#New modem settings
28 messages in this thread
Betty,
I just received my Supra V.32bis and I love it so far. I made a beautiful
fax cover page and tested it on friends. Looks great and worked like a
dream.
Question: the tech guy at CI$ suggested I disable MNP 5 & error correction
for a faster connection to CI$. Good idea? I can't find my forum notes on
the subject. I have both baud & buffer in prefs set to the highest setting
and speed in Whap! to 38400: the modem is at factory setting for now. Am I
on the right track?
Also I can't get BackTalk to connect at 300 baud. I followed your
instuctions (I think) went to options, saved a 300 configuation, went to
phone book, checked the box next to configuration, loaded it, dialled and
was connected at 2400! 3 times. I even double checked the NYC 300 & 2400
numbers, (they are the same.)
Thanks, Gracia
– via Coolwhap
Gracia,
I've got a PPI rather than a Supra, but the connect to CIS should
be the same. Use v43.bis rather than MNP-5. As to connecting at 300 baud,
you must lock your modem at 300 baud (on the PPI that is done by setting
the terminal rate to 300 baud and initializing via an AT&Q0 [<—that's a
zero, not the letter 'o'] before dialing.
CIS 300/1200/2400 baud modems and your modem will attempt to
connect at the highest common speed (2400) unless you lock your modem to a
lower speed.
Don
Gracia,
With the supra, you must set the S37 reg to the locked in speed. The
settings are in your manual.
JOHN – The Lost Southerner!!
John,
Thanks to you also (I got a few answers). Never thought one would have to
do that for a simple conference call!!!
Gracia
– via Coolwhap
JOhn,
You addressed your message meant for Gracia to me.
However, on the PPI and I would presume on the Supra, the default
for S37 should be 0…meaning the maximum speed for the connect would be
the speed of the last AT command. Thus, setting your terminal to 300 baud
would also have the effect of setting the max speed for the connect to 300
baud.
Don
Don Curtis
The Supra book says what you said about 0 being the rate of the last AT
commandissued or 14400(9600) bps if last command speed was greater than
14400(9600)bps (default)
1 300 bps
5 1200 bps
6 2400 bps
8 4800 bps
9 9600 bps
10 12000 bps
11 14400 bps
12 7200 bps
These are what supra list as their assignable bps settings in the S37 reg.
JOHN – The Lost Southerner!!
John,
So…then you leave it at 0, set your terminal to 300 baud, turn
off error correction (with the &Q0) and dial in. The AT in the dial
command will do the equivalent of setting s37 to 1.
There's no reason for the computer to modem speed to be any
different than the modem-modem speed at 300 baud.
Don
Don,
Your correct, however, I never set my modem to 300 baud. I always leave it
set to the max – computer to modem 38400 and modem at 14400. When I
connect, the other parts take over and eather slow down or accept what I
set.
JOHN – The Lost Southerner!!
John,
Oh…by the way…interesting difference between Supra's S27
register settings and PPI's. One would presume that since PPI is owned by
Hayes, their S37 register "meanings" would be the "proper" Hayes compatible
values:
PPI meanings Supra meanings
1…[nothing noted] 300 bps
2…[nothing noted] [nothing noted]
3…300 bps [nothing noted]
4…[nothing noted] [nothing noted]
5…1200 bps 1200 bps (both same)
6…2400 bps 2400 bps (both same)
7…4800 bps [nothing noted]
8…7200 bps 4800 bps
9…9600 bps 9600 bps (both same)
10..12000 bps 12000 bps (both same)
11..14400 bps 14400 bps (both same)
12..[nothing noted] 7200 bps
Don
Don,
Thanks, makes a lot of sense. Too much info for an old lady to learn in a
short life time!!
Gracia
– via Coolwhap
Don,
I'm considering buying a high-speed modem. Does any Hayes-compatible
modem work or are some better than others? I've seen some very low-priced
units in ads.
>>>>>Skip (SKP Graphics) <<<<<
Skip,
Many of the newer high speed modems (14.4kbps via v32.bis) are
based on the Rockwell chip set. For example, the Supra is based on this.
There have been stories about problems with that chip set, such as
unexplained disconnects; however, reading stories from folks here who have
the Supra…I see little evidence of that.
On the other hand, some modems are based on the AT&T chip set used
in AT&T's top of the line Paradyne modems (these are in the multi-thousand
dollar price range) and I have one of those modems…in particular, the
Practical Peripherials PM14400FXSA.
I choose the PPI over the Supra for a few reasons. One, the AT&T
chip set. We use Paradyne's at work and they're flawless. My experience
with the PPI is likewise. The second reason was PPI has a lifetime
warranty. It breaks, they fix it…period. Third, PPI is owned by
Hayes…so they darn well ought to be Hayes compatible.
Both are Fax modems, the Supra has Amiga FAX software available for
it, the PPI comes with MS-DOS based FAX software. The Supra costs a bit
less.
There are other differences between the PPI and the Supra. The PPI
has a 14 character LCD display. The Supra has a 2 character LED display.
The Supra is quite a bit smaller in size.
My own personal reccomendation would be the PPI, but I also don't
think you'd be disappointed in the Supra if that's what you want.
As to any other modem, I couldn't say.
Don
One of the differences I've also noticed in the two Modems, is that the
PPI, maybe due to it's larger case, operates MUCH cooler than the Supra…
and I believe a couple of folks here have reported that their SUPRAs
failed after being on for long periods of time. I don' tknow if that is
_really_ a problem or not, but it is something that others have noted.
I love my PPI 1440FXSA. PPI has stated that when the Class 2 fax spec is
ratified, the 14400FXSA will be made Clas 2 fax compatible. In the
meantime, I'm using QLII MAC FAX s/w with my AMAX+ card, and it is the
must reliable computer fax I have ever used. And I've tried abunch of them
(but _not_ the Supra fax s/w).
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael,
I don't have access to a Supra v32.bis modem, but my old Supra 2400
baud modem did run a bit warm…although that didn't seem to hurt it. But
like you, my PPI runs so cool…I can't feel any heat coming from it.
And I use the QLII FAX software that came with it for MS-DOS on my
XT BB side and it works just fine.
Don
Don,
Thanks for the run-down on the 2 modems. Whats the PPI modem go for,
BTW?
A few of the local boards in my area have the Supras and have been
having problems regarding recognising users with different baud-rates. At
first they thought it to be software related on the BBS side as some are
using BBS-PC, but it seems a certain chip was to be replaced by Supra that
fixed the problems. My problem with that was that 2 friends of mine went
through the same hassles with them with their SCSI controllers.
So thats why I was wondering about some of the cheaper modems out there
that are intended for other platforms, I suppose. I wasn't sure if a modem
was a modem was a modem, if you know what I mean. Just different cases.
Thanks again.
Oh. I'm not sure if I missed any other replies to my question as WHAP!
has been having some trouble with AmigaUser lately. My apologies if I've
missed anyone….
>>>>>Skip (SKP Graphics) <<<<<
Margaret… to check the version of AMAX, open a shell and type:
VERSION <path/programname>
For instance, on my system, here's what I get:
5.SYSTEM:AMAX> version A-Max_Startup
A-Max II V2.51.
5.SYSTEM:AMAX>
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael,
I believe this message was meant for Margaret or else you spelled my
name wrong<g>.
>>>>>Skip (SKP Graphics) <<<<<
oops <g>
Skip,
External modems are generic…that is, they should work on any
computer with an RS232 serial port…internal modems are, of course, a
different matter.
Some of the parts inside modems (such as the chip set it's based
on) are also generic…a few companies make the chips and then sell them to
modem manufacturers. Same thing with the CPU in the modem (yes…modems
are little computers all by themselves). They're made by a few different
folks, and the modem manufacturers buy them and use them in their modems.
HOwever, the firmware that runs the modem (the ROM on the modem) is
specific to each manufacturer, as are the quality of the rest of the
internal parts.
Don
Don,
So I should really stick with a modem intended for use with an Amiga.
Not that another wouldn't work but this way I'd be sure. Right?
>>>>>Skip (SKP Graphics) <<<<<
Personally, I go for the external modems, unless it is a matter of desk
space, that can't be resolved.
My reasons are:
1. It doesn't take up a slot, and uses your serial port for something
worthwhile. You have an extra slot free now, and also you have less heat
load/power drain going on inside the machine.
2. Not all modem drivers are created equal. Since you aren't using your
serial port, you aren't using "serial.device", the modem manufacturer, has
to write a device driver for your internal modem. Some drivers are flaky.
Whap! has one that it won't talk to, and some software has to be patched
to work with any modem. Thus external Hayes commnad set compatible
(allmost all modems these days) are the easiest to get going.
3. If you ever buy another computer, your external modem will work with it.
An Amiga specific internal modem may not work. You would have to buy
another Amiga with the same bus structure, and the driver would have to be
compatible, or you would have to be able to get a compatible driver. So if
you bought a new Amiga 5000 and the slots were different, or heaven forbid,
a different brand of computer, you might have a modem that you could no
longer use.
4. Troubleshooting. When you are having problems, those little lights on
the front are a lot of help. You can tell when you've made a good
connection, whether data is flowing, and which end of the hook-up died.
While there are programs that try to simulate those little lights on the
screen, they aren't entirely satisfactory, in my eyes.
There is the argument that by the time you buy a new machine, that the
modem is outdated anyway. Well, this could be, but I still have my 1200
baud modem that I use on occasion, with one of the other computers I own,
for testing my BBS changes, and also other little projects.
My 2400 baud modem was originally hooked to my 1000, it is now hooked to my
3000. I'm getting ready to go 9600, but it also was hooked to my 2000 in
between. Had I bought it internal for my XT….
[ MORE ]
Alex,
Thanks alot for the help. I tend to agree with you re internal/external
modems. Another arguement I've heard against internals is that you can't
hear what's going on, whether it be the dial-tone, or a voice on the other
end of either a wrong number or a changed number.
Thanks.
>>>>>Skip (SKP Graphics) <<<<<
Some internals do have speakers, but you darn near have to stick your face
in the computer to hear them.
One additional argument for the external. There have been occasions where
my modem has refused commands to hang-up. Be it +++ ATH, or whatever….
EVen with it set to recognize a dropped DTR, there has been occasions where
the modem was in some treancendental state, usually brought on by a weird
connect, or lots of line noise. With an external, you can reach over and
flip the switch, and not have to reboot the computer, as you would with an
internal. (Which, if you were multitasking at the time, and doing
ssomething important like a ray trace, etc. might mean that it is a little
easier to disconnect, (especially if it involves pay call), and not loose
all your work.
– Alex
Yeah, I'm going for the Supra external model. I'm working on my dealer
to give me credit for an AMAX system he's holding for me on consignment so
I won't have to shell too much money out:-).
>>>>>Skip (SKP Graphics) <<<<<
Skip,
NO. As I said before, besides the fact that the Amiga has no
special modems designed to work with it (external modems that is)…there
is no such thing in general (external modems designed to work with only one
computer).
The exception is modems designed to work with computers with
non-standard serial ports. For example, the C=64 doesn't have a standard
serial port.
The Amiga has an industry RS-232 serial port and will work with any
modem designed for an RS-232 serial port.
Don
Don,
Gotcha. Thanks.
>>>>>Skip (SKP Graphics) <<<<<
Gracia,
I don't disconnect anything with my modem, and it seems to me that it
works just fine. It is true that the CompuServe modems are locked to
9600, 2400, etc., so the MNP5 data compression doesn't work on CIS modems,
but it has not harmed my connections to leave the features turned on on my
own modem.
I thought that was all that was necessary with Backtalk, but I just now
tried it, and saw CONNECT 9600, even on a 2400 number. So, I suspect you
are seeing the link speed rather than the actual connect speed. However,
I always use BackTalk in connection with Whap! (which does the actual
dialing for me) and with Whap! it always uses the speed I set in the
Parameters screen. It works fine there at 300. Sorry I don't know more
about using it as a standalone product.
Betty,
It happened also when I used it with Whap! as a dialer, but then there are
so many variables I'll try again and see if I can make it work. Thanks.
Gracia
– via Coolwhap