SUPRA TECHNICAL SUPPORT BULLETIN STATUS AND ENHANCEMENTS TO V32BIS ROM (1.2J/H) 9/16/92 Supra Corporation 7101 Supra Drive SW, Albany, OR 97321 General (503) 967-2400 / Sales (503) 967-2410 / Fax (503) 967-2401 Supra Tech Support (503) 967-2440 8:00am - 5:00pm PST, M-F Supra BBS........(503) 967-2444 24 Hours CompuServe.......76004,565 BIX..............SupraCorp America Online...SupraCorp2 GEnie............SupraTech AppleLink........D2456 UseNet EMail.....supratech@supra.uucp There are currently two new ROM sets. One is currently revved as 1.2H and is being made available free to all registered users. This is OPTION #1 and will be mailed out within 10 days of receipt of the order via US Mail. Shipment by US Mail is the only available method for OPTION #1 and includes the following features: Enhances Busy Detection Fixes several Lock Display/Modem problems Improved Speed Re negotiation (Fall Back) upon bad line conditions Implements Fall Forward upon better line conditions Fixes Adaptive Answering (allows data/fax determination) Implements ECM (Error Correction Mode) Note: Must be supported by fax software Implements BFT mode (Binary File Transfer) Note: Must be supported by fax/terminal software Fixes problem with DCD line turning off if modem configured with &C &Dx and &Cx settings are respected when in fax mode Fixes problem connecting with some fax machines Added S-Register S109 Added S-Register S110=3 Implements Silent Answer (allows voice/fax determination) Note: Must be supported by fax software The second ROM set is revved 1.2J and includes all of the above enhancements plus the Caller ID feature. This ROM is available as OPTION #2 and will cost $19.95 plus $5.00 shipping. We will accept Visa/MC or can ship it COD for an addition $5.00. OPTION #2 will be shipped via UPS BLUE label which is second day air. This is the only shipment method available for OPTION #2. Supra will be sending an upgrade offer to all registered owners. This offer will be for either OPTION #1(Free ROM) which has all of the above features, or the OPTION #2(Caller ID) for $19.95. The following are the only other available methods for ordering the ROMs. 1. BBS We are currently working on the software that will allow you to order either ROM from Supra via its BBS. This software will also allow you to enter your warranty card and change your warranty card on-line. Once this is working, it will be activated and you can immediately enter your order. The quickest way to order the ROM will be via the BBS. Until then, please do not contact Supra to order either ROM. This file will be updated when this method comes on-line. We expect it to be available by Sept. 19. 2. CompuServe This file contains an order form at the end which will need to be downloaded, filled out, and Emailed to Supra's CompuServe account(76004,565). If the form is not used or filled out incorrectly it will be mailed back to the user. When uploading the form, PLEASE make sure it is in STANDARD TEXT FORMAT. If the form is in any other format, any information is missing or fill out incorrectly it will only delay shipment of your new ROMs. CompuServe also has a service available where you can send a file as Email, many CIS access programs have a option to perform this for you. This method will also be acceptible for sending your order form. 3. OTHER We are currently working on the upgrade options for customers outside of the USA. At this time if you are located outside of the USA it will cost an extra $15.00 shipping to send you the ROMs for both Option #1 and #2. There will also be no COD available for foreign customers. In about a month we should be able to have Supra Germany send them to you for about the same prices as the USA customers if you are located in Europe. As we finalize things we will release that information. The above information is subject to change or modification. UPCOMING FEATURES AND NEW PRODUCTS: The following features and new products are being worked on. We do not have any information on upgrade costs, technical information, or product cost. As soon as we have the information, we will post it on our BBS. Internal version - Oct. 92 PTT certified version - Q1. 93 MNP10 - Dec. 92 V23 - Dec. 92 Voice digitization in modem - Dec. 92 Voice software DTMF encoding/decoding - Dec. 92 MORE IN-DEPTH INFORMATION ON 1.2J/H ENHANCEMENTS Enhances Busy Detection Some people had several different problems with busy detection. All calls would return BUSY or only certain calls would return busy. All known problems have been fixed. This problem only happened to a small percentage of users. Fixes several Lock Display/Modem problems The Supra v32bis modem is running several different processors and tasks at one time. If the right timing sequence or events happen, the modem could lockup. The only way to fix the problem was to power cycle the modem. This problem only happened to a small percentage of users. Improved Speed Re negotiation (Fall Back) upon bad line conditions The 1.2C ROM was our first ROM to implement this feature. We have continued to improve our code to better handle bad line conditions, especially at connect time. Implements Fall Forward upon better line conditions Once the phone line conditions improve, the modem can initiate a step up in baud. Fixes Adaptive Answering (allows data/fax determination) A mode which allows the modem to connect with either a fax or a data modem. Once it makes the connection, it will return a result code indicating which one it connected with. It is then the software's responsibility to route the call to the proper program. Some "front door" software for BBSs and terminal programs have this ability. "Front door" software has control of the serial port and waits for an incoming call. When it receives a call, it may present a prompt to the user asking which program they want to run, or based upon the modems result code decide which program is to be run. (Thus, it functions as a call router.) The "front door" software then wakes up or runs the correct program, which then takes over control of the serial port and thus the modem. When the call is ended, the program quits or shuts down and lets the "front door" regain control of the serial port/modem. AT +FCLASS=0 AT +FAA=1 (if using class 2) or +FAE=1 (if using class 1) AT S0=(1-255) or ATA Result Codes: CONNECT XX if data call FAX if fax call NOTE: This sequence must be sent before every answer Implements ECM (Error Correction Mode) Allows the fax software to resend a block of information if it is not received correctly by the other modem. This feature MUST be supported by the fax software in order to be used. Implements BFT mode (Binary File Transfer) Allows the user to send a file to another fax modem as if it were a fax instead of a file. This feature MUST be supported by the fax software in order to be used. This allows the user to use the fax software to send the file instead of using a terminal program. Fixes problem with DCD line turning off if modem configured with &C If the modem was configured with the &C, especially during a disconnect, the modem would toggle DCD line. This problem only affected a small percentage of users, generally those running BBSs on the Apple II. &Dx and &Cx settings are respected when in fax mode The CCITT TR29.2 committee has not defined how the modem should react to the &D and &C settings when in class 2 fax mode. While the committee has not defined this, there is a strong sentiment for respecting the &D and &C settings as it is handled in class 1 and when the modem is in data mode. This also allows the modems to work better under fax mode in the UNIX environment. Fixes problem connecting with some fax machines The 1.2C ROMs had a few problems making connections to some fax machines. The fax machine used a slightly different tone when answering. This resulted in the two machines toning back and forth, not making a connection and then eventually hang up. This problem only happened to a small percentage of users. Added S-Register S109 Controls speeds available for V.32bis carrier handshake, or the carrier rate to negotiate error correction, if S-Register S110=3. Decimal Value Explanation 1 reserved 2 4800 bps 4 7200 bps 8 9600 bps 16 12000 bps 32 14400 bps 64 reserved 128 reserved Added S-Register S110=3 V.32bis standard negotiates carrier speed at 4800 baud then jumps to the agreed carrier speed to negotiate error correction/data compression. On noisy lines this can cause various connection problems. Supra's solution is to set S-Register S110 to 3. This causes the modems to connect at the slowest possible V.32 or V.32bis speed. Once this is done, as long as the line is clean enough, the modems will up-shift to the next possible carrier rate. The slowest possible carrier speed can be limited by the use of S-register S109. NOTE: Some modems can only up-shift a few times and then they will lose the connection (especially Supra V.32 and V.32bis with ROMs < 1.2C). The solution is to change S-Register S109 so that it does not need to up-shift as many times. NOTE: This only works when the modem is originating the call. Implements Silent Answer (allows voice/fax determination) When the phone rings, the modem will start monitoring the telephone line after the 2nd ring. If it detects a fax tone, it will do one of two things: 1. If S-Register S0 != 0, the modem will immediately answer the phone and attempt a fax connection. 2. If S-Register S0 = 0, the modem will quickly issue up to 9 RINGS messages, expecting the fax software to issue an ATA. This eliminates the need for a $150 voice/fax black box. NOTE: DO NOT plug the answering machine into the telephone jack on the back of the modem. The modem should be plugged into the answering machine. This also works if a telephone is in the circuit before the fax modem. NOTE: This mode must be supported by the fax software. Implements Caller ID (OPTION #2 only) This is a feature that is only available in some areas of the country. In between the 1st and the 2nd ring, the phone company will send information on who is calling you. If you are in terminal mode and had told the modem to answer on the 2rd ring, you would see: RING DATE = 0321 TIME = 1405 NMBR = 5039672400 NAME = SUPRA CORPORATION RING CONNECT 19200 NOTE: The NAME field isn't available in all areas and will not be present in those cases. To enable CALLER ID: AT#CID=1 Enables Caller ID in formatted format AT#CID=2 Enables Caller ID in unformatted format (ASCII printable hex numbers) AT#CID=0 Disables Caller ID In addition to the enhancements and corrections noted above, Supra's new 1.2J/H ROM release also includes modifications that were implemented in the previous 1.2C ROM release. They are as follows: %G0 disables Rate Re negotiation on V.32bis %G1 enables Rate Re negotiation on V.32bis enables Rate Re negotiation and Retrain on V.32 %E has not changed, but if both %G1 and %E1 are set, then the modem will Rate Re negotiate during a Retrain. This is also the only way the V.32 modem can Rate Re negotiate. AT&F1 and AT&F2 defaults now include %G1 S-Register S110: 0 causes connect at V.32 only 1 enable V.32bis on V.32bis modems 2 enable V.32bis and automatic rate re negotiation. *************************************************************************** COMPUSERVE ORDER FORM STEP 1. Download this file and edit out the above information. STEP 2. File out all parts of the form. If your shipping address is different then your credit card billing address, make sure to give us both. Also if you are ordering OPTION #2, make sure to include a UPS ship able address. This means no PO boxes or APO's. (PLEASE double check your address and credit card numbers) STEP 3. EMail the form to Supra Corporations account on CIS. The account number is 76004,565. Make sure that all information is there, we will just mail the form back to you if it is incorrect. -----------------------CUT HERE--------------------------------------------- DATE:___________ Modem Serial #:____________ CIS #:___________ SHIP TO ADDRESS: CREDIT CARD BILLING ADDRESS: Name Name Address Address City, STATE ZIP City, STATE ZIP Day Time Phone Number: __________ Evening Phone Number: __________ OPTION PART # Price CHOICE #1 - Free ROM upgrade 50-14FX-ROM Free _____ (OFFER EXPIRES NOV. 30, 1992) #2 - Upgrade+Caller ID 50-14FX-CID $19.95 Shipping UPS BLUE + $ 5.00 ------ $24.95 _____ COD charge if ordering OPTION #2 ($24.95 + $5.00 COD charge) _____ Credit Card if ordering OPTION #2 _____ Visa/Master Card ONLY (NO AMEX) Credit Card Number: _______________ EXP DATE: _______ Foreign Shipping Charge - $15.00 _____ Please rate your satisfaction with your SupraFaxModem: ____ Very Satisfied ____ Satisfied ____ Dissatisfied ____ Very Dissatisfied Computer Type SupraFaxModem used on: ____ Mac ____ PC/DOS ____ Other _________ ____ PC / Windows ____ Amiga Are you using: DATA ____ FAX ____ -----------------------END OF FORM------------------------------------------