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20.233 bytes |
Service Hints & Tips |
Document ID: YAST-3HHPVZ |
28.8/14.4 PCMCIA Data/Fax Modem w/Integrated DAA - Cellular upgrade kit
Applicable to: World-Wide
Section 1: Cellular Upgrade Kits:
This section contains information on how to load cellular drivers and how to improve cellular communications with the Data/Fax modem. See the online documentation for more information on cellular operation.
A. How To Load Cellular Drivers
B. How to Bring up a Cellular Phone
C. General Cellular Phone Performance Tips
D. Data Communication Tips
E. Fax Communication Tips
F. Online Services
G. Cellular Status and Troubleshooting
A. How To Load Cellular Drivers:
In order to be able to send data across your cellular phone, you must load the cellular driver for your phone into the modem's memory. Data interfaces between phone models vary, so it is important to load the correct driver. If a driver is not loaded, the modem cannot operate as a cellular modem. If a driver is loaded but the landline cable is attached, the modem will operate as a landline modem. The v34flash program has been provided on your Cellular Upgrade Kit Diskette to load the driver into flash memory. You will only have to load the driver once.
(1) Insert the Data/Fax modem into the machine.
(2) Insert the Cellular Upgrade Kit Diskette in your computer's diskette drive
(3) At the DOS prompt or an OS/2 window, type a: (where a is the diskette drive that contains the Cellular Upgrade Kit Diskette) and press Enter.
(4) At the prompt, type v34flash and press Enter.
(5) Follow the displayed instructions.
B. How to Bring up a Cellular Phone:
When bringing up the cellular phone, you can either be in DOS or in your communications software. It is recommended that you are in your communications software only if you can issue AT commands to check status or debug problems.
(1) After the cellular driver has been loaded, get into DOS or your communications software.
(2) Attach the cellular cable to your modem.
(3) Attach the cellular phone to the cable.
(4) Turn on the cellular phone.
(5) Check the status before proceeding further by following one of the procedures under "Cellular Status and Troubleshooting". Your cellular phone is operational when you receive a result code of "176".
C. General Cellular Phone Performance Tips:
To improve cellular performance, issue the following AT initialization strings before utilizing a cellular phone. Locate your cellular phone make and model number from the following list and use its corresponding AT initialization string. Refer to your application software's documentation for further information on how to enter the initialization string.
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Phone (Make/Model #) |
AT Commands |
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Mitsubishi 3500/4000, Diamondtel 20X/22X |
AT&F1-SEC=1,17 |
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Motorola 8 pin flip |
AT&F1-SEC=1,10 |
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NEC P110/P120/TalkTime 180, AT&T 3610 |
AT&F1-SEC=1,14 |
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NEC P700/P701 |
AT&F1-SEC=1,16 |
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OKI 1145/1150, AT&T 3760 |
AT&F1-SEC=1,10 |
Use the MNP10EC command, -SEC=n, exclusively over the MNP10 commands (*Hn, Kn,) Mn @Mn, -Qn, :En). Otherwise you will be mixing protocols and will not receive the full performance advantages of MNP10EC. It is recommended that the remote modem also be MNP10EC compatible for the most reliable data communications. If the remote landline modem is MNP10EC compatible, then the remote landline end should enable MNP10EC by setting the -sec=n command as follows: at-sec=1.
After you issue the AT commands, the Data/Fax modem is ready for cellular use. Certain cellular phone and computer conditions affect cellular performance. Ensure that the following conditions are maintained:
(1) Ensure that the cellular phone battery is at least 3/4 charged.
(2) Ensure that the cellular phone signal is strong. The cellular phone signal should be only 1 or 2 signal strengths below the maximum signal strength. Refer to your Cellular phone manual for further information on signal strength.
(3) Try not to move the cellular phone during cellular use. Moving the cellular phone results in low phone signal strength.
(4) Close applications on your computer other than the cellular phone application during cellular phone use.
D. Data Communication Tips:
Follow these tips to improve data communications:
(1) Use a protocol that has a high degree of error control, such as ZMODEM, to send or receive files. This type of protocol should be on both the local and remote modem. If you send or receive a file with ZMODEM, and the transfer does not complete, re-establish the connection. Send or receive the file again without deleting the partially received file. ZMODEM will pick up where it left off and attempt to transfer the remainder of the file.
(2) If data send or receive problems are encountered, lower the maximum data connection rate using the +MS command.
(3) MNP10EC and MNP10 protocols handle adverse line conditions such as those encountered in cellular communication. If the landline modem does not use one of these two protocols, you may have trouble transferring files between the cellular and landline modems. In this situation, the use of a modem pool may allow you to do file transfers. A modem pool puts a modem between the cellular modem and the landline modem. The modem pool should have at least MNP10-compatible modems to be useful. Contact your cellular carrier to see if they offer modem pools and to learn how to access them.
E. Fax Communication Tips:
If Fax send or receive problems are encountered, lower the Fax maximum send and receive speeds in your Fax application.
F. Online Services:
If you are experiencing problems connecting to online services (for example, America Online, Prodigy, BBS), try reducing the modem speed or try a different access number.
G. Cellular Status and Troubleshooting:
After you load the driver, you may have problems powering up certain phones once they are attached to the cellular cable and modem. Either bring up your communications software or run v34cell described in this section so that the phone will power up.
If you are experiencing problems using the cellular phone or wish to check status, use one of the following procedures to verify the cellular phone is set up correctly.
(1) If your cellular service has issued you a PIN number for security reasons, you will not be able to SEND a call. The typical sequence to make a call is (phone number) SEND (wait for two short rings) (enter PIN) SEND. Currently there is no dial modifier for the SEND key, making it impossible to enter the SEND key for the second time after the PIN. The only solution at this time is to ask your cellular service provider to deactivate your PIN security . Deactivating your PIN security leaves your cellular service open for theft, therefore this is not a wise choice. You may want to return your Cellular Option Kit to IBM until a true solution is available. When a solution is available, you may obtain it from the IBM BBS at 919-517-0001. The filename is 288MOD03.EXE or from the WEB site at http:\\www.ibm,pc.com filename 288MOD03.EXE. A banner in the README.TXT will replace this problem notice with the solution.
(2) If you are using the communication software application that allows you to issue AT commands:
(a) Start up the communication software application.
(b) Type the following AT commands:
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AT Command |
Description |
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at^i |
Displays cellular driver loaded on the modem. |
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at^t6 |
Displays status of cellular phone cable. |
Common result codes for cable status and their meanings:
(See the online documentation for more information)
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Code |
Meaning |
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000 |
The cellular cable is not detected. Try reattaching the cellular cable to the modem. |
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160 |
The cellular cable is detected but the cellular phone is not detected. Try reattaching the cellular cable to the cellular phone. Verify that the cellular phone is powered on. |
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184 |
There is no cellular phone service. |
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176 |
The cellular phone is operational. |
(3) If you are unable to issue AT commands other than an initialization string with your communication software application, or you would simply like to use the v34cell utility, do the following:
(a) Insert the Data/Fax modem into the machine.
(b) Insert the Cellular Upgrade Kit diskette in your computer's diskette drive.
(c) At the DOS prompt or an OS/2 window, type a: (Where a is the diskette drive that contains the Cellular Upgrade Kit Diskette) and press Enter.
(d) At the prompt, type v34cell and press Enter.
(e) Follow the displayed instructions.
You will be able to:
(a) Verify that the correct cellular driver is loaded.
(b) Verify that the correct level of microcode is loaded.
(c) Determine the status of the cellular phone cable.
(See the result codes previously defined for at^t6.)
If you switch from a cellular connection to a landline connection without powering off the computer or reinserting the PC card, you can receive an error when issuing AT commands. Power off the computer or reinsert the PC card to reset the modem and avoid the error.
SECTION 2 : Installation Tips:
For most installations the modem does not require any additional software. When you run the Setup program from the modem diskette, the program will determine if your computer has the software required to use the modem. For the Setup program to configure your computer correctly, we recommend that you insert the modem in an available PC Card socket prior to starting Setup. If you have more then one socket and use other PC Card products, insert the other PC Cards into the other sockets.
NOTE: For most applications it is recommended that you select the default values when presented with choices during the installation process.
SECTION 3 : Plug and Play Tip for Microsoft Windows 3.1:
Be sure that your modem is inserted in a socket BEFORE starting Microsoft Windows 3.1. If the modem was not inserted then Windows will not recognize the modem. (This applies to other PC Cards as well.) If the modem is not recognized then your application programs may display messages such as "com port not supported", "modem not responding", "unable to open the selected port", or "unable to open port: com x".
SECTION 4 : What are Card & Socket Services?:
Your modem requires that both Card Services and Socket Services be present on your computer. Both interfaces will usually be provided with your computer or operating system, as is the case with IBM PC DOS 6.1 or higher. Together they allocate system resources and allow for the insertion and removal of PC Cards without computer reconfiguration or electrical damage.
Card Services is a software management interface that allows system resources (such as I/O ports, memory, and interrupt) to be allocated automatically when it has detected that a PC Card has been inserted. Client drivers call Card Services to allocate and de-allocate system resources. When Socket Services detects the insertion or removal of a PC Card, it sends notification to Card Services. Card Services then notifies its registered client drivers, such as V34IMDOS.SYS, that they should allocate or de-allocate resources.
Many vendors are providing customers with generic enablers (sometimes referred to as super enables), these are drivers that will enable many different PC Cards. PC-DOS 6.1 or higher includes one called PCMSCD.EXE, for example. Other generic enablers are AUTODRV.SYS (included with EZPlay) and CARDID.EXE (included with System Soft PC Card Software).
SECTION 5 : Phoenix Card & Socket Services:
If you are using Phoenix Card & Socket Services with the Data/Fax Modem Driver and having problems, then the following information will be helpful. This information does not apply if you are using the Phoenix Super Client Driver (PCMSCD.EXE).
Sometimes the Data/Fax Modem Driver will be assigned to a com port (communication port) that is already being used. To see if this is the problem do the following:
To resolve this problem:
1. Use an editor and edit the "config.sys" file.
2. In the config.sys file find the following line: DEVICE={drive}\{path}\V34IMDOS.SYS /BEEP
where {drive} is the drive and {path} is the path where "V34IMDOS.SYS" is located.
Add the following after "/BEEP": COMX 0x0<nnn> <q>
where <nnn> is a available com port address and <q> is the corresponding IRQ number
Examples of standard com port addresses and corresponding IRQs are given below:
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Com Port Address |
IRQ |
|
3F8 |
4 |
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2F8 |
3 |
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3E8 |
3 or 4 or 5 |
|
2E8 |
3 or 4 or 5 |
Choose a Com Port Address and IRQ that were not being used in MSD. Example: If Com Port Address "2F8" was not being used (this address was not listed in MSD comma port addresses), then choose this port for the Data/Fax Modem. The line in your config.sys file should now be:
DEVICE={drive}/{path}/V34IMDOS.SYS /BEEP COMX 0x02F8 3
SECTION 6. Tips for using the Modem Device Driver for OS/2 2.1:
A Modem Device Driver for OS/2 2.1 (V34IM.SYS) is included on this diskette. Versions of OS/2 higher than 2.1 include the PCMCIA Auto Configurator (AUTODRV2.SYS) which should be used instead of V34IM.SYS.
If no command line options are used with V34IM.SYS then it will default to COM 2. There are command line options to change the COM port selection. (See "Changing COM Port and IRQ" in the on-line help.)
If the selected COM port is unavailable then V34QUERY will report that the modem is unconfigured. If this should happen then you will need to find an available COM port or make the selected COM port available. To configure V34IM.SYS to use a different COM port, modify the command line options for V34IM.SYS in the CONFIG.SYS and then shutdown OS/2 and re-boot. (See "Changing COM Port and IRQ" in the on-line help)
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Hint Category |
Performance, Hardware Installation/Configuration, PCMCIA (PC Card), Modems | |
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Date Created |
28-05-97 | |
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Last Updated |
05-04-99 | |
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Revision Date |
02-04-2000 | |
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Brand |
IBM Options | |
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Product Family |
Modems | |
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Machine Type |
28.8K | |
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Model |
25H6420 | |
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TypeModel |
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Retain Tip (if applicable) |
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