RocketModem™ ISA V.34
Hardware Installation Card
Product Overview
The RocketModem multimodem card is Hayes® compatible
and contains four or eight RJ11 modem ports, depending
on the model, that can operate at speeds up to 33.6 Kbps.
RocketModem features for this model includes:
• Four or eight RJ11 modem ports.
• Bootable diagnostic tests on the CD.
• Individual software controlled modem reset capability.
Note: See the Software Installation and Configuration
Note: If the Comtrol RocketModem is not among the
Installing the RocketModem
This RocketModem card has a DIP switch that is used to set
the I/O address. The factory default value is 180
(hexadecimal).
You will need to change the DIP switch setting on the card,
if:
• Existing peripherals in the system overlap or use the
• You are installing more than one RocketModem ISA.
To install a single RocketModem, follow these steps:
Note: For best results, we recommend installing
1. Determine if you need to change the DIP switches from
Guide for information about installing software,
and using the AT command set and the reset feature.
Characteristic RocketModem Support
Supported standards
Error correction V.42, MNP2-4, MNP10
Data compression V.42bis, MNP5
Fax group Group 3
Fax class Class 1.0 and Class 2
Reset Software controlled
modem models listed in your software applications
modem list, you can select SupraFAXModem
288(336) for fax emulation and Zoom Telephonics
Zoom V.34X for modem emulation.
default I/O value (180h).
You must change the DIP switch setting on the second
and subsequent cards.
RocketModem cards one at a time to simplify the
configuration process.
the default value of 180h. To reset the DIP switch, see
the Setting I/O Address DIP Switches section.
V.34, V.32turbo, V.32bis,
V.32, V.22bis
2. Turn off your computer and remove the system unit
cover.
3. Select an available ISA or EISA slot and remove the
slot cover. For EISA installation, see the Installing a
RocketModem on an EISA Bus section.
Note: The RocketModem ISA requires a full-length ISA or
4. Write down the Rocket Modem serial number.
5. Insert the RocketModem into the expansion slot. Make
6. Reinstall the expansion slot cover screw.
7. Connect standard RJ11 (telephone) cables between the
8. Turn on the computer and run the Diagnostics
9. After the RocketModem has successfully passed
After you have successfully installed one RocketModem,
you can install additional RocketModem cards by
repeating this process.
Installing a RocketModem on an EISA Bus
If you are installing a RocketModem in a computer with an
EISA bus, you may need to use the EISA configuration
files. You can find these in the \EISACFG directory on the
CD. The EISAREAD.TXT file contains information on
using the EISACFG files.
EISA slot.
Card
1
2
3
4
* The tag is located on the back (non-chip) of the card.
sure that it is seated securely.
Note: After you install and configure the
RocketModem ports and the phone line jacks.
program to verify that the RocketModem is installed
and working correctly. For instructions, see the
Troubleshooting and Running Diagnostics section.
diagnostics, install and configure the device driver for
your operating system using the RocketModem
Software Installation and Configuration Guide or the
README file released with the driver.
Model
Number*
RocketModem, make sure the system cover is
closed and the ventilation fan is unobstructed.
The RocketModem generates a significant
amount of heat. If you install more than one
RocketModem, you may want to add an
additional internal fan.
Serial Number* I/O Address
RocketModem™ ISA V.34 1 of 7
Setting I/O Address DIP Switches
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
FIRST
SECOND
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
RocketModem or
RocketPort #1
DIP Switch Settings (I/O
Address Range) (Continued)
This RocketModem (and the ISA-bus RocketPort series)
use I/O address ranges at 40h (hex) intervals above the
base I/O range. If you are mixing RocketModem and
RocketPort ISA cards, you treat the cards the same for the
purpose of setting the I/O switch.
The first card requires a 68-byte I/O address range.
Subsequent cards use a 64-byte range. Most peripherals
use I/O address ranges between 0 and 3FF hex. If you have
peripherals installed above 400h, you may experience an
I/O conflict and will need to reset the DIP to an available
address for your system.
The first card installed determines the switch settings for
subsequent cards. For example, if you are installing two
cards and using the default I/O address range, you would
set the DIP switches on the cards as follows:
Example DIP Switch Settings
1st RocketModem
or RocketPort
180(hex)
2nd RocketModem
or RocketPort
RocketModem or
RocketPort #1
DIP Switch Settings (I/O
ON
1
ON
1
Address Range)
ON
100 – 143 hex
140 – 183 hex
180 – 1C3 hex
ON
ON
(Default)
380 – 3C3 hex
ON
1. If you are installing one RocketModem, set the DIP
switch as shown in this table.
2. If you are installing two RocketModem cards, follow
Step 1 for the first card, then set the DIP switches on
the second card to be the same as the switches on the
first card, except that switch 5 is off.
3. If you are installing three RocketModem cards,
follow Steps 1 and 2 for the first and second card,
then set the DIP switches on the third card to be the
same as the switches on the first card, except that
switch 6 is off.
4. If you are installing four RocketModem cards,
follow Steps 1 through 3 for the first, second, and
third cards, then set the DIP switches on the fourth
card to be the same as the switches on the first card,
except that switches 5 and 6 are off.
Port Identification
Comtrol numbers the modem ports on the
RocketModem mounting bracket as shown
in the illustration on the right. The port on
the “top” edge of the card is modem Line 1,
and the port at the “bottom” edge of the
card, nearest the bus connector, is Line 8.
A four-modem version of the RocketModem
card is also available. The four-modem
version uses the same mounting bracket
and connector block as the eight-modem
version, but ports 5 through 8 are blocked
with blank plugs.
You cannot upgrade the four-modem model
to an eight-modem model.
Modem
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Hardware Installation Card 2 of 7
200 – 243 hex
240 – 283 hex
280 – 2C3 hex
300 – 343 hex
340 – 383 hex
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
Troubleshooting and Running Diagnostics
The first step to troubleshooting a problem is to determine
that your RocketPort is functioning properly. To do so, you
can make a bootable diskette.
You need two files to make a bootable floppy diagnostic
diskette:
• The Rawrite utility that makes a bootable diagnostics
diskette.
• The diskette image file (*.i).
You can find both files on the Comtrol Software and
Documentation CD, or you can download them from the ftp
site.
How to Make Bootable Diagnostic Diskettes
installing the device driver.
To run the diagnostics, you need to make a bootable
diagnostics diskette using a High-Density (HD), 1.44MD
diskette and using the appropriate directions for your
operating system. Contained in each Diag directory are
the following files:
• Diskette image file (*.i)
• Rawrite.exe
• Rawrite3.doc
Windows Environment
To make a bootable diagnostics diskette:
1. Obtain a formatted 1.44MB diskette.
2. Go to the appropriate Diag directory for your hardware
type and double-click on Rawrite.exe.
Note: You can quit Rawrite at any time by typing ^C or
CTRL-Break.
3. Enter the disk image source file name. For example,
150xxxxY.i, where xxxx are numbers and Y is an alphacharacter.
4. Enter the target diskette drive. For example, a.
5. Insert the formatted diskette into the target drive and
press the ENTER key.
Note: For more information about Rawrite.exe, refer to
the rawrite3.doc document in the appropriate
Diag directory.
DOS Environment
To make a bootable diagnostics diskette:
1. Obtain a formatted 1.44MB diskette.
Note: To format a diskette in drive: a, type at the DOS
prompt: format a:.
2. At the DOS prompt, enter the appropriate directory
from the CD. For example,
d<drive letter>:\<appropriate path>
3. To start Rawrite, type
<drive>\rawrite
4. Enter the disk image source file name. For example,
150xxxxY.i
where xxxx are numbers and Y is an alpha-character.
5. Enter the target diskette. For example, a
6. Insert the formatted diskette into the target drive and
press the Enter key.
Note: For more information about Rawrite.exe, refer to
the rawrite3.doc document in the appropriate Diag
directory.
UNIX Environment
To make a bootable diagnostics diskette, use the dd
command to copy the diskette image file out to a floppy
drive. For example,
dd if=<current path>/<diskette image file>of=/
dev/rfd0135ds18 (primary 3.5” drive)
dd if=<current path>/<diskette image file>of=/
dev/rfd1135ds18 (secondary 3.5” drive)
For more information about dd, please refer to your
operating system’s man pages.
Diagnostics Overview
After you make a bootable diagnostic diskette, you can use
the diagnostic program to:
• Confirm that the hardware is functioning.
• Determine resolutions to conflicts during installation.
• Provide you with the ability to stress test the cards.
For example, you may want to run the diagnostics
overnight to evaluate a possible problem. You sill need
loopback plugs for each port that you want to stress test. If
you need additional loopback plugs, you can use the
appropriate Building Loopback Plugs section in this
document to build additional loopback plugs.
Using the Diagnostics
After you have installed one or more RocketModem cards
in your computer, use the diagnostic program to establish
that the card is working, before
The diagnostic program is an operating systemindependent program that you can find on the Comtrol
Software and Documentation CD, or you can download
them form the ftp site. You must boot the system from the
diagnostic diskette in order to run the diagnostic program.
Follow these steps:
1. Insert the Diagnostics diskette into the floppy drive.
2. Turn on the computer. The diagnostic program starts
automatically on boot-up.
The diagnostic title screen appears. Note the release
number and date. You may need this information if
you contact Comtrol technical support.
3. Press any key to continue.
If you do not have any RocketModem i or
RocketModemII cards installed, a message screen
appears notifying you that you must configure the ISA
cards for the diagnostic to run.
4. Press any key to continue.
A list of ISA-bus RocketModem models appears.
5. Select the letter that corresponds to the model that you
have installed, select NOT INSTALLED if you have no
RocketModem/ISA cards in the system, or select X to
exit the diagnostic.
If you select an ISA-bus model, a list of valid I/O
addresses (A through K) appears:
a. Select the letter for the I/O address that you used
when installing the card. A list of valid IRQ
interrupts appears.
b. Select the letter for the IRQ that you used when
installing the card.
Note: Some drivers require an IRQ. If this is a new
installation, the correct entry will be I: NO IRQ.
c. The diagnostic program loops back to Step 5.
d. If you have more than one ISA RocketModem
Hardware Installation Card 3 of 7
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