the FAX Modem. If
FAX modem does not support automatic baud rate sensing, then the
Auto Baud parameter should be disabled.
While most FAX Modems that support automatic baud rate sensing,
will operate with the Auto Baud parameter in either state, there
are some FAX Modems that support automatic baud rate sensing,
that will not properly initialize if the Auto Baud parameter is
disabled. In particular, the Zoom AFX and other FAX Modems based
on the same Rockwell FAX Modem chipset require that the Auto
Baud parameter be enabled. These FAX Modems are Class 1 only FAX
Modems that send at a maximum baud rate of 9600 baud, but
receive at a maximum baud rate of 4800 baud and are 2400 baud
data modems. This is a relatively inexpensive FAX Modem by
current standards and sells in the under $100 range.
6. The RS-232 communications can also be enhanced by increasing
the size of the RS-232 I/O Buffers for the specified Serial
Port. Increasing the I/O Buffers can be accomplished using an
external utility such as the AUXINIT.PRG (placed in the AUTO
folder) that comes with Gribnif's STalker 3 terminal program.
STraight FAX! also allows increasing the I/O Buffer sizes in the
Modem Preferences. Increase the size up to 32767 bytes for both
the Input and Output buffers for maximum throughput.
7. Older model US Robotics Sportster FAX Modems will have
problems connecting to certain FAX Machines, such as Pitney
Bowes FAX Machines. These Sportsters can be identified by the
serial number on the bottom of the FAX Modem.
If the serial number starts with 00026801 or higher for the
Sportster 14400 FAX Modem or 00026501 for the Sportster 9600 FAX
Modem, then the Sportster is a newer model. Please contact US
Robotics if the Sportster is an older model.
If the Sportster