CHAPTER 2. SET-UP AND TESTING Figure 2.1êCourier High Speed Modems PACKAGE COMPONENTS Your Courier modem package contains the following items in addition to this manual: ù The modem you purchased: Courier HST Dual Standard, Courier HST or Courier V.32 bis. ù A quick-configuration listing of Courier DIP switch and other settings recommended for a number of popular communications software products, plus tips for a quick startup. ù An RJ11C phone cord. ù A power adapter. ù A Quick-Reference card, in this manual. ù Your warranty card, to be filled out and returned to U.S. Robotics, Inc. OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS The Courier modem has minimal operational requirements. Be sure to read the information in the front of this manual about radio and television interference and connecting to the phone company. In addition, you should be aware of the following conditions. ù Follow the operating instructions in Appendix E, Dedicated Line and Leased Line Operation, if your phone line is user-installed or if it is leased from the telephone company. Also referred to as private, these lines are used for a direct, continuous connection between two modems. The connection is made without dialing. ù If your modem is installed in a Hewlett Packard system that uses the Ack/Enq communications protocol, be sure to follow the instructions at the end of Appendix E. ù If the modem is attached to a computer instead of a terminal, you need communications software. The software uses the modem's AT command set to control many communications functions, including configuring the modem, dialing, and answering calls, and also enables the transfer of files and other operations. Some users prefer their communica- tions software to take control of the modem, and are more comfortable with a program that makes the modem almost transparent. Others prefer a program that allows them to use the modem's AT command set some- times, and their software at other times, depending on the task at hand. Whichever you prefer, review at least the Quick Start (Chapter 3) so that you have a basic understanding of the modem's requirements and operation. RS-232 Requirements You'll need an RS-232 cable to connect the modem to your computer or terminal. Use a shielded cable to ensure minimal interference with radio and television reception. The modem takes a DB-25P (25-pin plug, or male) connector at one end of the cable. Computer equipment varies, however. Check the serial port at the rear of your machine, which may be labeled SERIAL, COMM PORT, or some other term (e.g., RS-232). If there are no labels, review your machine documentation to find out which is the serial port. (There may be more than one.) Don't use a port marked PARALLEL, PRINTER or AUX. The physical serial port on the computer or terminal will be either a socket (female) or plug (male) that typically accommodates 25 or 9 pins. For example, the port on the IBM PC, PC/XT and most compatibles requires a DB-25S (socket) connector, while the port on the IBM PC/AT and some compatibles requires a DB-9S connector. Apple computers require a DB-25P, DB-9P or, more typically, an 8-pin round plug connector. Check your computer documentation or with your computer dealer. NOTE: Appendix B includes a listing of RS-232 pin assignments required to operate the modem. Be sure to check the appendix if you're not sure what type of cable you need, or if you're building your own. If your machine has other than a 25- or 9-pin port, check your computer documentation or consult your dealer to find out what type of RS-232 connector is required. WARNING: If you're planning to use the high speed computer-to-modem rates of 57.6K or 38.4K bps, follow the instructions concerning the RS-232 cable in Appendix B. The guidelines there will help you to avoid signal degradation at very high speeds. FRONT PANEL SWITCHES Voice/Data This pushbutton switch is used primarily to switch between voice and data communications during a call. Detailed instructions are in Appendix E, Voice/Data Calls. The switch has multiple functions, however. Options are as follows: Disable the switch Force the modem off hook in Originate mode (default) Force the modem off hook in Answer mode Have the modem redial the last dialed number Have the modem dial the first number you've stored in nonvolatile memory Toggle Auto Answer on and off Reset the modem to its defaults Initiate Remote Digital Loopback testing Busy out the phone line Volume Control This is a rotary switch under the front panel, near the right corner. Turning it clockwise increases the volume of the modem's speaker. Turning it counter- clockwise decreases the volume. FRONT PANEL INDICATORS Below is a list of the modem's twelve status lights, or LEDs. See Appendix B for descriptions of their operations. HS High Speed TR Data Terminal Ready AA Auto Answer MR Modem Ready (Power) CD Carrier Detect RS Request to Send OH Off Hook CS Clear to Send RD Received Data SYN Synchronous SD Send Data ARQ Automatic Repeat Request (Error Control) INSTALLING THE MODEM 1. Turn off the computer or terminal and its peripheral devices. 2. Examine the label on the bottom of the modem. In addition to the summaries and other information, the label contains icons to aid in modem assembly. Check the interfaces at the back of the modem, shown in the following photograph. Figure 2.2êInterface End, Courier Modem 3. Now review the attached interfaces in Figure 2.3. Figure 2.3êConnected Courier Modem 4. Check to make sure that the power switch is OFF; press it towards the zero in the 0/1 icon on the bottom label. Plug the power supply adapter's small connector into the power jack at the back of the modem. Plug the adapter into a standard 115- volt AC wall socket. Disconnect your present phone cable from the wall jack. Plug one end of the phone cable that came with the modem into the modem's phone jack that is near the wall-jack icon on the bottom label. Plug the other end into the wall jack. NOTE: Older telephone installations may not have the appropriate modular wall jack and plug. Adapters and RJ11C connectors are available from your telephone company or computer dealer. If you want to keep your telephone connected for conventional calls, plug its cord into the jack at the rear of the modem near the phone icon. You can also use both your telephone and modem in one call, although not at the same time. Voice/Data, in Appendix E, explains how to switch control of the phone line between the phone and the modem. 5. Next, check the positions of the bank of Dual In-Line Package (DIP) Switches located in the well at the bottom of the modem. These switches are set at the factory to the positions most users require. .G. Figure 2.4êDIP Switch Factory Settings The quick-configuration guide that came with the manual shows recommended switch settings for many widely-used communications software products. If your communications software is not listed, check your software documentation for its requirements, particularly for DIP switches 1, 4, 5 and 6. You'll also find descriptions of switch functions and options in Appendix B. If you already know your requirements, use the guide on the bottom of the modem or the summary in the Quick Reference Card to verify the switch positions. NOTE: If you have built your own RS- 232 cable and it does not support Data Terminal Ready (DTR), set DIP switch 1 DOWN, for the DTR override. The override causes the modem to operate as if the DTR signal is always ON, and enables the modem to accept commands. Most purchased communications software, however, requires DTR. DIP switch 10 is explained under Setting/Using Defaults in Chapter 5. Most users will want to leave this switch OFF, write their own defaults to nonvolatile memory (NVRAM), and have those defaults loaded at power on. The wider Quad switch on the right of the numbered switches should be left UP unless you know your equipment reverses the transmit and receive pins at the RS-232 interface (see Appendix B, DIP Switch Summary). 6. The final step is to connect the modem to the computer's or terminal's serial port with the RS-232 cable described earlier in this chapter. Attach the appropriate connectors to the modem and to the serial port. NOTE: To prevent overheating, do not cover the vents on the top of the modem case. The modem is now ready to be tested and operated. TESTING THE INSTALLATION Use the following procedures to verify that your modem is working properly. 1. Turn on your computer or terminal and clear the screen. Then turn the Courier's power switch ON. The following front panel indicators, or LEDs, will light up. CD Carrier Detect, if you have set DIP switch 6 DOWN, enabling the CD override MR Modem Ready/Power ON CS Clear to Send TR Data Terminal Ready, if you have set DIP switch 1 DOWN, enabling the DTR override For more information on the front panel indicators, see Appendix B. 2. Set your terminal or software to 19.2K bps or 9600 bps. In addition, set a word length of either 7 bits plus 1 parity bit, or 8 bits with no parityêit doesn't matter which nowêand 1 Stop bit. 3. If you're using a personal computer, load your communications software. If your software allows, perform the function that lets you send AT commands to the modem, that is, puts the computer in Terminal Mode. Some communications programs do this automatically upon loading. Others require you to display a communications or terminal screen, type a Function key, or perform some other operation. If necessary, refer to your communications software documentation for instructions. 4. Check to see if your computer or terminal and modem are communicating with each other by sending the following attention command. Type either upper or lower case letters, not a combination, and then press the Enter (Carriage Return) key, shown in the example below between angle brackets. (Don't type the angle brackets.) AT If everything is correct, the modem responds as follows: OK NOTE: The modem is shipped with DIP switch 4 UP, causing the modem to display (echo) your keyboard commands. If your entered command is not displayed, your local echo is OFF. To turn the local echo ON, send the modem the following command. ATE1 If double characters appear on the screen, both your modem and software are set to local echo ON. Either set your software to local echo OFF, or turn the modem's echo OFF with the following command. ATE0 Troubleshooting If no OK appears on your screen, review the following checkpoints. a. Make sure you type all upper or lower case letters and press . b. Check to see that you set your communications software to the correct serial port. c. Make sure your software has put the computer in Terminal mode, so that you can send the modem commands. Then review Step 4, above. d. Be sure that DIP switches 1 and 6 are set ON or OFF according to your terminal or software requirements. The table in Appendix B explains each function, and you may also need to review the quick-configuration guide or your terminal or communications software documentation . e. The Quad switch on the right should be in the UP position. f. If you set DIP switch 8 UP, for Dumb mode, reset the modem to Smart mode: set DIP switch 8 DOWN, power off the modem, and power it on again. g. DIP switch 3 controls the display of the modem's result codes, including the OK result. The modem is shipped with DIP switch 3 DOWN, enabling the result codes. If DIP switch 3 is UP, reset it to the DOWN position. Then initiate the new switch setting with the following reset command. ATZ 5. A final check of the modem is to see that it gets a dial tone. Type the following manual Dial command: ATD On receipt of the command, the modem goes off hook and waits for a dial tone. The OH indicator lights, and you'll hear the dial tone from the modem's speaker. To cancel the operation, press any key. If you don't hear the dial tone, first increase the volume by sliding the volume control switch towards the front of the modem. If that doesn't work, check to see that the phone cable from the wall jack is connected to the correct jack on the modem. The correct connection is to the jack identified by the wall jack icon on the bottom label of the modem case, not the phone icon. If necessary, reconnect the phone cable correctly. Then try the manual Dial command again, ATD .