Actiontec DataLink V.90 Owner's Manual
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................. 3
Before You Begin .......................................................................................................... 4
For DOS/Windows 3.1X Installation .................................................................... 4
For Windows 95/98 Installation ............................................................................ 5
For Windows NT 4.0 Installation .......................................................................... 6
Installing the Modem ................................................................................................... 7
Hardware Installation............................................................................................ 7
Configuring Windows 95...................................................................................... 8
Configuring Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 ............................................. 9
Configuring Windows 98...................................................................................... 11
Configuring Windows NT 4.00 ............................................................................ 15
Installing and Configuring Software ......................................................................... 18
Installing Communications Software .................................................................... 18
Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................ 19
Appendix A - AT Command Set ................................................................................... 26
AT Commands ........................................................................................................ 26
AT Commands for Testing and Debugging .............................................. 45
S Registers .............................................................................................................. 48
Appendix B - Communications Regulations .............................................................. 60
Proprietary Notice and Disclaimer
Unless otherwise noted, this document and the information herein disclosed are proprietary to ActionTec Electronics, Inc. Any person or entity to whom this document is furnished or who otherwise has possession thereof, by acceptance agrees that it will not be
copied or reproduced in whole or in part, nor used in any manner except to meet the
purposes for which it was delivered.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be
construed as a commitment by ActionTec. Although ActionTec will make every effort to
inform users of substantive errors, ActionTec disclaims all liability for any loss or damage
resulting from the use of this document or any hardware or software described herein,
including without limitation contingent, special or incidental liability.
Note: PC is a trademark of IBM Corporation. DOS, Window 3.1X, Windows 95/98 and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft, Inc. K56flex is a trademark of Lucent Technologies, Inc. and Rockwell International.
2
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the ActionTec DataLink V.90 PCMCIA fax/modem.
The DataLink V.90 gives the portable computer owner the mobility and connectivity solution only a PC Card fax modem can deliver. Its small size and weight
are a perfect match for todays lightweight notebook computers.
The DataLink V.90 supports both the K56flex and ITU-T V.90 Standards for connectivity to the largest number of Internet Service Providers. This dual mode modem
will automatically select the best possible protocol for your connection. Whether
it be faxing, e-mail, or connecting to the Internet, the DataLink V.90 gives the
mobile professional the connectivity solution needed for todays fast-paced environment.
The DataLink V.90 has a programmable feature that enables you to change the
control codes that the modem uses. When new firmware (the commands that make
the modem work) becomes available, you simply download the update utility from
our website and reprogram the modem. This feature allows the modem to keep
pace with any changes that might be made in the future.
In February 1998, Study Group 16 of the ITU-T (International Telecommunications Union, Telecommunication Standardization) agreed on the technical speci-
fications for 56K modems (ITU-T V.90). As with any new standard, implementation will be an ongoing process. It may take some time for the entire industry to
switch from their proprietary methods to the new standard. The ability to change
your modems control code will allow you to keep pace with these changing conditions.
Please visit ActionTecs website regularly for any new drivers available for your
modem. Under the Tech Support section you will find an area for 56K Modem
Upgrades. Our website address is: www.actiontec.com
ActionTec Electronics, Inc.
1269 Innsbruck Drive
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-2928
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Before You Begin
Please read the following tips carefully before attempting to
install your new modem.
For DOS/WINDOWS 3.1X INSTALLATION
Most portable computers sold today include some form of Card and Socket
Services. This software enables the computers internal PCMCIA controller
to operate. If the computer beeps when the modem is inserted, the modem
should be configured and ready to use. If you do not have Card and Socket
Services, follow the procedure for installing the Point Enabler in this section.
Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 do not require any special
drivers to communicate with the PC Card fax/modem if you are using your
systems Card and Socket Services software. You only need to install communications software. If the version of the modem you purchased included
communications software, go to the section Installing and Configuring Soft-
ware and follow the installation instructions.
If your computer does not have Card and Socket Services you will need to
install the Point Enabler. This program provides DOS with the necessary
drivers to interface with the modem. However, you will not be able to hot
swap the modem. The Point Enabler will have to be reinstalled any time you
insert or remove the modem. To install the Point Enabler in your system,
insert the installation diskette that came with your modem into the computers
floppy disk drive. Find the file pmxfm.exe and copy it to the root directory
of your default hard drive. The Point Enabler needs to be executed each time
you turn on your computer. This can be done by typing the following command line at the DOS C:> prompt:
pmxfm c=n i=nn <enter>
Where c specifies the COM Port number (from 1 to 4) and i specifies the
Interrupt used (from 1 to 15). Using COM 3 and IRQ 9 will work in most
systems. Once the pmxfm.exe driver has been loaded and is working correctly, you can add the statement to your autoexec.bat file.
Example: pmxfm c=3 i=9 <enter>
You may also need to modify your config.sys file to exclude an address range
when using the Point Enabler. The two examples below show the most effective ranges and will work with the majority of computers. Example A: shows
the most common exclusion range. Example B: may be the preferred setting
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for certain notebooks. Try Example A: first and use Example B: if your results are not satisfactory. Add a line to your config.sys file as follows:
Example A: device=c:\dos\emm386.exe noems x=d000-dfff
Example B: device=c:\dos\emm386.exe noems x=c800-c8ff x=d000-dfff
Remember, the Point Enabler should not be used with any Card and Socket
Services software. It is meant to be used in a computer that does not have its
own PCMCIA Card and Socket Services software and is for a DOS/Windows 3.1X environment only. It should not be used if you have a Cardbus
capable notebook or are running Windows 95/98 or Windows NT.
For WINDOWS 95/98 INSTALLATION
Since a fax/modem is usually the first accessory purchased for a notebook
computer, it is a good idea to check that the computers PCMCIA controller
has been initialized and properly configured for Windows 95/98. Performing
this simple procedure will eliminate the major cause of installation difficulties.
In Windows 95/98, go to: Start-Settings-Control Panel and double-click
the PC Card icon. A properly installed PCMCIA controller will show the
screen below.
If the New Hardware Found panel appears, your computers PCMCIA Ports
have not been configured. Follow the installation instructions on the screen.
You can also read your computers Users Guide for additional instructions on
configuring your PCMCIA ports for Windows 95/98.
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For WINDOWS NT 4.00 INSTALLATION
Check that your PCMCIA device setting is selected for boot and started. Go
to: Start-Settings-Control Panel and double-click the Devices icon. Scroll
down to the Pcmcia listing and highlight it by clicking once. If the PCMCIA
device is set correctly, you should see the screen below.
If the Pcmcia device is not set to boot and started, click once on the Startup
button. Select boot and click the OK button. Close the Devices window and
restart Windows NT before proceeding to the installation section
Check that COM 2 is available for the modem to use. COM 2 is the preferred
COM Port for a Windows NT installation. It is recommended that you disable COM2 through your System BIOS Setup routine (read your Computers
User Manual for instructions on how to invoke the BIOS Setup). Once inside
the BIOS Setup, look for a section called Integrated Peripherals. Locate the
entry for COM 2 or COM Port B and disable it. Save your settings before
exiting.
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Installing the Modem
H
ARDWARE INSTALLATION
Your DataLink V.90 is housed in a Type II PCMCIA case. It will install in a Type
II or Type III 68 pin PCMCIA slot. PC Card slots are polarized and the modem
will install only in the correct orientation. Notebook computers usually have their
slots located on one side of the computer. To insert the modem, slide it gently into
the opening of the slot keeping it straight. Apply an even pressure until that last
one-half inch, then press firmly until the modem is seated completely into the
notebook. If the PCMCIA slots are recessed into the notebook, it may be difficult
to properly insert modem. Be sure to apply pressure until you feel the modem
click. This is especially true for new notebook computers. The illustration below shows the modem being installed into a typical notebook.
Fig. 1: Installing the Modem
The modem comes with its own dedicated phone cable. This cable has a US standard RJ-11 connector on one end for the phone line and a special connector that
fits into the modem on the other end. Be careful not to push the computer against
an adjacent object when the cable is in place. This may bend the connector causing damage to the pins. Keep the area around the computer clear of large objects
so that you can move the notebook freely without hitting the cable or connector.
Fig. 2: Installing the Cable
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CONFIGURING WINDOWS 95
Step 1 Turn on the computer and load Windows 95. Insert the PC Card Modem
into the computers PCMCIA slot. Windows 95 will detect new hardware.
Select Driver from disk provided by hardware manufacturer
then Click OK.
Step 2 Insert the diskette containing the modems Windows 95 .INF files and
click OK
Step 3 If Windows 95 asks for an installation disk, click OK and type A: in the
dialog box that appears and click OK again. Windows will find and load
the .inf files.
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Step 4 To determine what COM port and IRQ is assigned to the modem in Win-
dows 95, click on the Modems icon in Control Panel and select the
Diagnostic tab. Click on the COM Port icon and then on the More Info
button to view the modem properties.
CONFIGURING WINDOWS 95 OEM SR2
Step 1 Turn on the computer and load Windows 95. Insert the PC Card Modem
into an available PCMCIA slot. Windows 95 will detect the modem and
launch the Update Device Driver Wizard dialog box. Insert the diskette containing the modems .INF files and click Next >.
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Step 2 After Windows has found the devices drivers for your modem, click the
Finish button.
Step 3 If Windows 95 asks for an installation disk, click OK and using the Other
Locations button, select A: and click OK again. Windows will find and
load the .inf files.
Step 4 To determine what COM port and IRQ is assigned to the modem in Win-
dows 95, click on the Modems icon in Control Panel and select the
Diagnostic tab. Click on the COM Port icon and then on the More Info
button to view the modem properties.
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CONFIGURING WINDOWS 98
Step 1 Turn on the computer and load Windows 98, then insert the diskette con-
taining the modems .inf files into the floppy disk drive.
Step 2 Insert the PC Card Fax/Modem into the computers PCMCIA slot. A
Add New Hardware Wizard should appear. Click Next>.
Step 3 Windows will show a screen asking What do you want Windows to do?.
Select: search for the best driver for your device. Click Next>.
Step 4 A search screen will display options to do your search. Put a check on
Floppy disk drives. Click Next>.
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Step 5 Windows 98 will find the PCMCIA Fax/Modem driver on the floppy
drive. Click Next>. (If you receive a Cant Find Driver error, see the
special section at the bottom of this page for an alternate installation
procedure.)
Step 6 At the next screen, click Finish. You are now ready to use your modem.
Special Installation For Windows 98
Depending on your system or your system configuration, Windows 98 may not
find the modems .INF file on the floppy disk. If this situation occurs, abort the
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installation process by clicking the <Back button until you arrive at the following
screen:
This is the screen for Step 3 shown previously. Instead of selecting Search for the
best driver for your device, select Display a list of all the drivers in a specific
location, so you can select the driver you want. After making the selection, click
the Next> button. The following screen will appear:
Click the Have Disk button. At the next screen, be sure that the installation diskette that came with your modem is inserted into the computers floppy disk drive.
Verify the A:\ drive is shown in the Copy from box and click the OK button.
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Windows 98 will find the DataLink V.90 modem and properly identify the manufacturer and model. Click the Next> button.
Windows 98 will find the MDMATLC.INF file on the floppy disk. Click Next>.
Click the Finish button on the final screen to complete the installation of your Fax
Modem.
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CONFIGURING WINDOWS NT VER. 4.00
Step 1 This installation assumes that you have disabled COM 2 in your system
BIOS and have set the Pcmcia selection in Control Panel-Devices to
boot and started as outlined in the Before You Begin section.
Step 2 Insert the modem into the computer and load Windows NT. Go to Start-
Settings-Control Panel and double-click the Modems icon. At the Mo-
dems Properties window, click the Add button.
Step 3 When the Install New Modem window appears, allow Windows NT to
detect your modem. Click on the Next> button.
Step 4 If a modem is found, Windows NT will query it. In most cases Windows
NT will detect the modem as a Standard Modem. Click on the Change
button.
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Step 5 Insert the diskette containing the modems .inf files and click the Have
Disk button. When prompted for the path, type A:\ and then click the OK
button.
Step 6 When prompted to select the manufacturer and model of the modem,
click the OK button. At the next screen click the Next> button.
Step 7 Click on the Modems icon in the Control Panel. Verify that Windows
NT has correctly found the modem.
Step 8 If you wish to use your modem to dial into a Windows NT Remote Ac-
cess Server or wish to connect to the Internet, you will need to configure
Dial-up Networking. Go to: Start-Settings-Control Panel and doubleclick the Network icon. Click on the Services folder and select Remote
Access Service. If the Remote Access Service option is not listed (if
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present, go to Step 9), click on the Add button. Scroll-down the menu
and select Remote Access Service. Click on the OK button. Windows
NT may ask for its own disks or CD-ROM for some files. Insert as required. After you have installed Remote Access Service, add the appropriate protocols as directed (i.e.. TCP/IP for Internet Access).
Step 9 At the Remote Access Setup dialog box, click on Add. Select the
RAS Device you wish to add and Click OK.
Step 10 Click Continue to finish the Installation.
Step 11 After Windows NT has completed the binding process, allow Windows
NT to shut down and restart the computer.
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Installing and Configuring Software
INSTALLING COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE
If your modem came with a communications software package, it is strongly recommended that you use this software for your modem. Its default installation
parameters have been specially configured to work with this modem. The included
software supports both data and fax modes. To install this software on your computer, follow these easy steps.
Step 1: Insert the diskette containing the communications program into your
computers floppy disk drive.
Step 2: If you are using Windows 95/98, go to My Computer and double-click
the floppy drive icon. Double-click the setup.exe file to install the soft-
ware in Windows 95/98. If you are using Windows 3.1X, go to File-Run
and type in the floppy drive letter followed by setup. This will load the
software for use by Windows 3.1X.
If you wish to use another software package, please be sure that it supports this
modem. Most software manufacturers have a listing of supported modems on their
websites or BBSs. Check these sites to see if this model is supported. If you are
unsure, or your brand of software supports only a few modems, try selecting Hayes
Compatible or Standard Modem. This may work in certain cases. Some software programs allow manual input of parameters. For the users of these programs,
here is a listing of the data/fax command standards supported.
Data: TIA/EIA-602
Fax: TIA/EIA-578 for Class 1 Fax
Init String: AT&F&C1&D2W2
Note: Some programs must be configured to communicate with the modem on the same COM port and or IRQ setting used by the modem.
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Troubleshooting
This section lists some common problems and offers suggestions for a solution.
Before attempting any troubleshooting, it is strongly recommended that you carefully follow the pre-installation procedures outlined in the Before You Begin sec-
tion. These steps have been thoughtfully chosen to help minimize difficulties during the installation of the modem in both Windows 95/98 and Windows NT 4.00.
If you have installed the modem without performing any of the pre-installation
steps, eject the modem from the computer and remove the driver from the Mo-
dems panel. Go to Start-Settings-Control Panel and double-click the Modems
icon. Highlight the modem by clicking once and then click the Remove button.
Restart Windows 95/98 and follow the pre-installation suggestions listed in the
Before You Begin section before attempting a reinstallation. If you have reinstalled the modem but it is still not functioning or Windows does not detect it,
follow the suggestions listed below for your particular symptom. These troubleshooting procedures will correct the majority of installation problems that might
be encountered when installing the modem.
Case 1: Resetting the PCMCIA Controller (Modem Is Not Detected).
Resetting the PCMCIA Socket controller corrects the vast majority of noninstallation difficulties and should be the first step chosen when trying to
remedy a situation where the modem is not detected. Before attempting
this procedure, uninstall the modem using the procedure outlined in the
previous paragraph.
Go to Start-Settings-Control Panel and double-click the System icon.
Select the Device Manager tab to display the device tree. In the device
tree, double-click the PCMCIA Socket icon to expand the socket tree.
Highlight the listed socket device by clicking once on the icon, then click
the Remove button. Exit Device Manager and restart Windows. On startup,
Windows should detect new hardware for the PCMCIA Socket that was
previously removed (If Windows does not detect new hardware, go to
Start-Settings-Control Panel and double-click the PC Card icon). At
the PCMCIA installation screens, choose No, No, and then Finish. The
PCMCIA controller in your system is now reset. Go to Start-Settings-
Control Panel and double-click the PC Card icon. The screen should
say socket 1 & socket 2 empty. Try reinstalling the modem again using
the steps in the Installing The Modem section.
Case 2: Correcting a Cannot Open COM Port Error (Disabling a COM Port)
When Windows displays a Cannot Open COM Port Error, it means that
there are no COM Ports available for the modem to use. To correct this
condition, you must disable any unused COM Ports listed in Windows.
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