Black Box FX119A Installation And Operation Manual

CUSTOMER

SUPPORT

INFORMATION

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Mail order: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018
Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: [e-mail]

MARCH 1992

FX119A

Tote-a-Fax 542

TOTE-A-FAX

DATA SPEED

FAX SPEED

CARRIER DETECT

LOW BATTERY

1

CHAPTER 4: Operation TOTE-A-FAX 542

Tote-A-Fax 542

Installation and Operation Manual

FCC REQUIREMENTS

This equipment complies with FCC Rules Part 68. Located on the equipment is the FCC
Registration Number and Ringer Equivalence Number (REN). You must provide this
information to the telephone company if requested.

The Registration Number and REN will be inscribed on the printed circuit board on insert cards
or on a label affixed to the chassis bottom. The FCC requires these numbers be prominently
displayed on an outside surface of the device.

The REN is used to determine the number of devices you may legally connect to your
telephone line. In most areas, the sum of the REN of all devices connected to one line must not
exceed five (5.0). Contact your telephone company to determine the maximum REN for your
calling area.

The telephone company may change technical operations or procedures; these changes may
affect your equipment. You will be notified of changes in advance; this will give you the
necessary time to make arrangements to maintain uninterrupted telephone service.

If you experience trouble with this telephone equipment, contact your dealer for information
regarding service or repairs. The telephone company may ask that you disconnect this
equipment from the network until the problem has been resolved. I f your equipment continues
to disrupt the network, the telephone company may temporarily disconnect service. If this
happens, you will be informed of your right to file a complaint with the FCC.

The equipment may not be used on coin service provided by the telephone company.
Connection to party lines is subject to state tariffs.

WARNING!
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy. If not installed and used in
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, it could cause interference to radio and
television reception. It has been type tested and complies with the limits for a Class B
computing device in accordance with the specifications in Part 15 of the FCC Rules designed to
provide reasonable protection against interference in a residential installation. there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur. If this equipment causes interference to radio or
television, as determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to correct
the interference with the following measures:

• Reorient the receiving antenna.

• Relocate the computer with respect to the receiver.

• Plug the computer into a different outlet so the computer and receiver are on different
branch circuits.

Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

SHIELDED CABLES

This product has been tested and complies with FCC limits for a Class B computing device.
Using unshielded cables could cause your system to emit excess radio frequency increasing
the change of interference. To comply with FCC regulations, it is necessary to use shielded
DTE cables with your installation.

2

TOTE-A-FAX 542

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

1. Specifications ......................................................................... 3

2. Introduction ............................................................................. 4

2.1 Description ......................................................................... 4

2.2 Features/Benefits ............................................................... 4

2.3 System Requirements ....................................................... 6

3. Installation ............................................................................... 7

4. Operation ................................................................................. 8

4.1 The Basics of Modem Operation ....................................... 8

4.2 Giving Commands to the Modem ...................................... 8

4.3 The AT Command Set for the Tote-A-Fax 542 ................. 10

4.4 S-Registers for the Tote-A-Fax 542 .................................. 14

4.5 Fax Command Set for the Tote-A-Fax 542 ....................... 21

4.6 Result Codes Table for the Data Modem ......................... 25

4.7 Data Compression and Error Detection for the Modem .... 26

5. Troubleshooting ................................................................... 29

3

CHAPTER 1: Specifications

FACSIMILE MODEM

Standards — CCITT V.29/Group III, V.27 ter, V.21 sync
Speed — 9600-, 7200-, 4800-bps
Operation — Half-duplex
Interface — EIA RS-232/CCITT V.24
Certification — FCC Part 68
Transmit Level — 0 to –15 dBm
Receive Level — 0 to –43 dBm
Audio — Provided through built-in speaker

DATA MODEM

Standards — CCITT V.21, V.22, V.22 bis, Bell 103, Bell 211A
Data compression — CCITT V.42, V.42 bis, MNP Level 5
Speed — 2400-, 1200-, 300-bps
Operation — Full-duplex
Interface — EIA RS-232/CCITT V.24
Memory — Built-in non-volatile memory; EEPROM for configuration storage

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

System Requirements — DOS 2.1 or higher, 640K RAM
Ringer Equivalency — 0.4 B (Canadian Load Number: 41 B)
Connectors — (1) DB25 female; (2) RJ-11 telephone interface jacks
Power — 115 VAC± 10%; 60 Hz, or 9-volt battery, 200 mA
Size — 0.8"H x 2.2"W x 4"D (2 x 5.6 x 10.2 cm)
Weight — Shipping weight: 3.5 oz. (.001 kg) (not including optional Power

Supply PS 427)

1. SPECIFICATIONS

4

TOTE-A-FAX 542

2.1 DESCRIPTION

The Tote-A-Fax 542 (FX119A) is a
compact, battery-powered, portable
9600-bps Group III fax and 2400-bps
Hayes®compatible data modem. The
data modem supports today’s most
popular and powerful data
compression and error correction
protocols: CCITT V.42, V.42 bis,
and MNP®Level 5.

The Tote-A-Fax 542 is ideal for
portable, laptop, and notebook PC
users. It is perfect for travelers who
use portable PCs and need a way to
send files from remote locations to
the office mainframe, LAN server,
PC, and/or fax machine.

The Tote-A-Fax 542 is one of our
growing line of ultra-compact
products (modems, line drivers,
muxes) that provide you with full
datacomm support and the conven-
ience of a small enclosure. Like the
Tote-A-Fax (FX112A), it is one of the
smallest fax modems in the world. It
is compatible with all DOS-based
PCs, Windows 3.0, and the Apple
Macintosh®.

With the Tote-A-Fax 542 you can
gather data while “in the field”.
Then connect the Tote-A-Fax 542 to
a telephone (in a hotel room, at
your remote office, an airport, etc.)
and to your portable PC; now you’re
ready to send files anywhere.

2.2 FEATURES/BENEFITS

2.2.1 F

AX MODEM FEATURES

• Compatible with virtually all

portable PCs and with any Group
III fax.

The Tote-A-Fax 542 is compati­ble with CCITT V.29 recom­mendations for Group III fax
transmissions. Send and receive
faxes from your
portable/laptop/notebook PC
(DOS, Windows, or Macintosh
systems) to fax machines any­where at speeds up to 9600 bps.

• Integrated fax and data

communications software.

The integrated fax/data
communications software loads
in just a few minutes to your
portable PC. The software is easy
to use and gives you all of the
functions and options to
compile files, merge many files
into one file, and send any fax or
data file. You can even customize
a cover sheet for transmissions.

2. INTRODUCTION

5

CHAPTER 2: Introduction

• Background Send and Receive

functions.

The Tote-A-Fax 542 sends and
receives fax files in background
mode. You continue to work
while your fax transmissions go
to their destination; you
continue to work while incoming
faxes arrive at your
laptop/portable PC. The Tote-A­Fax 542 doesn’t tie you down or
hold you back from your other
tasks. The end result: you send
and receive your faxes without
wasting time or being distracted
from current work in other
applications.

• Print fax files directly to a

printer.

The Tote-A-Fax 542 will print
your received fax files to your
local Epson dot matrix printer
or Hewlett-Packard LaserJet
II/III laser printer (or
compatible printers). HGA,
CGA, EGA, and VGA mono- and
color-modes are supported, too.
You can make those incoming
faxes jump through a few other
hoops, too: they can be flipped,
compressed, or expanded for
better viewing, and they can be
displayed or printed either
automatically or on demand.

• Schedule fax transmission to

save money.

The Tote-A-Fax 542 lets you
schedule your fax transmissions.
This means you can send files at
some time in the future so that
you can take advantage of lower
telephone rates. You save money
in telephone line connect
charges. Plus the Tote-A-Fax 542
provides an activity log to
monitor and manage your
incoming and outgoing fax calls;
print the activity log to add to
your business account ledger.

• Transmit a fax to a single remote

fax or to any number of fax
machines.

The Tote-A-Fax lets you do a
traditional fax transmission
(point A to point B) and it gives
you the ability to broadcast a fax
file to a group of fax machines.
This would be very helpful to
travellers who need to get the
same information out to a
number of people in different
places.

6

TOTE-A-FAX 542

• Hayes AT Command Set

compatibility.

You can issue any of the Hayes
AT Commands to the Tote-A-Fax
542 for easy control of the
modem’s operations: you don’t
have to learn a new proprietary
communications “language” to
use this fax/data modem.

• Built-in non-volatile memory

supplied by EEPROM for
storing configuration.

• Automatic power down of the

unit for extended life of battery.

Don’t worry if you forget to turn
off the Tote-A-Fax 542—it knows
when to go to sleep to conserve
its battery power.

2.3 System Requirements

• IBM®PC/AT®or compatible
computer with at least 640K
RAM and a hard disk drive with
a minimum of 5MB of available
disk space; or

• Apple Macintosh

®

• EGA/CGA/VGA/HGA adapter
and monitor.

• Direct outside telephone line.

• Printer (optional)

2.2.2 D

ATAMODEMFEATURES

• V.42, V.42 bis, and MNP5 data

compression/error correction
protocol support.

Double or even quadruple your
effective data throughput rate
(from 2400 bps to 4800 bps,
7200 bps, or even 9600 bps). The
Tote-A-Fax 542 will
communicate with other V.42,
V.42bis, and MNP compatible
modems to get your data files to
their destination in less time—
with total accuracy. This saves
you costly telephone connect
time charges and valuable time
while you are on business.

• Compatible with five of the most

popular transmission standards:
CCITT V.21, V.22, V.22 bis,
V.23, Bell 103, and Bell 212A.

The Tote-A-Fax 542 modem can
communicate with most any
modem in the world. This wide
range of standards support is
invaluable to anyone who has to
send files to different modems
on a regular basis. You can send
your files at any of the following
three base speeds: 2400 bps,
1200 bps, 300 bps.

7

7

CHAPTER 3: Installation

Follow these steps to connect the
Tote-A-Fax 542 to your computer:

1. Attach the 110V Power Supply

unit (PS427) to the PWR
connector on the Tote-A-Fax

542. DO NOT PLUG THE POWER

ADAPTER INTO A POWER OUTLET AT
THIS TIME. Wait until step #4 to

apply power to the modem.*

2. Connect the RS-232 connector
on the Tote-A-Fax 542 to the RS­232 port on your personal
computer.

3. Connect one end of the supplied
RJ-11 telephone cable to the
LINE jack on the Tote-A-Fax

542. Connect the other end of
this cable to the telephone line
jack.

4. Plug the Power Supply unit into
a power outlet.*

Here is a listing of the indicators
(LEDs) on the front panel of the on
the Tote-A-Fax 542:

PWR............Power

AA ...............Auto Answer

SD ...............Send Data

RD ...............Receive Data

*You can also operate the Tote-A­Fax 542 with batteries rather than
using the Power Supply unit.

3. INSTALLATION

8

TOTE-A-FAX 542

4.1 The Basics of Modem Operation

After you’ve connected your Tote-A­Fax 542 modem to your personal
computer, you need to establish a
procedure to communicate
(exchange data) with a data modem
in another location.

You now have the hardware
connected: on your end you have
the Tote-A-Fax 542 modem linked to
your PC; on the other (remote) end
there should be a modem attached
to another PC. Each modem is
attached to a telephone line.

A telephone call can be placed
between the two modems over the
telephone line. Once the modems
establish a connection, they need a
common set of parameters (rules
and limits) to exchange data bits.
This is the data communications
protocol.

4.2 Giving Commands to a Modem

Finally, you need a way to “talk” to
your modem through your
computer. You can use the:

• command code for the modem;
learning code is a difficult and
time consuming task.

• Standard AT Command Set to
issue commands to the modem.

The Standard AT Command Set is a
simplified “modem language”
supported by a majority of today’s
modems. It consists of short
groupings of keyboard characters,
followed by a carriage return or
enter key. Each character or
character group represents a
command or series of commands.
Pressing the return key initiates the
command you’ve stated to the
modem. This method of telling your
modem to do certain functions is
quick, simple, and easier to use than
command code.

The Tote-A-Fax 542’s built-in
command set is very compatible with
the Standard AT Command Set. It is
an asynchronous commu-nication
program that you can learn with
little effort. It will let you take
control of your modem through
your PC’s keyboard. The commands
are short, simple, and fast.

4.0 OPERATION

9

CHAPTER 4: Operation

4.2.1 THEAT C

OMMAND

Each command in the Standard AT
Command Set is preceded by the
two-character sequence AT. AT is
short for “Attention!”. You control
and command the modem by first
demanding its “attention” and then
dictating your command. When you
press the return or enter key you
officially initiate the command.

Each AT Command consists of the
following elements:

1. The two-character attention
sequence AT

2. A command

3. A command parameter

4. Press the return key

NOTE: There are two exceptions to this

convention: the A/ and the +++
commands. Both commands are
discussed later in this manual.

A command is not initiated until you
press the carriage return key <CR>.
The modm ignores entries
represented as spaces (that is, if you
press the space bar on your keyboard
the modem does not acknowledge
these characters as part of the
commad).

4.2.2 AT C

OMMANDPARAMETERS

Not all commands have command
parameters associated with them. If
a parameter is missing from an AT
command statement, the value of
zero is assigned to it. Sometimes
zero is actually a valid command
parameter.

Summary

: The sequence of

characters that follow the AT
sequence constitute the core of the
command. They cause the modem
to enter a command state.
Command parameters give the
modem further details about the
command. Pressing the carriage
return key initiates the command
(that is, the modem goes to work).

If you key in AT without a command,
you are simply sending a “wakeup
call” to the modem, telling it to get
ready to listen to a command.

The modem queues commands in a
40-character command line. The
command line beginning with AT
can have several commands.

NOTE: It is not necessary to have a

separator between the commands.

Here is the command line format:

AT command <parameter>command<parameter>

<CR>

The carriage return <CR> termin­ates the command line. When the
modem receives the <CR> the
commands are performed in the
order in which they are sent to the
modem. If more than 40 characters
are sent to the modem an error
occurs; all commands must then be
retentered.

4.3 The AT Command Set for the
Data Modem

The following table gives the AT
commands supported by Tote-A-Fax
542 modem, including a description
of each command, its command
“range” and size. Pertinent notes
are included within the table.