Multitech MT2834ZDX, MT2834ZDXI, MT2834ZDXb, MT2834DXK Quick Reference Manual

FCC Part 15

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for
a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will
not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harm­ful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined
by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Plug the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to
which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is sub­ject to the following conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful
interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference that may
cause undesired operation.

WARNING: 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.

Industry Canada

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian
Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

Cet appareil numerique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du
Reglement sur le materiel brouilleur du Canada.

82034908

v

Quick Reference Guide

Models MT2834ZDX, MT2834ZDXb, MT2834ZDXI, MT2834DXK
P/N 82034908 Revision I (3/5/99)

Copyright ©1999 by Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.
All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without

prior expressed written permission from Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.
Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. makes no representations or warranties with respect to the

contents hereof and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or
fitness for any particular purpose. Furthermore, Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. reserves the
right to revise this publication and to make changes in the content hereof without obli­gation of Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. to notify any person or organization of such revi­sions or changes.

Record of Revisions

Revision Date Description

I 3/5/99 Updated agency, technical support, BBS, and Internet sections;

added URLs; deleted CompuServe section.

Trademarks

MultiModem, MultiModemZDX, Multi-Tech, and the Multi-Tech logo are trade­marks of Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.

Adobe, Acrobat, and Acrobat Reader are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Macintosh is
a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. MNP and Microcom Network
Protocol are trademarks of Microcom, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, Windows 95, and
Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corpora­tion in the United States and/or other countries. ProComm Plus is a registered
trademark of Datastorm Technologies, Inc.

Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.
2205 Woodale Drive
Mounds View, MN 55112 U.S.A

[phone] or [phone]
Fax [phone]
Fax-Back Service [phone]
Technical Support [phone]
BBS [phone] or [phone]
Internet

http://www.multitech.com/

vi

Quick Reference Guide

Chapter 1: Introduction

Congratulations..........................................................................................3

What Is in My Modem Package? ..............................................................4

Chapter 2: Quick Start

Introduction ................................................................................................7

What You’ll Need .......................................................................................7

We supply.............................................................................................7

You supply............................................................................................7

Safety Warnings ........................................................................................8

Step 1: Place the Modem ..........................................................................8

Step 2: Connect the Modem to Your System............................................9

RS232 Connection .............................................................................10

LINE Connection ................................................................................10

PHONE Connection ...........................................................................10

POWER Connection ..........................................................................11

Power-On Test ...................................................................................11

Step 3: Install the Modem in Windows ....................................................12

Adding the Modem to Windows .........................................................12

Removing Your Old Modem from Windows ......................................13

Step 4: Install and Configure Your Software...........................................14

Step 5: Call the Multi-Tech BBS..............................................................16

Windows HyperTerminal ....................................................................16

Windows Terminal..............................................................................18

Running MultiModemZDX Help .........................................................19

References ..............................................................................................20

Chapter 3: Features

What Can I Do with My MultiModemZDX? .............................................23

Features...................................................................................................24

Required Equipment ................................................................................25

Computer............................................................................................25

Serial Cable........................................................................................25

Telephone Line ..................................................................................26

Contents

vii

Communications Software .................................................................26

Connections .............................................................................................27

Connecting to the Computer (“RS232”) .............................................27

Connecting to the Telephone Line (“LINE”).......................................28

Connecting a Telephone Set (“PHONE”)...........................................28

Connecting to Power (“POWER”) ......................................................29

Surge Protectors and Lightning .........................................................29

Front Panel ..............................................................................................30

Speed Indicator Blink Rates ....................................................................32

Chapter 4: AT Commands, S-Registers & Result Codes

AT Commands.........................................................................................35

S-Registers ..............................................................................................56

Result Codes ...........................................................................................59

Chapter 5: Solving Problems

Introduction ..............................................................................................63

None of the LEDs Light When the Modem Is On....................................63

The Modem Does Not Respond to Commands ......................................64

The Modem Dials But Cannot Connect...................................................67

The Modem Disconnects While Online ...................................................69

The Modem Cannot Connect When Answering......................................70

File Transfer Is Slower Than It Should Be ..............................................70

Data Is Being Lost ...................................................................................71

There Are Garbage Characters on the Monitor ......................................71

Fax and Data Programs Can’t Run at the Same Time ...........................72

Appendix A: Regulatory Compliance

FCC Part 68 Telecom..............................................................................75

Fax Branding Statement..........................................................................77

Canadian Limitations Notice....................................................................78

Compliance with BABT Requirements ....................................................79

European Low Voltage Directive .............................................................80

EMC, Safety, and Terminal Directive Compliance..................................80

viii

Quick Reference Guide

CTR21......................................................................................................81

Australian Modem Warning Notice..........................................................81

Modem Commands ............................................................................81

Call Attempts/Retries .........................................................................82

Use of Supplied Power Transformer..................................................82

For Voice Modems .............................................................................82

New Zealand Telecom Warning Notice...................................................83

Use of Supplied Power Transformer..................................................83

Appendix B: Technical Specifications

........................................85

Appendix C: Warranty, Service, and Technical Support

Limited Warranty .....................................................................................89

Service .....................................................................................................90

Technical Support....................................................................................90

Online Warranty Registration ..................................................................91

The Multi-Tech BBS ................................................................................91

To Log on to the Multi-Tech BBS.......................................................91

To Download a File ............................................................................92

About the Internet ....................................................................................93

About the Multi-Tech Fax-Back Service ..................................................94

Contents

ix

x

Quick Reference Guide

1

Introduction

Quick Reference Guide

2

1 Introduction

3

Congratulations

Congratulations on your purchase of the MT2834ZDX fax modem, one
of the finest fax modems available today from one of America’s oldest
and most respected modem manufacturers. The MT2834ZDX complies
with the international V.34 standard for a top speed of 28,800 bits per
second (bps). The MT2834ZDXb complies with the enhanced V.34
standard for a top speed of 33,600 bps. Both models are downward
compatible with all previous standards, including V.32terbo (19,600
bps), V.32bis (14,400 bps), V.32 (9600 bps), V.22bis (2400 bps), and
V.22 (1200 bps). Both are full-duplex intelligent modems with V.42 error
correction, V.42bis data compression, and V.17 (14,400 bps), Class 2,
Group 3 fax capabilities.

This reference guide is for the MT2834ZDX (standard), MT2834ZDXb
(33,600 bps), MT2834ZDXK (UK), and MT2834ZDXI (international)
versions of the modem. Except where specifically noted, references to
the MT2834ZDX should be understood to apply to all versions, whereas
references to the ZDX, ZDXb, ZDXK, and ZDXI refer to specific versions.

In addition to this

Quick Reference Guide

, which you received with your

modem, a complete

Owner’s Manual

is available for the MultiModemZDX

series of modems. The

Owner’s Manual

provides more detailed infor­mation on the operation of your modem, including full descriptions of all
AT commands. It also provides a glossary of terms, and chapters on
modem basics, configuring, and testing.

The complete

Owner’s Manual

is available as a free Windows Help file.
You will find instructions for downloading it from the Multi-Tech BBS on
pages 21–25 of this guide. With the Windows Help version on your
computer, help is never more than a few clicks away.

Quick Reference Guide

4

What Is in My Modem Package?

Your MT2834ZDX package has several components. Make sure you
have them all before trying to operate your modem. Your package
should include:

•

One MT2834ZDX data/fax modem

•

One DC power supply

•

One set of four plastic feet

•

Two sets of Velcro fasteners

•

One telephone cable

•

A communications software disk

•

This

Quick Reference Guide

If any of these items are missing, please contact Multi-Tech Systems or
your dealer/distributor (see Appendix C for information on contacting Multi­Tech via telephone, fax, bulletin board service, and the Internet).

2

Quick Start

Quick Reference Guide

6

2 Quick Start

7

Introduction

We know you’re eager to get your Multi-Tech MultiModemZDX fax mo­dem up and running, so we’ll skip the features for now, and show you
step-by-step how to set it up, check it out, and make your first calls.

What You’ll Need

Before starting, please make sure you have everything you need:

We supply

•

The MT2834ZDX data/fax modem

•

A DC power supply module

•

One set of four plastic feet

•

Two sets of hook-and-loop fasteners

•

One telephone cable

•

A communication software disk

•

This

Quick Reference Guide

You supply

•

A computer with an unused serial port

•

A shielded RS-232 serial cable with a male DB-25 connector on
one end and a connector to match your computer’s serial port on
the other end

•

A nearby AC power outlet

•

A nearby telephone line jack

If you are unfamiliar with computers, please see Chapter 3, “Features,”
for more information about the required equipment before you proceed.

Quick Reference Guide

8

Safety Warnings

•

Use this product only with UL- and CUL-listed computers.

•

To reduce the risk of fire, use only 26 AWG or larger telephone wiring.

•

Never install telephone wiring during a lightning storm.

•

Never install a telephone jack in a wet location unless the jack is
specifically designed for wet locations.

•

Never touch uninsulated telephone wires or terminals unless the
telephone line has been disconnected at the network interface.

•

Use caution when installing or modifying telephone lines.

•

Avoid using a telephone (other than a cordless type) during an electri­cal storm. There may be a remote risk of electrical shock from lightning.

•

Do not use a telephone in the vicinity of a gas leak.

Step 1: Place the Modem

Place the modem near your computer. You can use either plastic feet
or hook-and-loop patches to mount it. To apply the feet, peel them off
the backing strip, and press them into the recesses on the bottom of
the modem. Alternately, or additionally, you can use the included self­adhesive hook-and-loop patches to mount the modem to a vertical surface
or to keep it from being dislodged on a horizontal surface. If you use
the hook-and-loop patches, we recommend that you mount them where
they will not obscure the labels or screws on the bottom of the modem.

Figure 2-1. Mounting the feet.

2 Quick Start

9

Step 2: Connect the Modem to Your System

Placing the MT2834ZDX in a convenient location, connect it to your
com puter’s serial port, to the telephone line, to AC power, and, option­ally, to your telephone.

Figure 2-2. MT2834ZDX connections.

Quick Reference Guide

10

RS232 Connection

Plug one end of the serial cable into the RS232 connector on the mo­dem, and the other end into a serial port connector on your computer,
such as COM1 or COM2.

LINE Connection

Plug one end of the phone cable into the MT2834ZDX’s LINE jack, and
the other end into a phone line wall jack.

Note: The ZDX's LINE jack is not interchangeable with the PHONE
jack. Do not plug the phone into the LINE jack or the line cable into the
PHONE jack.

Note: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Industry
Canada, and the British Approvals Board for Telecommunications
(BABT) impose certain restrictions on equipment connected to public
telephone systems. See Appendix A for more information.

PHONE Connection

You may optionally plug a telephone into the ZDX’s PHONE jack. This
jack is provided as a convenience; you may also plug a telephone into a
duplex jack inserted into your wall jack.

2 Quick Start

11

POWER Connection

Plug the power supply module into an AC power outlet or power strip.
Plug the power supply’s cable into the POWER jack on the modem.

Note: Use only the power supply supplied with the MT2834ZDX. Use
of any other power supply will void the warranty and could damage the
modem.

Power-On Test

Test the modem by turning it on (a power on/off switch is located on the
right side). When you apply power, the modem performs a diagnostic
self-test, indicated by the speed indicators flashing in sequence for a
second or two, after which the 28 indicator should light. If this does not
happen, check that the power switch is on, the power supply is solidly
connected, and the AC outlet is live. If these measures do not work,
see Chapter 6, “Troubleshooting Your Fax Modem.”

Quick Reference Guide

12

Step 3: Install the Modem in Windows

If you use Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT 4.0, you must
install the modem in the operating system. (If you use Windows 3.1 or
another operating system, skip to Step 4.)

Adding the Modem to Windows

1. Make sure your modem is connected properly, then turn on your
computer. Windows should detect your new modem and open the

Install New Modem wizard.

Note: If Windows cannot detect your modem, the modem may be

turned off, it may be unplugged, it may be plugged into the wrong
connector on your computer, or the serial cable may be faulty. See
“None of the LEDs Light When the Modem Is Turned On” and “The
Modem Does Not Respond to Commands” in Chapter 7 of the

User

Guide

, “Solving Problems.”

2. If Windows identifies your modem correctly as a MultiTech Multi­Modem or a MultiModem MT2834ZDX, click Next to install the mo­dem. After the modem is installed, click Finish to exit.

3. If Windows cannot identify your modem (for instance, if it identifies
your modem as a “Standard Modem”), click Change. A dialog box
with a list of manufacturers and a list of modems appears.

4. Select Multitech Systems from the Manufacturers list.

5. Select MultiModem MT2834ZDX from the Models list.

6. Click Next. Windows installs and configures the modem.

7. Click Finish to exit.

2 Quick Start

13

Removing Your Old Modem from Windows

When a new modem replaces another modem, the old modem installa­tion remains in Windows after you install the new modem, and the old
modem is still selected in HyperTerminal and other Windows 95 or NT
applications. Although you can change the application connection de­scriptions one at a time, it is easier to force Windows applications to
use the new modem by removing the old modem from Windows.

1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.

2. Double-click the Modems icon to open the Modems Properties
dialog box.

3. In the list box, select the old modem.

4. Click Remove, then click Close.

5. The next time you dial a HyperTerminal connection, it will select
your new modem and ask you to confirm the selection.

Quick Reference Guide

14

Step 4: Install and Configure Your Software

You must have communications software installed in your computer to
use the MT2834ZDX. If you wish to use communications software that
is already installed, you should reconfigure it for the MT2834ZDX; oth­erwise, install the data and fax communications software provided with
the MT2834ZDX (see software documentation for installation instruc­tions).

1. Install communications software, if necessary.

2. Turn on your computer and run the communications software.

3. Find the dialog box or menu that lets you specify your modem. (In
Windows Terminal select Settings | Modem Commands; in Hyper­Terminal select File | Properties | Phone Number; in ProComm
Plus for Windows select Window | Setup | Advanced; and in Trio
select View | Datacomm | Communications | Setup | Modem |
Select from List.

4. Choose your modem from the software’s modem list. If it isn’t listed,
choose a generic modem and modify the settings as necessary.

5. Change the modem initialization string, if necessary. The factory
default configuration works well for most purposes. To load the fac­tory default configuration, use AT&F. To load a custom configura­tion that was saved using the

&W

command, use ATZ. Note that
the Z command must be in a command string by itself. For a
Macintosh, the initialization string should include the

&D0

com­mand. If you do not want the modem to always answer the phone,
add S0=0 to the string. Depending on the software, you might have
to end the string with a carriage return character (^M).

Note: To change the modem’s default configuration, type new com­mands in the software’s terminal window, adding the

&W

command

to store them in the modem’s nonvolatile memory. For instance, to

2 Quick Start

15

create a default configuration for a Macintosh computer that turns
off autoanswer, type AT&F&D0S0=0&W. The new configuration
loads automatically whenever the modem is turned on or receives
the ATZ command.

6. Select the port the modem is connected to (normally COM1 or
COM2).

7. Select your serial port speed. This can be labeled “maximum
speed,” “DTE bps,” or “baud rate.” Ideally, if you use data compres­sion, you should set your serial port baud rate to four times the mo­dem’s maximum transmission speed or faster; however, few files
can be compressed enough to require speeds that high, and not all
serial ports can handle speeds that high. Set the serial port baud
rate to 115,200 bps if your computer has a high speed serial port
with a 16550AFN UART or equivalent and Windows 95 or NT 4.0,
or set it to 57,600 bps if it has Windows 3.1x. If you have an older
computer with a 14550 UART, set it to 19,200 bps. Older Macintosh
computers can use a serial port baud rate of 57,600 bps; newer
ones can use a serial port baud rate of 115,200 bps or 230,400 bps.

To see what UART your serial port uses if you have Windows 3.1x,
in Program Manager select File | Run, type MSD, and press EN­TER. Select COM Ports to see the UART type. If you have Win­dows 95, select Start | Settings | Control Panel, and double-click
on the Modems icon. In the Modems Properties dialog box, click
the Diagnostics tab, click the port the modem is connected to, and
click More Info to see the UART type. Note that both programs will
identify a 14550 UART as an 8250A UART. If you have an 80386 or
later computer, your UART is most likely a 14550 or 16550AFN.

8. If the software has an autobaud selection, make sure it is disabled.
Autobaud applies only to older modems, and can cause problems if
enabled.

Quick Reference Guide

16

9. If the software allows you to edit the no-connect messages (

NO

CARRIER, BUSY, NO ANSWER, NO DIALTONE

), make sure there

is no space between

DIAL

and

TONE

in

NO DIALTONE

.

10. Refer to the software manual or online Help for other configuration
choices; in most cases you can accept the default values.

Step 5: Call the Multi-Tech BBS

Test the modem’s data functions by calling the Multi-Tech Bulletin Board
System (BBS) and downloading ZDXHELP.HLP, which contains the full

MultiModemZDX Owner’s Manual

in convenient Windows Help format.

Windows HyperTerminal

1. Click Start; then choose Programs, Accessories, and HyperTer-

minal.

2. Start HyperTerminal by double-clicking on the Hypertrm icon. Hy­perTerminal asks for the name of the connection.

3. Type Multi-Tech BBS in the Name box and click OK.

4. In North America, type 800 in the Area code box and 392-2432 in
the Phone number box. Local and international users, type 612 in
the Area code box and 785-3702 in the Phone number box.

5. Verify that your modem is selected in the Connect using box, then
click OK.

6. In the Connect dialog box, click Dialing Properties.

7. Make any necessary changes in the Where I am and the How I dial
from this location boxes. If you must dial 9 to access an outside
line, you should type 9 in both the local and the long distance boxes
unless your phone system has a special requirement.

2 Quick Start

17

8. Click OK, and then click Dial. You will know you have reached a
modem by the harsh sounds of the modem handshake.

9. When the BBS welcome screen appears in the HyperTerminal win­dow, type your first name, last name, and password following the
prompts. If you are a first-time caller, the BBS asks if your name is
spelled correctly. If you answer Y, a questionnaire appears. You
must complete the questionnaire to use the BBS on your first call.

10. Press ENTER until the main menu appears. From the main menu
you have access to two areas: the File Menu and News. For help
with menu commands, type ?.

11. In the Main Menu, type F and press ENTER to access the File
Menu, then type D and press ENTER to download.

12. At the file name prompt, type zdxhelp.hlp and press ENTER.

13. Press ENTER twice more.

14. Type Z and press ENTER to select the Zmodem transfer protocol.

15. The download begins automatically. As the file is copied to the
HyperTerminal folder, a dialog box reports on the progress of the
download. If the download fails, your baud rate may be set too high.
Log off, set the COM port baud rate lower, and call again.

16. To log off the BBS, press ENTER, type G for “good-bye,” and press
ENTER twice more.

17. In the HyperTerminal window, click File, then click Save to save the
HyperTerminal connection description.

Quick Reference Guide

18

Windows Terminal

1. Open the Accessories program group and double-click on the
Terminal icon.

2. Select the Settings menu and make the following changes:

Phone Number:

Type 1-800-392-2432 if you are in North America,
or type an overseas access code and 612-785-3702 if you are out­side North America.

Communications:

Select the COM port the modem is connected to
and change the following: Baud rate to 19200; Flow control to
Hardware; and Carrier Detect to checked.

Modem Commands:

Select MultiTech. If you must dial 9 to get an

outside line, type ATDT9, in the Dial prefix box (include the comma).

3. Click File, then click Save, and save as multibbs.trm.

4. Click Phone, then click Dial to dial the BBS. You will know you have
reached a modem by the harsh sounds of the modem handshake.

5. When the BBS welcome screen appears in the Terminal window,
type your first name, last name, and password following the
prompts. If you are a first-time caller, the BBS asks if your name is
spelled correctly. If you answer Y, a questionnaire appears. You
must complete the questionnaire to use the BBS on your first call.

6. Press ENTER until the main menu appears. From the main menu
you have access to two areas: the File Menu and News. For help
with menu commands, type ?.

7. In the Main Menu, type F and press ENTER to access the File
Menu, then type D and press ENTER to download.

8. At the file name prompt, type zdxhelp.hlp and press ENTER.

9. Press ENTER twice more.

2 Quick Start

19

10. Type X and press ENTER to select the Xmodem transfer protocol.

11. To begin the download in Terminal, click Transfers, then click
Receive binary file. Next, select the destination directory, type the
file name (zdxhelp.hlp), and click OK. If the download fails, your
baud rate may be set too high. Log off, set the COM port baud rate
lower, and call again.

12. To log off the BBS, press ENTER, type G for “good-bye,” and press
ENTER twice more.

Running MultiModemZDX Help

Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0

1. Open the folder into which you downloaded the ZDXHELP.HLP file.

2. Move the file to a permanent location on your hard drive.

3. Double-click on the Zdxhelp icon to run MultiModemZDX Help.

4. Press F1 for help in using MultiModemZDX Help.

Windows 3.x

1. Open the directory into which you downloaded the ZDXHELP.HLP file.

2. Move the file to a permanent location on your hard drive.

3. In File Manager, select ZDXHELP.HLP, then click on File, Associate.

4. In the Associate With box, type winhelp.exe, and then click OK.

5. Double-click on the ZDXHELP.HLP file name to run it.

6. To create an icon for easier access to MultiModemZDX Help, drag
the ZDXHELP.HLP file name from File Manager into any Windows
program group, such as Main.

Quick Reference Guide

20

References

The World Wide Web is an excellent source of information about mo­dems in general and modem installation, configuration, and trouble­shooting in particular. The following Web sites are good places to start:

• Costmo’s Other Resources Page:

http://modems.rosenet.net/or/

• Curt’s High Speed Modem Page:

http://elaine.teleport.com/~curt/modems.html

• Data Communications FAQ:

http://www.best.com/~malch/comfaq.html

• Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.:

http://www.multitech.com/

3

Features

Quick Reference Guide

22