SPORTSTER 14,400
                                   CHAPTER 2.  SET-UP AND TESTING
                                                                 
















       Figure 2.1_Sportster 14,400 Modem
                       
PACKAGE COMPONENTS

      Your modem package contains the
      following items in addition to this
      manual.
          The Sportster 14,400 modem.
          An RJ11C phone cord.
          A power adapter.
          A tear-out Quick-Reference Card, at
           the back of this manual.
          A supplemental guide to a number of
           popular communications software
           products.  This quick configuration
           guide provides modem DIP switch
           settings, information on important
           program features and helpful hints
           for using the software with your
           U.S. Robotics modem.
          Your warranty card, to be filled
           out and returned to U.S. Robotics,
           Inc.
           
REQUIREMENTS_COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE

      If the modem is attached to a computer
      instead of a terminal, you'll need
      communications software to operate the
      modem.  Communications software makes it
      possible for your computer to send and
      receive data via the modem and phone
      lines.  It also interacts directly with
      the modem.  Many excellent compatible
      programs are available, all based on the
      AT command set.
      Some users prefer their communications
      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 commands or
      menus at other times, depending on the
      task at hand.
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/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 this 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.
      
      NOTE:  If you build your own cables and
      plan to use the fastest computer-to-
      modem rate of 57.6K bps, follow the
      instructions concerning the RS-232
      cable in Appendix B.  These guidelines
      will help you to avoid signal
      degradation at the 57.6K bps rate.
      
HARDWARE FEATURES

      The following switches and indicators
      are located on the exterior of the
      modem case.
      
Power Switch

      The power switch is located on the left
      side of the modem case.  It is a push-
      button type switch; in the OFF
      position, it protrudes a little farther
      from the case.
      
Volume Control Switch

      There is a rotary switch under the
      front panel, near the right corner.
      Turn it clockwise to increase the
      volume of the modem's speaker; turn it
      counter-clockwise to decrease the
      volume.
      
Front Panel Indicators

      Below is a list of the modem's nine
      status lights, or LEDs.  See Appendix B
      for descriptions of their operations.
           AA      Auto Answer
           CD      Carrier Detect
           OH      Off Hook
           RD      Received Data
           SD      Send Data
           TR      Data Terminal Ready
           RS      Request to Send
           CS      Clear to Send
         ARQ/FAX   Automatic Repeat Request
                    (Error
                    Control)/Fax Mode (Fax
                    modems only)
DIP Switches

      An eight-position bank of Dual In-Line
      Package (DIP) switches is at the rear
      of the modem.  These switches are set
      at the factory to the positions most
      users require.
                       
    Figure 2.2_DIP Switch Factory Settings
                       
      The quick configuration guide that came
      with the modem shows recommended switch
      settings for many widely-used communica
      tions 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.  A description
      of DIP switch functions and options is
      in Appendix B in this manual and in the
      Quick-Reference Card; a summary is on
      the case bottom label.
      DIP switch 7, used to load power-on and
      reset defaults, is explained under
      Setting/Using Defaults in Chapter 5.
      Most users will want to leave this
      switch UP, write their own defaults to
      nonvolatile memory (NVRAM), and have
      those defaults loaded at power-on or
      reset.
      
INSTALLING THE MODEM

      1.Turn off the computer or terminal and
         peripheral devices.
      2.Check the interfaces and labels at
         the back of the modem.  From left to
         right, notice that there are jacks
         labeled TELCO and PHONE, the DIP
         switches, the RS-232 connector and
         the power jack.
      3.Now review the attached interfaces in
         Figure 2.3.

















    Figure 2.3_Connected Sportster 14,400 Modem
                       
      4.Plug the power 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.
      5.Disconnect your present phone cable
         from the wall jack.  Plug one end of
         the phone cable that came with the
         modem into the jack at the rear of
         the modem labeled TELCO.  This allows
         the modem to switch into the
         telephone network, get a dial tone,
         and so on.  Plug the other end of the
         cable into the wall jack.
         NOTE:  The phone cable is equipped
         with two standard, modular RJ11C
         phone connectors.  If you have an
         older type of wall jack, you can
         purchase an adapter and RJ11C con
         nector from your telephone company or
         computer dealer.
      6.If you wish, plug your phone's cord
         into the second jack on the modem,
         labeled PHONE.  This enables you to
         use your phone for conventional voice
         calls, and also allows you to switch
         between voice and data transmission
         in the same call.  See Voice/Data
         Communications in Appendix E.
      7.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 or sides of
      the modem case.
      The modem is now ready to be tested and
      operated.
      
TESTING THE INSTALLATION

      Follow these steps to verify that the
      modem is working properly.
      1.Turn on your terminal or computer.
         Then press the Sportster 14,400's
         power switch at the side of the case
         to turn the modem ON.  The following
         front panel indicators, or LEDs, may
         light up.
         CDCarrier Detect, if you have set
            DIP switch 6 DOWN, enabling the CD
            override
         TRData Terminal Ready, if you have
            set DIP switch 1 DOWN, enabling
            the DTR override
         CSClear to Send, if Clear to Send is
            supported by your computer or
            terminal
      2.If you're using a personal computer,
         load your communications software and
         start the program.
      3.Set the software's serial port rate
         to 38,400, 19,200 or 9,600 bits per
         second (or "baud rate," for some
         software).  We recommend 19,200 or
         38,400.  The modem will detect this
         rate automatically when you send it a
         command.  If your soft-ware supports
         57,600 bits per second, you can set
         your serial port to that speed.
      4.Specify the serial communications
         port used by the modem.  IBM PC-
         compatible software requires a
         communications port address in the
         form of COM1, COM2, or higher.  Other
         software may offer Communications,
         Phone, or other options.
      5.Set the data format to a word length
         of either 7 bits plus Even or Odd
         parity, or 8 bits with no parity_it
         doesn't matter which for now_and 1
         Stop bit.  Some programs use formats
         such as 7-E-1 or 8-N-1 for these
         three parameters.
      6.Perform the function that lets you
         send AT commands directly 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, press a Function key, or per
         form some other operation.  If
         necessary, refer to your com
         munications software documentation
         for instructions.
      7.Check to see if your computer and
         modem are communicating with each
         other by sending the modem 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 <Enter>
         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 local echo ON, type the
         following command.
             ATE1 <Enter>
         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 <Enter>
             
Troubleshooting

         If no OK appears on your screen,
         review these checkpoints to try to
         correct the problem.  Then try the AT
         command again.
         a.    Make sure you type either all
           upper case or all lower case
           letters and press <Enter>.
         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.  Review Step 6 on the
           previous page.
         d.    Be sure that DIP switches 1
           and 6 are set UP (Off) or DOWN
           (On), according to your software
           requirements.  Check the quick
           configuration guide that came with
           the modem, or review the table in
           Appendix B and your communications
           software documentation if you're
           unsure.
         e.    If you set DIP switch 8 UP for
           Dumb mode, reset the modem to Smart
           mode by setting DIP switch 8 DOWN.
         f.    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 and
           then initiate the new switch
           setting with the following reset
           command.
             ATZ <Enter>
          Now try again to obtain the OK
           result code by typing AT.
      8.Make a final check of the modem to
         see that it gets a dial tone.  Type
         the following manual Dial command.
             ATD <Enter>
         On receiving the command, the modem
         goes off hook and waits for a dial
         tone.  The OH (Off Hook) indicator
         lights, and you'll hear the dial tone
         from the modem's speaker.  If you
         don't hear the dial tone, increase
         the volume by turning the volume
         control switch higher (clockwise).
         To cancel the operation, press any
         key.
         If you don't hear a dial tone, check
         to see that the phone cable from the
         wall jack is connected to the jack
         labeled TELCO on the modem.  If
         necessary, reconnect the phone cable
         correctly to the TELCO jack, and try
         the ATD command again.
         Be sure to return the modem on hook
         by pressing any key.

