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- MODEM SWITCH SETTING AND CONSIDERATIONS 11-1
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- 11. MODEM SWITCH SETTING AND CONSIDERATIONS
- -------------------------------------------
- Recognizing that there are many "Hayes-compatible" (and not so compatible)
- modems in use, this section is intended to assist those adventurous souls
- who wish to properly configure a modem for use with RBBS-PC. By explaining
- what RBBS-PC expects from a modem, we hope you can determine how to set
- your modem to provide what RBBS-PC expects.
-
- There are three levels of modem configurations:
-
- 1) Hardware switches. These are physical switches that can be turned on
- or off to control modem functions. RBBS-PC tries NOT to rely on these
- switches, since other software you use may require different settings.
- Many modems have software overrides for these switches, and RBBS-PC
- will use them when possible. If your modem has hardware switches, you
- will want to concentrate on them first. Find out what functions are
- selected by switches that CANNOT be overridden by firmware or software
- commands.
-
- 2) Firmware switches. These are software commands that you can issue to
- the modem, and then tell the modem to "remember" these settings, even
- after the modem is powered off. RBBS-PC tries NOT to rely on these
- switches, for the same reason it avoids hardware switches. However,
- there are usually switch settings that must be set for use with
- RBBS-PC.
-
- 3) Software commands. These are "temporary" commands sent to the modem,
- that will be erased when the modem is turned off. RBBS-PC does most
- of the configuration via software commands, to allow the most
- flexibility in modem operation.
-
- RBBS-PC requires a modem to provide certain functions to ensure proper
- operation. By studying these requirements, you should be able to find a
- combination of hardware, firmware and software settings to satisfy all
- these needs:
-
- - Modem result codes. Most modems offer both verbose and numeric
- results to modem commands. RBBS-PC expects VERBOSE codes, as in:
-
- RING When the phone is ringing
- CONNECT When carrier is established
- CONNECT 2400 MNP When a reliable 2400 bps call is established.
-
- - Carrier Detection. RBBS-PC expects the modem to raise and lower the
- CARRIER DETECT signal (RS-232 pin 8) to properly reflect the presence
- of a caller.
-
- - Data Terminal Ready. RBBS-PC expects the modem to properly respond to
- DTR. When RBBS-PC turns DTR off, any call should be terminated and
- the modem should reset.
-
- - Ring counter. RBBS-PC expects the modem to count the number of times
- the phone rings, and provide this count when a "count modem rings"
- command is sent.
-
- CONFIG parameter 225 allows the SysOp to set modem commands use by RBBS-PC.
- The commands that you can set are:
-
-
-
- RBBS-PC 17.3A TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL 11-2
-
-
- 1) RESET THE MODEM. This command is sent when RBBS-PC wants the modem
- returned to its initial configuration (including any changes saved in
- firmware). Normally, the command used is: ATZ
-
- 2) INITIALIZE THE MODEM. This is the SOFTWARE initialization, used by
- RBBS-PC each time it recycles. Any commands needed to put your modem
- into "RBBS-PC mode" should go here. For generic Hayes-compatible
- modems, the command would be: ATE0M0Q0V1X1S0=254S2=255S10=20
-
- The sub-command S0=254 is important to this string. RBBS-PC uses this
- to control how it answers the phone. Use:
-
- S0=001 to answer on 0 rings
- S0=254 to answer on 1 or more rings, no ring-back
- S0=255 to answer on 1 or more rings, with ring-back
-
- 3) COUNT RINGS. RBBS-PC uses this command to ask the modem how many
- times the phone has rung. For Hayes-compatible modems, this command
- should be: ATS1?
-
- 4) ANSWER PHONE. RBBS-PC uses this command to tell the modem to answer
- the phone. This is normally: ATA
-
- 5) TAKE PHONE OFF HOOK. RBBS-PC uses this command to "busy the line"
- when recycling, or when the SysOp drops to DOS when the node is idle.
- This is normally: ATH1M0
-
- 6) CLEAR FIRMWARE. This command is used to reset the modem's firmware to
- "factory defaults." CONFIG uses it before programming the modem's
- firmware. Normally, this is: AT&F
-
- 7) INITIALIZE FIRMWARE. This command sets any firmware settings that are
- needed to satisfy RBBS-PC's modem requirements. The settings will
- vary greatly from modem to modem.
-
- 8) WRITE MODEM'S FIRMWARE. This command is used to make the settings in
- command 7 permanent. Usually, this is: AT&W
-
- Appendix D contains configuration for several modem brands. This
- information may serve as a guide to configuring your modem. If you make
- any discoveries about the interaction between your modem and RBBS-PC,
- please share them with the RBBS-PC authors, so that the information can be
- given to others.
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-