US Robotics Sportster Flash x2 User Manual

FLASH x2

User’s Guide

This manual covers installation and operating instructions for the
following U.S. Robotics modems:

· Sportster Flash with x2

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: This product is capable of download speeds
up to 56Kbps; however, the download speeds you experience may be
lower due to varying line conditions. We are continuing to test and
improve our modem technology to achieve faster speeds. Visit our Web
site at http://www.3Com.com for future updates and enhancements.

The material contained in this document is for information purposes only
and is subject to change without notice. 3Com 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.

No part of this document may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, or
stored in a retrieval system in any form or by any means, mechanical,
magnetic, electronic, optical, chemical or otherwise, without the written
permission of 3Com.

3Com and the 3Com logo, U.S. Robotics and the U.S. Robotics logo are
registered trademarks of 3Com Corp. Any trademarks, tradenames,
service marks or service names owned or registered by any other
company and used in this manual are the property of their respective
companies.

3Com assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this manual.
Nor does 3Com make any commitment to update the information
contained herein.

1997 3Com Corporation

Table of Contents

3COM/U.S. ROBOTICS : THE INTELLIGENT CHOICE IN

INFORMATION ACCESS™.................................................................... 1

WELCOME TO X2 INFORMATION ACCESS......................................3

FEATURES.............................................................................................5

EXTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION.................................................... 7

COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE........................................................11

SPORTSTER FLASH AND X2..............................................................15

ENHANCED X2 FEATURES .....................................................................15

HOW TO TELL IF X2 IS ENABLED IN YOUR MODEM ....................................16

HOW X2 WORKS.................................................................................. 16

The Shift from Analogue to Digital Circuits......................................17

Client and Server Modems .............................................................17

Making x2 Work..............................................................................18

CONTROLLING X2.................................................................................18

CONTROLLING LINK SPEEDS WITH &N AND &U....................................... 19

Controlling Link Speeds..................................................................19

Limiting the Highest Possible Connect Speed.................................19

Limiting the Lowest Possible Connect Speed ..................................20

Limiting a Range of Possible Connect Speeds................................20

&N and &U Command Values.........................................................21

TROUBLESHOOTING X2 CLIENT CONNECTIONS ........................................22

NEW X2 RESULT CODES.......................................................................23

NEW X2 RESULT CODES (CONTINUED)...................................................24

TROUBLESHOOTING..........................................................................25

U.S. ROBOTICS ON-LINE RESOURCES.............................................29

ARE YOU STILL HAVING PROBLEMS?...................................................... 30

IF YOU MUST RETURN THE MODEM TO US..............................................31

GLOSSARY..........................................................................................33

QUICK REFERENCE ............................................................................43

SPORTSTER FLASH SPECIFICATIONS.............................................65

CE MARK............................................................................................66

Electromagnetic Compatibility.........................................................66

SAFETY...............................................................................................66

LIMITED WARRANTY..........................................................................67

3Com/U.S. Robotics :

C

The Intelligent Choice in

Information Access™

ongratulations! You have just purchased the Sportster Flash
modem. Since 1976, 3Com/U.S. Robotics has grown to become

a key manufacturer and developer of information access
technology. 3Com/U.S. Robotics advanced technology allows you to
use your faxmodem to open up a new world of information access.
Now you can take advantage of the highest transfer rates available
today with our new x2™ technology!

As an innovator in the data communications field, 3Com/U.S. Robotics
has a history of bringing the latest technology to market at an affordable
price.

3Com/U.S. Robotics owns the core technology, known as the data
pump, that works in its access products. This allows 3Com/U.S.
Robotics to bring new technologies and features to market faster and at
a lower cost, while passing the savings on to you.

Be sure to read the following section to learn more about the latest
3Com/U.S. Robotics breakthrough, x2 technology. Your new 56K
Professional Message Modem takes advantage of this technology to
make connecting over analog lines faster than ever before.

For more information on 3Com/U.S. Robotics, visit the 3Com/U.S.
Robotics World Wide Web Home Page at: http://www.3com.com.

Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide 1

2 Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide

Welcome to x2 Information

Access

The latest breakthrough in online communications

Until now, 33.6Kbps was thought to be the practical limit for speed over
standard phone lines. Now, x2 shatters that barrier, to bring you
download speeds of up to 56Kbps. However, the download speeds you
experience may be lower due to varying line conditions. This modem is
software upgradeable, allowing easy upgrades to new features and
enhancements as they become available.

An integrated end-to-end solution from the leader

3Com is well positioned to bring you x2 technology. Our U.S. Robotics
modems are the world's number one seller, and our Total ControlTM and
CourierTM product lines are favored by many Internet service providers.
This widespread acceptance allows 3Com to offer x2 technology to
virtually anyone.

Taking advantage of the modern telephone network

x2 technology uses the increasingly digital telephone network to bring
you faster downloads, by eliminating the analog-to-digital conversion in
the downstream path.

x2 takes advantage of the typical network configuration found when an
analog subscriber connects to a digitally connected server. Since x2
bypasses the analog-to-digital conversion in the downstream path, it
can use nearly all of the available 64K network bandwidth. (Upstream
data, typically less speed sensitive, travels at the standard V.34 rate.)

Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide 3

The result is a completely new kind of transmission technique. Based
on “encoding” rather than “modulation,” it can give you download
speeds that you never thought possible. What’s more, with standard
V.42bis compression, x2 can download at speeds up to a blistering

115.2Kbps.

The new standard for online speed

3Com has already submitted x2 to the ITU-T standards committee for
acceptance as the next online standard.

For more information on U.S. Robotics x2 technology, see our World
Wide Web page at http://.3com.com.

4 Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide

Features

Data Communications

Your modem offers a range of internationally accepted standard
modulation methods and protocols. It utilises hardware-based
V.42/MNP 2-4 error control and V.42 bis/ MNP 5 data compression.

Your modem will transmit at speeds up to 33,600 bps with throughput
to 115,200 bps. Also, it is universally compatible with the following
standards: V.34, V.32 bis, V.32, V.22 bis, Bell 212A/V.22, V.23, V.21
modems.

Fax Capability

You can use your modem with Class 1 or Class 2.0 fax software to
exchange faxes with Group 3 fax machines world-wide at speeds up to

14.400 bps.

Flash ROM Upgradable

Sportster Flash supports software download through flash memory.
You can download upgrades to obtain quickly and easily the latest
features.

Speakerphone*

You can use your new Sportster as a full-duplex speakerphone without
the echoing sound of some speakerphones. The full-duplex feature
allows you to speak at the same time as someone on the other end
without losing any sound quality. This affords you all the convenience
of a speakerphone without the extra hardware and leads for the home
or office.

The external modems have built-in microphones.

Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide 5

Personal Voice Mail*

With Personal Voice Mail, your modem is a full-featured messaging
system offering business-quality voice mail features in the convenience
of your home or office.

Using this feature, you can send voice greetings and record voice
messages like a standard answering machine with several “voice
mailboxes” on one system. You can even access your voice messages
remotely. Your modem will auto-detect incoming fax, voice, and data
calls and provides fax-on-demand services you can tailor to your needs.

* A headset, external powered speakers or soundcard is required
to utilise all voice features including hands-free speakerphone.

6 Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide

External Modem Installation

Getting Started

This chapter will walk you through the installation of your external
modem with your personal computer.

Before getting started, make sure that you have the following
items:

· Modem

· Serial Cable

· Data/Fax/Voice software and User Guide

· RJ11 - telephone lead & Tail lead adaptor

· Power Adaptor

· PSTN (Standard) Telephone Socket

· This Guide
There are two parts to installation: software and hardware. Software

allows you to communicate with your modem so that you can send and
receive data and faxes, as well as activate voice features. Software
installation is discussed in your communications software user guide.
Hardware is the modem itself, which will be connected to your computer
by the serial cable.

Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide 7

Hardware Installation Steps

Power

on/off

To speaker

To phone

To power

source

To wall

To computer

Volume

Before you begin the modem installation, turn off your computer and
any attached devices, such as a printer. Follow these steps to install
your modem. Refer to the drawing below of the back panel.

1. Connect the serial cable to the modem and to the computer.
When looking for your serial port label on the back of your
computer, select COM, MODEM, RS-232, or SERIAL.

Do NOT select AUX, GAME, LPT, or PARALLEL.
Note which serial port you selected.

This information will be necessary when installing your
communications software.

2. Plug the power adaptor into the power socket and into a
standard wall outlet.

3. Plug one end of the phone lead into the telephone socket
(labelled with a wall plug icon on the bottom of the case) and the
other end into a phone wall socket.

4. If you wish to use your modem and phone through the same
phone wall socket, plug your phone's lead into the modem's
other socket (labelled with a phone icon on the bottom of the

case), using the supplied Tail lead adaptor.

5. An external powered speaker must be connected for speakerphone
use. For more information, see the next page and consult your
software manual.

socket

8 Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide

Speaker Attachment

An external powered speaker or headset can be connected to the 3.5
mm speaker socket located on the back of your Sportster. This
accessory is required when using the speakerphone and voice mail
facilities.

Microphone

The microphone that is built into your modem is located on the front
panel.

Installing your Software

1. Insert the software diskette included with your modem or
another modem software disk. If using other software, consult
its own manual for installation procedures.

2. From Program Manager, choose File. Then choose Run and
type a:\install and press <Enter>.

3. Once the software is installed, enter the software group and
click on the application icon.

You have successfully finished installing your modem and software.

Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide 9

10 Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide

Communications Software

Note: If you are using the communications software included with your
modem, you can disregard this chapter. However, if you are using your
own communications software, please refer to the software's manual
and this chapter.
Communications software allows you to change settings and issue
commands to your modem.
The software included with your modem is pre-configured for optimal
performance with the Sportster. Refer to the software manual for any
additional information. Be sure to install software after the modem is
installed.

Configuring Your Modem

Some programs allow you to select your modem type from a menu.
Select the appropriate U.S. Robotics Sportster High Speed modem. If
yours is not present, try a Courier Dual Standard, V.32 bis, V.FC, or V.

34.

Other programs require you to enter an initialisation string in the
software Modem Set-up screen. If this is the case, enter the following
string to initialise your modem with the optimal settings for your PC:

AT&F1<Enter>.

These settings include: hardware flow control, a fixed serial port rate,
and full result codes.
If you must use software flow control, enter the following string:

AT&F2<Enter>

Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide 11

Configuring Your Software

1. Turn on your computer and modem

2. Install your communications software (refer to the software's
documentation).

3. From DOS, change to your Windows directory and
type MSD.

Type C for COM Ports. Find the line UART Chip Used and
match it with the COM Port column to which you attached
your modem to determine the UART type (usually 8250,
16450, or 16550). Remember your UART type for step 5.

4. Start your communications software program.

5. Set the software's serial port (baud) rate based on your UART
type. Also, fix or lock the serial port rate (if referred to as
autobaud, select OFF).

UART Serial Rate

16550 115.2K or 57.6K bps
16450 38.4K bps
8250 19.2K bps

6. Specify the serial (COM) port used by the modem in your
communications software if working in DOS. Check the serial
port to which your modem is connected.

7. Specify your modem's flow control setting: RTS/CTS for
hardware flow control (highly recommended) or XON/XO FF for
software flow control. You should disable the flow control
method you are not using.

12 Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide

Testing Your Installation

1. To test your modem and software installation, perform the
software function that puts your computer in Terminal mode. In
Terminal mode, a cursor appears on your screen, allowing you
to send commands directly to the modem.

2. To determine if your computer and modem are communicating
properly, type the following command: AT E1 Q V1<Enter>

· If the COM port and IRQ settings are correct on your

modem and in your software, the modem responds: OK

· If the characters you type do not appear, no OK appears, or

double characters appear, see the Troubleshooting section
in this guide.

Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide 13

14 Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide

Sportster Flash and x2

Congratulations on your purchase of x2 56K technology! x2 is a
revolutionary new technology that allows your modem to use
normal analogue phone lines to enable download speeds up to
56kbps.

Information about x2

For more information about x2, visit the 3Com, U.S. Robotics
brand x2 Web Site at http://www.3Com.com.

Enhanced x2 Features

Your Sportster modem with x2 has new result codes and the following
new features. Refer to later sections for more information.

To do this Use this command

Detemine if x2 is enabled in your modem
Disable or enable x2
Limit the upper speed limit of an x2

connection
Limit the lower speed limit of an x2

connection

Note: New x2 features should be transparent to most users. If you are
an advanced user, see ”Controlling x2” and “Controlling Link Speeds
with &N and &U” for detailed information regarding these new features.

Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide 15

ATI7
ATS32.5=1 or 0
AT&N

AT&U

How to Tell if x2 is Enabled in Your
Modem

If you are not sure whether x2 is enabled in your Sportster modem, use
the ATI7 command to display product configuration information. If x2 is
enabled on your Sportster modem, the following information displays:

USRobotics Sportster Configuration Profile...
Product type (Country) External
Options V32bis, V.34+,x2
Fax Options Class 1/Class 2.0
Clock Freq 92.0Mhz
Eprom 256k
Ram 64k

FLASH date 6/30/97
FLASH rev 10.1.68
Serial Number xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

OK

Note: Dates, serial numbers, and revision numbers may vary. The
most important line is the “Options” line, which lists support for x2.

How x2 Works

U.S. Robotics brand x2 technology enables analogue modems to
receive data at up to 56 kbps over the standard analogue, public
switched telephone network (PSTN). x2 overcomes the limitations
imposed on standard, analogue modems by exploiting the digital
connections that most Internet and online service providers have at
their end to connect to the PSTN.

16 Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide

The Shift from Analogue to Digital Circuits

When the first telephone networks were established, they were
completely analogue. Over time, telephone companies began replacing
portions of their analogue networks with digital circuits, which provided
a higher telephone signal quality at a more economical price.

Today, the PSTN is almost entirely digital. Typically, the only portion of
the telephone network that remains analogue is the line that connects
your home to the telephone company's local exchange. The rest of the
telephone network is digital.

Client and Server Modems

x2 will not require changes to your wiring and equipment that's already
in place. All that is required to use x2 is a software upgrade.

Client Modems

x2 client modems can receive data at speeds up to 56kbps* and send
data at V.34 speeds up to 33,600bps. The following products are
examples of U.S. Robotics brand Client Modems:

• Courier™ V.Everything™ with x2

• Sportster® with x2

• Analogue Modem Pools or NETServer with x2

Server Modems

The digital x2 modems that x2 client modems connect to are called x2
server modems. Server modems can send data to x2 client modems at
speeds up to 56kbps. A server must have a “digital” interface to the
PSTN. This digital interface can be in the form of a “trunk-side” T1,
Primary Rate Interface (PRI) , or Basic Rate Interface (BRI). The
following products are examples of server x2 modems:

• Courier I-modem with x2 (in Server Mode)

• Quad Modem 5.0/5.1 (in Server Mode)

*

Pending line conditions

Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide 17

• MP I-modem or NETServer I-modem with x2

Making x2 Work

To use x2, the x2 client modem must connect to an x2 server modem.
If clients attempt to connect to ISPs that do not use x2, the client
modem will negotiate the next available modulation. For example, an
x2 client modem calling into an ISP that only supports V.34, will
negotiate the highest V.34 connection rate. The maximum V.34
connection speed is 33.6kbps.

When an x2 client modem connects to an x2 server modem, the path
through the telephone network between the modems is subject to the
following conditions for an x2 connection to be made.

A Digital Connection At One End

ISPs or online services must have a digital connection to the PSTN.
Most major online services have digital connections to the PSTN.

Only One Digital-to-Analogue Conversion

There can be only one digital-to-analogue conversion in the telephone
network between the x2 server modem and the x2 client modem.

Controlling x2

Use the following S58 settings to control x2:

To do this Use this command

Disable x2
Enable x2 (default)

18 Sportster Flash x2 - User’s Guide

S32.5=1
S32.5=0