Us robotics Sportster Voice 56K faxmodem User Manual

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

• • Sportster Voice 56K ∗∗ internal and external modems

U.S. Robotics, the USRobotics logo, and Sportster are registered trademarks and Connections,
Total Control, Courier, RapidComm, x2, and the x2 logo are trademarks of U.S. Robotics. Windows
is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe
Inc. America Online is a registered trademark of America Online Inc. Any other trademarks, trade
names, service marks, or service names owned or registered by any other company and used in this
manual are the property of their respective companies.

© 1997 U.S. Robotics
7770 North Frontage Road
Skokie, IL 60077-2690
All Rights Reserved

∗∗ IMPORTANT! This modem is 56Kbps capable. However, current FCC rules limit download

speeds to 53Kbps. See page 3 for details.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

U.S. Robotics: The Intelligent Choice in Information Access 1
Welcome to x2 Information Access 2
Product Features 4
Read This First! 6
Part I - Internal Modem Installation 6

Section A: Internal Modem Installation with Windows 3.x 7

A Word about COM Ports and IRQs 8
How to Use ComTest to Determine Your Modem’s Settings 9
What to Do with ComTest’s Recommendation 13
How to Change the Factory Settings 16
How to Insert the Modem 17
Installing RapidComm Voice with the Setup Wizard 24
Sending Your First Fax 37

Section B: Internal Modem Installation with Windows 95 40

Plug and Play Installation 40
How to Prepare for Plug and Play Installation 41
How to Insert the Modem 42
How to Move Through the “New Hardware Found” Screens 46
Installing RapidComm Voice with the Setup Wizard 49

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sending Your First Fax 63

Part II - External Modem Installation 66

Section A: External Modem Installation with Windows 3.x 67

How to Determine Which Serial Cable to Buy 67
How to Hook Up the Modem 69
Installing RapidComm Voice with the Setup Wizard 70
Sending Your First Fax 83

Section B: External Modem Installation with Windows 95 86

How to Determine Which Serial Cable to Buy 86
How to Hook Up the Modem 88
How to Move Through the “New Hardware Found” Screens 89
Installing RapidComm Voice with the Setup Wizard 92
Sending Your First Fax 106

Part III - Beyond Setup 109

Section A: Installing Other Fax/Data/Voice Software 110

Type of Modem 110
Initialization String 110
Flow Control 111
UART (External Modems Only) 111

Section B: Troubleshooting and Online Help Resources 112

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Internal Modem Users Only 118
If You Are Running DOS 6.0 or Higher 118
Online Help Resources 119
Are You Still Having Problems? 123
If You Must Return the Modem to Us 123
RapidComm Voice Troubleshooting Tips 124

A Note to Users with Older Versions of RapidComm on Their Systems 125
Section C: Glossary 126
Section D: Technical Quick Reference 139

Front Panel Lights 140

Command Summary 141

DIP Switches (Modems with DIP Switches Only) 156

S-Registers 158

The Serial Interface 169
Section E: Regulatory Information 171

Manufacturer’s Declaration of Conformity 171

Caution to the User 172

IC (Canada) 172

UL Listing/CUL Listing 173

Connecting to the Telephone Company 173

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Fax Branding 173

Radio and Television Interference 174

For Canadian Modem Users 175

Limited Warranty 179

Index 181

v

U.S. ROBOTICS: THE INTELLIGENT CHOICE IN

INFORMATION ACCESS

ongratulations! You have just purchased the

C

Sportster® Voice 56K faxmodem. Since
1976, U.S. Robotics has grown to become a key
manufacturer and developer of information access
technology. U.S. Robotics’ advanced technology
allows you to use your faxmodem to open up a
new world of information access. And 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,
U.S. Robotics has a history of bringing the latest
technology to market at an affordable price.

U.S. Robotics owns the core technology, known
as the data pump, that works in its access
products. This allows 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 U.S. Robotics
breakthrough, x2 technology. Your new Sportster
takes advantage of this technology to make
connecting over analog lines faster than ever
before.

For more information on U.S. Robotics, visit the
U.S. Robotics World Wide Web Home Page at:

http://www.usr.com.

1

WELCOME TO X2 INFORMATION ACCESS

However, due to FCC rules which restrict
power output of your service provider’s
modems, current download speeds are limited
to 53Kbps. This modem is easily upgradable
to new features and enhancements as they
become available.

An integrated end-to-end
solution from the leader

The latest breakthrough in
online communications

Until now, 33.6 Kbps 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 56 Kbps.

2

U.S. Robotics is well positioned to bring you
x2 technology. Our Sportster 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 U.S.
Robotics to offer x2 technology to virtually
anyone.

WELCOME TO X2 INFORMATION ACCESS

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.

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.42 bis
compression, x2 can download at speeds up
to a blistering 115.2 Kbps.

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

The new standard for online
speed

U.S. Robotics 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://x2.usr.com.

3

PRODUCT FEATURES

Your new x2 modem
provides many advanced
features. Here are just a
few:

Modulation Schemes

x2 technology
ITU-T V.34+
ITU-T V.34
ITU-T V.32bis
ITU-T V.32
ITU-T V.22bis
ITU-T V.22
ITU-T V.23
Bell 212A
ITU-T V.21
Bell 103

Error Control and Data
Compression Schemes

ITU-T V.42
ITU-T V.42bis

MNP 2-5

Fax Modulation Schemes

ITU-T V.17
ITU-T V.29
ITU-T V.27ter
ITU-T V.21

Fax Standards

EIA 578 Class 1 FAX
EIA 592 Class 2.0 FAX

Front Channel Link Rates

33333, 37333, 41333, 42666,
44000, 45333, 46666, 48000,
49333, 50666, 52000, 53333,
54666, 56000, 57333

Back Channel Link Rates

14400, 16800, 19200, 21600,
24000, 26400, 28800, 31200

V.34+ Link Rates

4800, 7200, 9600, 12000, 14400,
16800, 19200, 21600, 24000,
26400, 28800, 31200, 33600

V.32bis Link Rates

4800, 7200, 9600, 12000, 14400

Additional Link Rates

300, 1200/75 (V.23), 1200, 2400

Fax Link Rates

2400, 4800, 7200, 9600, 12000,
14400

4

PRODUCT FEATURES

Speakerphone

With the addition of an inexpensive set of
externally powered speakers, your new
Sportster Voice modem provides all the
convenience of a full-duplex speakerphone.
Unlike many half-duplex speakerphones, your
Sportster allows you to converse normally
without annoying echoes and distortion. Simply
plug the speakers into the SPEAKER jack on
the modem and you’re ready to go.

Personal Voice Mail

Personal Voice Mail turns your modem into a
full-featured messaging system. Enjoy the
convenience of professional voice mail in your
home or office for a fraction of the cost.

If you have an internal modem and are using
the Windows 3.x operating system, start at

With Personal Voice Mail, you can record
custom greetings, receive messages, and set up
multiple voice “mailboxes”. You can even
access your voice messages remotely.

Your modem will automatically detect
incoming fax/voice/data calls and route them
appropriately. The included fax-on-demand
feature allows callers to select information from
a list and have it automatically faxed to them.

5

PART I - INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION

READ THIS FIRST!

Part I, Section A: Internal Modem
Installation with Windows 3.x (page 7).

If you have an internal modem and are using
the Windows 95 operating system, start at

Part I, Section B: Internal Modem
Installation with Windows 95 (page 40).

This part of the manual covers the installation
of your internal Sportster and the
accompanying fax/data/voice software. The
instructions are provided for both Windows

3.1/ 3.11 (hereafter jointly referred to as
Windows 3.x) and Windows 95 users. Please
refer to the section dealing with the operating
system you use. The two sections are:

6

If you have an external modem and are using
the Windows 3.x operating system, start at

Part II, Section A: External Modem
Installation with Windows 3.x (page 69).

If you have an external modem and are using
the Windows 95 operating system, start at

Part II, Section B: External Modem
Installation with Windows 95 (page 89).

Section A: Internal Modem Installation

with Windows 3.x (page 7)

Section B: Internal Modem Installation

with Windows 95 (page 40)

SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION

WITH WINDOWS 3.X

You’ll need these items from your
Sportster box:

modem phone cord

Connections CD manual

microphone

Plus:

a screwdriver (not included)

THIS FIRST SECTION WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE
STEPS INVOLVED IN CONNECTING YOUR SPORTSTER TO
YOUR COMPUTER.

HARDWARE SOFTWARE TESTING

7

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

A Word about COM Ports and
IRQs

Most computer accessories — a mouse,
sound card, enhanced graphics card, scanner,
etc. — require a special connection through
which they can communicate with the
computer. For an internal modem, it’scalled a
communications (COM) port. Most computers
have 1 or 2 COM ports but can have up to 4.
On an internal modem, the COM port is
represented by the modem itself.

Each COM port uses an IRQ (interrupt
request). An accessory uses an IRQ to get the
attention of your computer’s CPU (central
processing unit) so that the accessory can
perform a task. The computer stops what it’s
doing, depending on the priority of the request,
to help the accessory perform its task. When
two accessories share an IRQ, it’s like two
people asking different questions in unison to a
third person. Just as the person being asked the
two questions cannot understand either request,
a computer can lock up or otherwise fail to
communicate properly with your modem when
there is an IRQ conflict.

8

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

D KEY POINT: Accessories cannot share

COM ports and should not share IRQs.
When accessories try to share settings,
they will either not work properly or not
work at all. This section of the manual will
help you understand the COM/IRQ
settings on your new Sportster.

U.S. Robotics has set your Sportster to use
COM 2 and IRQ 3. This is the industry
standard for modem settings. In most cases,
these settings will work. In some instances,
however, these settings are already being used
by another accessory, such as a sound card or
another COM port. We recommend that you
run the ComTest program (on the
Connections CD) to determine what settings
your modem should use.

NOTE: Some communications

software programs require a particular
setting for your modem. (RapidComm
Voice, which shipped with your modem,
does not.) If you wish to use a program
other than RapidComm Voice, now is a
good time to read that software’s manual
to determine what setting is required.

How to Use ComTest to
Determine Your Modem’s
Settings

1. Insert your Connections CD into your CD-

ROM drive.

2. In the Windows Program Manager, select

Run from the File menu. Enter the file name
as d:\comtest.exe. This starts ComTest,

9

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

the program that determines which COM
ports and IRQs are available for use by
your modem.

3. The screen at the top of the next page

appears when ComTest starts.

• If there is a modem in your computer

which you are replacing with your new
Sportster, you need to go to “Testing an
Installed Modem” on page 13 to
determine which options to select so that
ComTest can detect what the older
modem’s COM and IRQ settings are.

• If a modem is not currently installed in

your computer, choose the Recommend
settings for a new modem option.

Then click on the Next button.

4. If it’s not already selected, choose the

Internal Modem option.

10

Then click on the Next button.

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

5. If you have a free setting, you will see a

screen like this.

COM2/IRQ3 is free in this example.
ComTest might instead recommend
COM1/IRQ4, COM3/IRQ4, or
COM4/IRQ3 for your modem.

Write down the settings you’re given in the
spaces provided on the first page of this
manual. You’ll need to know the settings
later.

Click on the Next button.

If you DO NOT have a free setting, you will

see a screen like this.

Click on the Finish button to exit ComTest.
Go to “What to Do with ComTest’s
Recommendation” on page 14.

11

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

6. When you see this screen, click on the

Finish button to exit ComTest.

Go to “What to Do with ComTest’s
Recommendation” on page 14.

Testing an Installed Modem

If there is a modem already installed in your
computer, you can determine its COM and
IRQ settings by selecting the Test an installed
modem option. Follow the instructions on

screen until you see the screen that tells you
“Testing is complete.” This screen will also tell
you which COM and IRQ settings your
present modem is using. These are the settings
you want to use for your new Sportster. Write
the settings down in the spaces provided on
the first page of this manual.

Turn off your computer and remove your
present modem.

• If your present modem is using

COM2/IRQ3, go to “How to Insert the
Modem” on page 19.

• If your present modem uses settings other

than COM2/IRQ3, go to “How to Change
the Factory Settings” on page 17.

12

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

What to Do with ComTest’s
Recommendation

If ComTest recommended COM1/IRQ4

You will have to change the factory settings on
your modem.

NOTE: If your communications

software requires a setting for your
modem that ComTest does not
recommend, there is a good chance
that the setting is being used by
another device in your system. To find
out how to free that setting in your
system, consult your computer
manufacturer’s manual. If the
communications software requires
COM2/IRQ3, go to “How to Insert the
Modem” on page 19. If the
communications software requires
different settings, go to “How to
Change the Factory Settings” on page

17.

Write “COM1” and “IRQ4” in the spaces
provided on the first page of this manual. Go to
“How to Change the Factory Settings” on
page 17.

If ComTest recommended COM2/IRQ3

You can insert the modem, as is, into your
computer.

Write “COM2” and “IRQ3” in the spaces
provided on the first page of this manual. Go to
“How to Insert the Modem” on page 19.

13

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

If ComTest recommended COM3/IRQ4 or
COM4/IRQ3

Do not use either of these settings.

While the COM port part of the setting is
acceptable (ComTest only recommends
COM ports that are not being used), the
IRQ part of the setting is not acceptable.
When ComTest recommends either
COM3/IRQ4 or COM4/IRQ3, the IRQ in
the setting is being used by another
accessory. You could use the suggested
IRQ for the modem, but you run the risk that
the modem and/or the other accessory
sharing the IRQ might not work properly.

If you do not have a sound card, use
COM3/IRQ5. Write “COM3” and “IRQ5”
in the spaces provided on the first page of

this manual. You will have to change the
factory settings on your modem. Go to
“How to Change the Factory Settings” on
page 17.

If you do have a sound card, use
COM2/IRQ3. To use this setting, you have to
first disable your computer’s second serial port
(COM2). This is a pronged socket on the
back of your computer.

Go to your computer manufacturer’s manual.

• Find out which of the sockets on the back

of your computer is the second serial port.

• If you have something plugged into that

port, find out if you can plug it in
somewhere else. Any accessory plugged
into that port after the port has been
disabled will not work.

• Find out how to disable the COM port.

14

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

• Then return to this point in this manual to

continue.
After disabling COM2, you can use the
COM2/IRQ3 setting.

Write “COM2” and “IRQ3” on the first page
of this manual and go to “How to Insert the
Modem” on page 19.

If ComTest tells you that You do not have
any available COM ports and/or IRQs

We recommend you disable COM1 or
COM2. When you disable one of these COM
ports, you can use it and its default IRQ for
your modem. Go to your computer
manufacturer’s manual.

• Find out which socket is COM1 and which

is COM2.

• If nothing is plugged into either port, you

can disable either of the ports. Your

computer manufacturer’s manual will tell
you how to disable the COM port.

• If one of the ports is being used by an

accessory, choose the unused port. Note if
the port is COM1 or COM2. This is the
port you should disable for your modem.

• If both ports are being used, you may be

able to attach one of the accessories
elsewhere so that you can disable that
COM port for use by your modem. The
accessory will not work once its port is
disabled.

If you’ve disabled COM1, you can now use
the COM1/IRQ4 setting. Write this setting
down on the first page of this manual. Go to
“How to Change the Factory Settings”.
If you’ve disabled COM2, you can now use
the COM2/IRQ3 setting. Write this setting

15

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

down on the first page of this manual. Go to
“How to Insert the Modem” on page 19.

How to Change the Factory
Settings

(NOTE: If ComTest recommended
COM2/IRQ3 for your modem, you can
skip this section.)

1. Always touch an unpainted metal part of

your computer (the back is usually

unpainted) to discharge static electricity

before handling the modem. Static can

damage your modem.

2. Take the modem out of its plastic bag.

3. Find the COM port and IRQ shunts (small

black plastic pieces) on your modem. They

should be in roughly the area indicated in

the following illustration.

4. To change the COM port and IRQ settings,

you must move the shunts on the COM
port and IRQ pins. To do this, lift the shunts
off the pins.

16

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

0 1 SEL

0 1 SEL

0 1 SEL

0 1 SEL

TIP: Grasp the shunts with a tweezers

or needle-nosed pliers. DO NOT grasp
too firmly, as you may crush the shunts. If
a shunt seems stuck, gently rock it back
and forth as you lift. Do not touch any
other part of the modem or your
computer with the tweezers/pliers.

5. Move the shunt to the new setting.

• The COM port setting can involve one

to three shunts. The four possible COM
port settings are as follows:

COM 1

COM 3

COM 2

COM 4

• Unlike most COM port settings, the

IRQ setting involves only one shunt.
Simply move the shunt to the pin labeled
with the IRQ you want.

How to Insert the Modem

NOTE: Before installing your

modem, write its serial number in the
space provided on the first page of this
manual. (You’ll find the serial number
underneath the bar code on the white
sticker on the modem and on the box
the modem came in.) If you place a call
to our technical support department, the
technical support representative will ask
you for the serial number. This will help
him or her identify the type of modem
you have.

17

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

1. Turn off your computer and unplug it from

the electrical outlet.

2. Unplug any peripheral devices (printer,

monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.) from the

computer.

TIP: Before you unplug anything,

label the cords or make a sketch of how
things are connected. This can be helpful
when you plug things back in later.

CAUTION: To avoid risk of

electric shock, make sure your computer
and all peripheral devices are turned off
and unplugged.

3. Remove the screws from your computer’s

cover and then remove the cover, as shown
in the following diagrams. Your computer
may differ in appearance from these
diagrams, but the basic principle for
removing the cover should be the same.
Refer to your computer manufacturer’s
manual if you need further instructions.

18

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

4. Find an empty ISA expansion slot that’s at

least as long as the gold edge of your

modem. ISA slots are black plastic grooves

lined with silver. Unscrew and remove the

expansion slot cover (the long narrow piece

of metal that keeps dust from entering

through the opening perpendicular to the

slot). Be careful not to drop the screw into

the computer.

5. Holding the modem at each corner, with the

gold edge facing the slot, push the modem
down as gently as possible until it snaps into
the expansion slot. (NOTE: The drawings
show horizontally aligned expansion slots.
Some computers have vertically aligned
slots. The instructions apply to both styles.)

19

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

You will need to apply a little pressure to
seat the modem properly. Sometimes a
gentle back-and-forth motion helps to fit the
modem all the way into the slot. If you feel
resistance, the modem may not be properly
lined up with the slot. Do not force it into
the slot. Remove the modem and try again.

6. Once the modem is in place, fasten it firmly

into place using the screw that you removed

in step 4.

7. Put the computer’s cover back on and

fasten it with the screws you removed in

step 3.

8. If you currently have a phone plugged into

the wall jack you intend to use for the

modem, disconnect the phone from the

jack.

9. Plug one end of the phone cord that came

with the modem into the TELCO jack on

the modem. Plug the other end of the cord

into the wall jack.
(If you want to use a telephone on the same
line when you’re not using the modem, plug the
telephone’s cord into the modem’s PHONE
jack.)

WARNING: The phone jack you

use must be for an ANALOG phone line.
Most offices use digital lines. Be sure you
know what type of line you have. The
modem will be damaged if you use a
digital phone line.

20

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

10. Plug the microphone into the MIC jack on

the modem. Place the microphone where it
will pick up your voice.

11. Plug the power cords, cables, and

peripherals back into the computer and turn
the computer on.

12. Start Windows.

13. If you have your modem set to one of these

settings.

• COM1/IRQ4

• COM2/IRQ3

• COM3/IRQ4

• COM4/IRQ3

Go to “Installing RapidComm Voice with
the Setup Wizard” on page 25.

14. If you have your modem set to a setting that

is not in the preceding list, enter your

Program Manager and double-click on

the Main icon.

21

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

15. Double-click on the Control Panel icon.

16. Double-click on the Ports icon.

17. If it’s not already selected, select the COM

port for your modem.

Click on the Settings button.

18. Click on the Advanced button.

22

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

19. Scroll to select the IRQ you set your

modem for.

20. Click the OK button.

You will see a brief series of screens after the
preceding screen. Click on each screen’s OK
button until you see a screen with a Close
button. Click on the Close button to exit
Program Manager.

23

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

THIS NEXT SECTION WALKS YOU THROUGH THE
STEPS INVOLVED IN INSTALLING THE
FAX/DATA/VOICE SOFTWARE FROM THE

CONNECTIONS CD ONTO YOUR COMPUTER.

HARDWARE SOFTWARE TESTING

Installing RapidComm Voice
with the Setup Wizard

RapidComm Voice simplifies sending and
receiving faxes directly from your computer
desktop. You can send faxes to specified
groups of numbers after building your own fax
directory, specify individual cover pages when
necessary, and send individual faxes without
exiting your word processing program.

Additionally, RapidComm Voice works to turn
your desktop into a powerful voice message
center with multiple mailboxes.

This section will walk you through the basics of
running the U.S. Robotics Setup Wizard,
which installs RapidComm Voice
(fax/data/voice software) and other useful
software programs. It also helps you register
your new Sportster modem.
24

NOTE: If you have an older version

of RapidComm or RapidComm Voice
installed on your system, uninstall it
before continuing.

PART I: SECTION A: INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X

1. In Program Manager, click on the File

menu and select Run.

2. In the text box, type D:\usrcd3.exe (If

your CD-ROM drive has a letter name
other than D, type that letter in place of D.)
Then click the OK button.

3. You will see a screen that looks like this.

4. After you read this screen, click on the Yes

button.

25