3COM 3C905B, 3C900B User Manual

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This manual covers installation and operating instructions for the following 3Com® U.S. Robotics

modems:

Sportster® Voice 33.6 kbps internal modems

3Com, the 3Com logo, U.S. Robotics, the USRobotics logo, and Sportster are registered trademarks; Connections, Total Control, Courier, RapidComm, x2, and the x2 logo are trademarks and Towne Square 2000 is a service mark of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. Windows and Internet Explorer are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe Inc. America Online is a registered trademark of America Online Inc. Netscape Navigator is a trademark of Netscape Communications Corp. Any other trademarks, trade names, or service marks used in this manual are the property of their respective owners.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Before You Begin (Windows 95 Users) 1

Determining Available Resources 1 Determining Your Version of Windows 95 2 Upgrading to x2 Technology 2

Modem Installation with Windows 3.x 3

A Word About COM Ports and IRQs 3 How to Use ComTest to Determine Your Modem’s Settings 5 Testing an Installed Modem 7 What to Do with ComTest’s Recommendation 8 How to Change the Modem’s Settings 10 How to Insert the Modem into the Computer 12

Modem Installation with Windows 95 19

How to Prepare for Plug and Play Installation 19 How to Insert the Modem into the Computer 21 Installing the Modem Drivers 25

Software Installation and Testing 33

Software Installation and Registration Using the Setup Wizard 33 Sending Your First Fax 48

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Installing Other Fax/Data Software 52

Type of Modem 52 Initialization String 52 Flow Control 52

U.S. Robotics Modem Update Wizard 53

Installation 53 Operation 58

Using Modem Station 65 Troubleshooting and Online Help Resources 89

When Plug and Play Fails 95 Online Help Resources 96 Are You Still Having Problems? 100 If You Need to Return the Modem to Us 101 RapidComm Voice Troubleshooting Tips 102 A Note to Users with Older Versions of RapidComm Voice on Their Systems 102

Glossary 103 Technical Quick Reference 113

AT Command Summary 114 S Registers 128

Regulatory Information 138

Manufacturer’s Declaration of Conformity 138

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Caution to the User 139

IC (Canada) 139 UL Listing/CUL Listing 139 Connecting to the Telephone Company 140 Fax Branding 140 Radio and Television Interference 141 For Canadian Modem Users 142 Limited Warranty 145

Index 148

BEFORE YOU BEGIN (WINDOWS

95 USERS)

Determining Available Resources

Your Sportster® Voice modem is a Plug and Play device. Windows™ 95 can automatically identify a Plug and Play device and determine if your system has the resources necessary to support the device. However, Plug and Play will not work if you do not have resources available or if devices on your system are not reporting resource usage correctly. Here’s how you can verify that your system has the necessary resources before installing the modem:

1. Click the Windows 95 Start button, point

to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click the System icon.

3. When the “System Properties” screen

appears, click the Device Manager tab.

4. Double-click Computer and the

“Computer Properties” screen appears.

5. Select the option at the top of the screen to

show Interrupt Requests (IRQs).

You will see the IRQs your system is currently using. If IRQs 3, 4, 5, and 7 are being used, you need to free an IRQ before you begin installation. This process involves moving a device from the IRQ you want to use to a different (and usually higher) IRQ setting. Please read the documentation for (or contact the manufacturer of) the device that is currently using the IRQ you want to use for your modem to learn more about how to free the IRQ for your modem.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN (WINDOWS 95 USERS)

Determining Your Version of Windows 95

Follow these steps to determine your version of Windows 95. This information will be important during installation.

1. Click the My Computer icon on your

desktop with the right mouse button.

2. Click Properties.

3. In the “System Properties” screen, look at

the system information under the General tab (circled in the following screen image). The number following the text “Microsoft Windows 95” will end with “950”, “950a”, or “950b”. This indicates your version of Windows 95. Write this number on the blank below for later reference. Then click

OK.

Windows 95 version

_________________

Upgrading to x2™ Technology

Be sure to read the section titled “U.S. Robotics Modem Update Wizard” on page 53 for information on upgrading your 33.6 faxmodem to x2™ technology, allowing downloads of up to 56 kbps*.

• IMPORTANT! All x2 products are capable of 56 kbps

downloads; however, due to FCC rules which restrict power output of the service providers' modems, current download speeds are limited to 53 kbps. Actual speeds may vary depending on line conditions. Uploads from end users to service providers travel at speeds up to 28.8 kbps. An x2 modem, an analog phone line compatible with x2 technology, and an Internet Service Provider with x2 service are necessary for these high-speed downloads. See http://www.3com.com/x2 for details.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS

3.X

You’ll need these items from your Sportster® modem box:

modem phone cord

Connections™ CD microphone

Plus:

a screwdriver (not included)

A Word about COM Ports and IRQs

Most computer accessories — a mouse, sound card, enhanced graphics card, scanner, etc. — require a special connection through which they can communicate with the computer. For some devices, this connection is called a communications (or COM) port. Most computers have 1 or 2 COM ports, but they can have up to 4. Although internal modems do not connect to COM ports directly, they do require a COM port setting, which is determined by the setting on the modem’s COM jumper pins.

Each COM port uses an interrupt request (IRQ). An accessory uses an IRQ to get the attention of your computer’s central

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

processing unit (CPU) so that the accessory can perform a task. The computer stops what it’s doing, depending on the priority of the request, to help the accessory perform its task. When two accessories share an IRQ, it’s like two people asking different questions in unison to a third person. Just as the person being asked the two questions cannot understand either request, a computer can lock up or otherwise fail to communicate properly with your modem when there is an IRQ conflict.

D KEY POINT: Accessories cannot

share COM ports and should not share IRQs. When accessories try to share settings, they will either not work properly or not work at all. This section of the manual will help you understand the COM/IRQ settings on your new Sportster modem.

3Com has set your modem to a default Plug and Play setting geared towards Windows 95 users. In this configuration, the shunts used to set your modem’s COM port and IRQ settings are hanging from single jumper pins and will not affect your modem’s settings. As a Windows 3.x user, you need to run the ComTest program (on the Connections CD) to determine what settings your modem should use.

NOTE: Some communications

software programs require a particular setting for your modem (RapidComm, which shipped with your modem, does not). If you wish to use a program other than RapidComm, now is a good time to read that software’s manual to determine what setting is required.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

How to Use ComTest to Determine Your Modem’s Settings

1. Insert the Connections CD into your CD-

ROM drive.

2. In Windows’ Program Manager, click Run

on the File menu. Type d:\comtest.exe and press ENTER. This starts ComTest, the program that determines which COM ports and IRQs are available for use by your modem.

3. The screen in the next column appears

when ComTest starts.

• If there is a modem in your computer

which you are replacing with your new Sportster modem, go to “Testing an Installed Modem” on page 7 to

determine which COM and IRQ settings the older modem is using.

• If a modem is not currently installed in

your computer, click Recommend settings for a new modem.

Then click Next.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

4. Click Internal Modem. Then click Next.

5. If you have a free setting, you will see a

screen like this.

COM2/IRQ3 is free in this example. ComTest might instead recommend COM1/IRQ4, COM3/IRQ4, or COM4/IRQ3 for your modem.

Write down the displayed settings. You’ll need to know these settings later. Click Next.

If you do not have a free setting, you will

see a screen like this.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

Click Finish to exit ComTest. Go to “What to Do with ComTest’s Recommendation” on page 8.

6. When you see this screen, click Finish to

exit ComTest.

Go to “What to Do with ComTest’s Recommendation” on page 8.

Testing an Installed Modem

If there is a modem already installed in your computer, you can determine its COM and IRQ settings by selecting the Test an installed modem option. Follow the instructions on screen until you see the screen that tells you “Testing is complete.” This screen will also tell you which COM and IRQ settings your present modem is using. These are the settings you want to use for your new Sportster modem. Write the settings down.

Turn off and unplug your computer and remove your present modem. Go to “How to Change the Modem’s Settings” on page 10.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

What to Do with ComTest’s Recommendation

NOTE: If your communications

software requires a modem that ComTest does not recommend, there is a good chance that the setting is being used by another device in your system. To free that setting in your system, consult your computer’s manual. Go to “How to Change the Modem’s Settings” on page 10.

If ComTest recommended COM1/IRQ4

Write down “COM1” and “IRQ4” somewhere where it will be handy during software installation. Go to “How to Change the Modem’s Settings” on page 10.

If ComTest recommended COM2/IRQ3

Write “COM2” and “IRQ3” somewhere where it will be handy during software installation. Go to “How to Change the Modem’s Settings” on page 10.

If ComTest recommended COM3/IRQ4 or COM4/IRQ3

Do not use either of these settings. While the COM port part of the setting is acceptable (ComTest only recommends COM ports that are not being used), the IRQ part of the setting is not acceptable. When ComTest recommends either COM3/IRQ4 or COM4/IRQ3, the IRQ in the setting is being used by another accessory. You could use the suggested IRQ for the modem, but you run the risk that the modem and/or the other accessory sharing the IRQ might not work properly.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

If you do not have a sound card, use COM3/IRQ5. Write “COM3” and “IRQ5” somewhere where it will be handy during software installation. You will have to change the settings on your modem. Go to “How to Change the Modem’s Settings” on page 10.

If you do have a sound card, use COM2/IRQ3. To use this setting, you have to first disable your computer’s second serial port (COM2). This is a pronged socket on the back of your computer.

• Go to your computer manufacturer’s

manual.

• Find out how to disable the COM port.

• Find out which of the sockets on the back

of your computer is the second serial port.

• If you have something plugged into that

port, find out if you can plug it in somewhere else. Any accessory plugged

into that port will not work after the port has been disabled.

• Then return to this point in this manual to

continue.

After disabling COM2, you can use the COM2/IRQ3 setting.

Write “COM2” and “IRQ3” somewhere where it will be handy during software installation and go to “How to Change the Modem’s Settings” on page 10.

If ComTest reports that “You do not have any available COM ports and/or IRQs”

We recommend you disable COM1 or COM2. When you disable one of these COM ports, you can use it and its default IRQ for your modem. Go to your computer manufacturer’s manual.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

• Find out which socket is COM1 and which

is COM2.

• If nothing is plugged into either port, you

may choose either of the ports to disable. Your computer manufacturer’s manual will tell you how to disable the COM port.

• If one port does not have anything plugged

into it, note if the port is COM1 or COM2. This is the port you’ll want to disable for your modem.

• If both ports are being used, you may be

able to attach one of the plugged-in accessories elsewhere so that you can disable its COM port. The accessory will not work once its port is disabled.

If you’ve disabled COM1, you can now use the COM1/IRQ4 setting. Write it down somewhere where it will be handy during

software installation. Go to “How to Change the Modem’s Settings” (on this page).

If you’ve disabled COM2, you can now use the COM2/IRQ3 setting. Write the setting down somewhere where it will be handy during software installation.

How to Change the Modem’s Settings

1. Always touch an unpainted metal part of

your computer (the back is usually unpainted) to discharge static electricity before handling the modem. Static can damage your modem. Then take the modem out of its plastic bag.

2. Find the COM and IRQ jumper shunts

(small black plastic pieces) on your

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

modem’s jumper pins (see the following diagram).

3. To change the COM port and IRQ settings,

you need to reposition the jumper shunts on the COM port and IRQ pins. To do this, lift the jumper shunts off the pins.

TIP: Grasp the jumper shunts with

a tweezers or needle-nosed pliers. DO NOT grasp too firmly, as you may crush the jumper shunts. If a jumper shunt seems stuck, gently rock it back and forth as you lift. Do not touch any other part of the modem or your computer with the tweezers/pliers. A jumper shunt needs to be sitting on both jumper pins in order to effectively set the modem to the desired setting.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

0 1 SEL

4. Move the jumper shunt to the new setting.

• The COM port setting can involve one

to three shunts. The four possible COM port settings are as follows:

COM 1

COM 3

COM 2

COM 4

• Unlike most COM port settings, the

IRQ setting involves only one jumper shunt. Simply move the jumper shunt to the pins labeled with the IRQ you need.

How to Insert the Modem into the Computer

NOTE: Before installing your

modem, write its serial number somewhere where it will be handy during software installation. (You’ll find the serial number underneath the bar code on the white sticker on the modem and on the outside of the box the modem came in.) If you ever need to call our customer support department, a customer support representative will ask you for the serial number. This will help him or her identify your modem.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

1. Turn off your computer and unplug it from

the electrical outlet.

2. Unplug any peripheral devices (printer,

monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.) from the computer.

TIP: Before you unplug anything,

label the cords or make a sketch of how things are connected. This can be helpful when you plug things back in later.

CAUTION: To avoid the risk of

electric shock, make sure your computer and all peripheral devices are turned off and unplugged.

3. Remove the screws from your computer’s

cover and then remove the cover, as shown in the following diagrams. Your computer may differ in appearance from these diagrams, but the basic principle for removing the cover should be the same. Contact your computer manufacturer or review their manual if you need further instructions.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

4. Find an empty ISA expansion slot at least

as long as the gold edge of your modem. (ISA slots have black plastic grooves lined with silver.) Unscrew and remove the expansion slot cover (the long narrow piece of metal that keeps dust from entering through the opening perpendicular to the slot). Be careful not to drop the screw into the computer. You will need it later to screw the modem into place.

5. Holding the modem at each corner, with the

gold edge facing the slot, push the modem down as gently as possible until it snaps into the expansion slot. (NOTE: The drawings show horizontally aligned expansion slots. Some computers have vertically aligned slots. The instructions apply to both styles.)

You need to apply a little pressure to seat the modem properly. Sometimes a gentle back-and-forth motion helps to fit the

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

modem all the way into the slot. If you feel resistance, the modem may not be properly lined up with the slot. Do not force it into the slot. Remove the modem and try again.

6. Once the modem is in place, fasten it firmly

using the screw that you removed in step 4.

7. Replace the computer’s cover and fasten it

with the screws you removed in step 3.

8. If you currently have a phone plugged into

the wall jack you plan to use for the modem, disconnect the phone’s cord from the jack.

WARNING: The phone jack you use

must be for an ANALOG phone line (the type found in most homes). Many office buildings have digital phone lines. Be sure you know which type of line you have. The modem will be damaged if you use a digital phone line.

9. Plug one end of the phone cord that came

with the modem into the TELCO jack at the rear of the modem. Plug the other end of the cord into the wall jack.

10. If you wish to use a phone through the line

the modem uses (when the modem is not in use), plug your phone’s cord into the modem’s PHONE jack.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

NOTE: You cannot use the modem

and a phone at the same time if they share the same telephone line.

11. Plug the microphone included with your

modem into the MIC jack on the modem.

12. To enhance the modem’s full-duplex

speakerphone capabilities, plug a set of powered external speakers (not included) into the SPEAKER jack on the modem.

13. If you have your modem set to

COM1/IRQ4 or COM2/IRQ3, go to “Software Installation and Testing” on page

33. If you have your modem configured to any other setting, open Program Manager and double-click the Main icon.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

14. Double-click the Control Panel icon.

15. Double-click the Ports icon.

16. If it’s not already selected, click the COM

port for your modem. Then click Settings.

17. Click Advanced.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

18. In the Interrupt Request Line (IRQ)

box, select the IRQ that ComTest recommended.

19. Click OK.

You will see a brief series of screens after the preceding screen. Click OK on each screen until you see a screen with a Close button. Click Close to exit Program Manager.

You are now ready to install the software on the Connections CD-ROM (included with your Sportster modem). Turn to “Software Installation and Testing” (page 33) for detailed information about installing the software, registering the modem, and trying out your modem by faxing U.S. Robotics.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS

You will need these items from your Sportster™ modem box:

modem phone cord

Connections™ CD microphone

Plus:

a screwdriver (not included)

Since your new Sportster is a “Plug and Play” device, Windows 95 may be able to detect your modem automatically after you plug it into your computer. The operating system should do all the work of recognizing the modem for you.

How to Prepare for Plug and Play Installation

1. Touch an unpainted metal part of your

computer (the back is usually unpainted) to discharge static electricity. Static can damage your modem.

2. Take the modem out of its plastic bag.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 95

3. Find the jumper shunts (small black plastic

pieces) on the COM port and IRQ jumper pins on your modem. They should be in roughly the area indicated in the following illustration.

When doing a “Plug and Play” installation, the jumper shunts should be placed so that they are hanging from single jumper pins rather than on pairs of pins. Move your

jumper shunts so they are hanging as in the following diagram.

NOTE: If you need to move the jumper

shunts, grasp them with a tweezers or a needlenosed pliers. DO NOT grasp too firmly, however, or you may crush the jumper shunts. If a jumper shunt seems stuck, try gently rocking it back and forth as you lift.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 95

How to Insert the Modem into the Computer

NOTE: Before installing your

modem, write down its serial number. (You’ll find the serial number underneath the bar code on the white sticker on the modem and on the outside of the box the modem came in.) If you ever need to call our customer support department, a customer support representative will ask you for the serial number. This will help him or her identify your Sportster modem.

1. Turn off your computer and unplug it from

the electrical outlet.

2. Unplug any peripheral devices (printer,

monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.) from the computer.

TIP: Before you unplug any cords,

label them or make a sketch of how they are connected. This can be helpful when you plug them back in later.

CAUTION: To avoid risk of

electric shock, make sure your computer and all peripheral devices are turned off and unplugged from electrical outlets.

3. Remove the screws from your computer’s

cover and then remove the cover, as shown

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 95

in the following diagrams. Your computer may differ in appearance from these diagrams, but the basic principle for removing the cover should be the same. Refer to your computer manufacturer’s manual if you need further instructions.

4. Find an empty ISA expansion slot that’s at

least as long as the gold edge of your modem. (ISA slots are black plastic grooves lined with metal.) Unscrew and remove the expansion slot cover (the long narrow piece of metal that keeps dust from entering through the opening perpendicular to the slot).

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 95

5. Holding the modem at each corner, with the

gold edge facing the slot, push the modem down as gently as possible until it snaps into the expansion slot. (NOTE: The following diagram shows horizontally aligned expansion slots. Some computers have vertically aligned slots. The instructions apply to both styles.)

You need to apply a little pressure to seat the modem properly. Sometimes a gentle back-and-forth motion helps fit the modem all the way into the slot. If you feel resistance, the modem may not be properly lined up with the slot. Do not force it into the slot. Remove the modem and try again.

6. Once the modem is in the slot, fasten the

modem firmly into place using the screw that you removed in step 4.

7. Replace the computer’s cover and fasten it

with the screws you removed in step 3.

8. Locate the wall jack you plan to use for the

modem. If you have a phone plugged into

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 95

this jack, disconnect the telephone cord from the jack.

WARNING: The phone jack you

use must be for an ANALOG phone line (the type found in most homes). Many office buildings have digital phone lines. Be sure you know which type of line you have. The modem will be damaged if you use a digital phone line.

9. Plug one end of the phone cord included

with the modem into the TELCO jack at the rear of the modem. Plug the other end of the cable into the wall jack.

10. If you wish to use a phone through the line

the modem uses (when the modem is not in use), plug your phone’s cord into the modem’s PHONE jack.

NOTE: You cannot use the modem

and a phone at the same time if they share the same telephone line.

11. Plug the microphone included with your

modem into the MIC jack on the modem.

12. To enhance the modem’s full-duplex

speakerphone capabilities, plug a set of powered external speakers (not included) into the SPEAKER jack on the modem.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 95

13. Plug the power cords, cables, and

peripherals back into the computer and turn on the computer.

Installing the Modem Drivers

NOTE: If you wrote “950b” on

page 2 of this User’s Guide, go to “Installing Modem Drivers with Windows 95 Version 950b” on page 29. Otherwise, follow these instructions.

Click Driver from disk provided by hardware manufacturer. Then click OK.

Installing Modem Drivers with Windows 95 Versions 950 and 950a

1. When Windows 95 restarts, it should

detect the modem. If it does, you will see the following screen.

NOTE: If this screen does not

appear, go to the section titled “When Plug and Play Fails” on page 95.

MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 95

2. When you see this screen, insert the

Connections CD into your CD-ROM drive and type D:\ to replace the A:\. (NOTE: If your CD-ROM drive has a different letter name, type that letter instead of D.)

Click OK. Windows will load the modem’s drivers.

3. Once Windows finishes loading the

information from the CD-ROM, you should verify that the modem installation was a success. When your desktop returns, click the Windows Start button and point to Settings. Then click Control Panel.

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