I'm sure everyone who has purchased an AV with a GeoPort Telecom Adapter has marveled at its capabilities. However, the Express Modem Installer that is bundled with the Adapter has only one ARA script (CCL). The files I am uploading, however, may prove more invaluable to those who have purchased AVs and GeoPort Telecom Adapters for ARA use, but are looking for more control and flexibility. In this post are ARA Scripts for the Adapters that limit them to certain speeds - 2400, 4800, 7200, 9600, 12000, 14400, and Best (matches highest speed of host modem, like the original).
As an example, let's say you're using a Telecom Adapter to connect to an ARA server, possibly Long-Distance. If it at first connects at, say, 14.4K and then the lines get too bad, it freezes or disconnects (and you don't have any status lights for it, so you don't know what happened until it's too late!). I personally pulled out a few hairs when I kept trying to connect to the Vanderbilt University ARA server (which uses 14.4s), only to be immediately cut off when the line really couldn't support it from where I was calling. These files give you a way to call a service and force a lower, more reliable speed (no matter what the remote modem is running at), just like another helpful AOL user posted for the PowerBook Express Modems (which DO NOT work with the G.T.A.s). In my opinion, this is a MUST-HAVE; otherwise, you have to keep trying to establish a connection, and pray it's stable. No longer.
Just take these files and place them in your Extensions Folder, then select one using the Remote Access Setup control panel (be sure to specify "Geoport," not "Modem port"). It does NOT matter if "Use Express Modem" or "Use External Modem" is selected in the Express Modem control panel - ARA will work fine either way. I keep "Use Express Modem" selected, so that my telecommunications software can use the "modem" without having to switch them back and forth. These are named differently, so that they will not overwrite your existing Geoport Telecom Script, if you ever want to use it again.
If you're curious, I used the Modem Workshop stack and inserted an S37=x command in just the right place in the script before it tries to originate a call. This register controls the desired speed, where x represents: 6=2400 (minimum ARA rate), 7=4800, 8=7200, 9=9600, 10=12000, and 11=14400 (the last two are not documented in the Express Modem Manual). 0 is the default and represents highest possible speed. This revision will also limit INCOMING calls to that speed. I have also inserted an S11=60 in all scripts - this makes dialing much faster. I have put in a 10 second automatic redial feature directly into the scripts as a final revision (it may not be a good idea to use these scripts with ARAClient 2.03 if it's redial feature is enabled - funky things may happen if both the CDEV and the script want to redial! - use the 1.1 scripts if you employ that utility, and use these 1.2 scripts for standard ARA).
Version History
1.2 - Incorporated a 10 second automatic redial until the modem connects
1.1 - Incorporated faster dialing into all scripts. (S11=60)
1.0 - Initial release. (S37 registers added to govern speed)
I'm sure these will come in handy to some of you - if so, I'd appreciate an E-Mail thanking me for my efforts, or to report any problems. (Actually, I want to see how widespread these get ;-} If there are necessary revisions, just let me know, and I'll work on it. They're free, of course. Seeya!
