This manual covers installation and operating instructions for the following 3Com modems: U.S. Robotics 56 Kbps Voice internal and external modems 3Com, the 3Com logo, and U.S. Robotics are registered trademarks and Connections, RapidComm, and x2 are trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. 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, or service marks used in this manual are the property of their respective owners. © 1998 3Com Corporation 7770 North Frontage Road Skokie, IL 60077-2690 All Rights Reserved IMPORTANT! In accordance with the ITU-T standard for 56K transmissions, this modem is capable of 56 Kbps downloads. However, due to FCC rules which restrict power output of the service providers' modems, current download speeds are limited to 53 Kbps. Actual speeds may vary depending on line conditions and other factors. Uploads from users to server equipment travel at speeds up to 31.2 Kbps. An analog phone line compatible with the ITU-T 56K standard or x2TM technology, and an Internet provider or corporate host site compatible with the ITU-T 56K standard or x2 technology are necessary for these high-speed downloads. TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome to 56K Information Access Product Features Before You Begin (Windows 95 Users) Determining Available Resources Determining Your Version of Windows 95 Internal Modem Installation with Windows 3.x A Word about COM Ports and IRQs How to Use ComTest to Determine Your Modem's Settings Testing an Installed Modem What to Do with ComTest's Recommendation How to Change the Modem's Settings How to Insert the Modem into the Computer Internal Modem Installation with Windows 95 How to Prepare for Plug and Play Installation How to Insert the Modem into the Computer Installing the Modem Drivers External Modem Installation with Windows 95 Determining Which Serial Cable to Buy Connecting the Modem to the Computer Installing the Modem Drivers 1 2 3 3 4 5 5 7 9 10 12 14 21 22 23 27 35 35 37 39 TABLE OF CONTENTS Software Installation Running the Setup Wizard Using Connections Installing the RapidCommTM Voice Fax/Data/Voice Software Installing Other Fax/Data Software Type of Modem Initialization String Flow Control UART (External Modems Only) Using Modem Station What Does Modem Station Do? Why Modem Station? Installing Modem Station Starting Modem Station Using Detect New Modems Using Terminal Using Modem Configurator Using Modem to Computer Using the Extended Information Screens 47 47 48 48 50 50 50 51 51 52 52 52 52 55 57 58 60 63 67 TABLE OF CONTENTS U.S. Robotics Modem Update Wizard Installing the Wizard Updating Your Modem Troubleshooting and Online Help Resources RapidComm Voice Troubleshooting Tips If Plug and Play Does Not Detect Your Modem Online Help Resources Are You Still Having Problems? If You Need to Return the Modem to Us for Repair Glossary Regulatory Information Manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity Limited Warranty 74 74 75 76 82 83 84 87 87 88 102 102 109 WELCOME TO 56K* INFORMATION ACCESS The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) determines the technical protocols communications devices must use to interoperate with each other. Modems that comply with ITU standards can "talk" to other standards-compliant modems and fax machines worldwide. The ITU has determined a worldwide standard for 56K modem technology . With a U.S. Robotics modem, you can get all the Internet you want from any service provider who offers the ITU 56K standard or x2TM technology. This modem allows the greatest compatibility for high speed downloads from service providers that offer the ITU 56K standard technology or x2 technology to their customers. 3Com is working with providers everywhere to quickly upgrade their service to the ITU 56K standard. * In accordance with the ITU-T standard for 56K transmissions, this modem is capable of 56 Kbps downloads. However, due to FCC rules which restrict power output of the service providers' modems, current download speeds are limited to 53 Kbps. Actual speeds may vary depending on line conditions and other factors. Uploads from users to server equipment travel at speeds up to 31.2 Kbps. An analog phone line compatible with the ITU-T 56K standard or x2TM technology, and an Internet provider or corporate host site compatible with the ITU-T 56K standard or x2 technology are necessary for these high-speed downloads. 1 PRODUCT FEATURES Modulation Schemes 56K ITU-T standard x2TM 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 28000, 29333, 30666, 32000, 33333, 34666, 36000, 37333, 38666, 40000, 41333, 42666, 44000, 45333, 46666, 48000, 49333, 50666, 52000, 53333, 54666, 56000, 57333 Back Channel Link Rates 4800, 7200, 9600, 12000, 14400, 16800, 19200, 21600, 24000, 26400, 28800, 31200 33600 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 2 BEFORE YOU BEGIN (WINDOWS® 95 USERS) Determining Available Resources Your U.S. Robotics® Voice modem is a Plug and Play device. Windows® 95 can automatically identify a Plug and Play device and determine if your system has the resources necessary to support the device. However, Plug and Play will not work if you do not have resources available or if devices on your system are not reporting resource usage correctly. Here's how you can verify that your system has the necessary resources before installing the modem: 1. Click the Windows 95 Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click the System icon. 3. When the "System Properties" screen appears, click the Device Manager tab. 4. Double-click Computer and the "Computer Properties" screen appears. 5. Select the option at the top of the screen to show Interrupt Requests (IRQs). You will see the IRQs your system is currently using. If IRQs 3, 4, 5, and 7 are being used, you need to free an IRQ before you begin installation. This process involves moving a device from the IRQ you want to use to a different (and usually higher) IRQ setting. Please read the documentation for (or contact the manufacturer of) the device that is currently using the IRQ you want to use for your modem to learn more about how to free the IRQ for your modem. 3 BEFORE YOU BEGIN (WINDOWS 95 USERS) Determining Your Version of Windows 95 Follow these steps to determine your version of Windows 95. This information will be important during installation. 1. Click the My Computer icon on your desktop with the right mouse button. 2. Click Properties. 3. In the "System Properties" screen, look at the system information under the General tab (circled in the following screen image). The number following the text "Microsoft Windows 95" will end with "950", "950a", or "950b". This indicates your version of Windows 95. Write this number on the blank below for later reference. Then click OK. 4 Windows 95 version _________________ INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS® 3.X You will need these items from your U.S. Robotics® modem box: A Word about COM Ports and IRQs Most computer accessories -- mouse, sound card, enhanced graphics card, scanner, etc. -- require a special connection through which they can communicate with the computer. For some devices, this connection is called a communications (or COM) port. Most computers have 1 or 2 COM ports, though they can have up to 4. Although internal modems do not connect to COM ports directly, they do require a COM port setting, which is determined by the setting on the modem's COM jumper pins. modem phone cord ConnectionsTM CD microphone Plus: screwdriver (not included) 5 INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X Each COM port uses an interrupt request (IRQ). An accessory uses an IRQ to get the attention of your computer's centralprocessing unit (CPU) 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. 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. 3Com has set your modem to a default Plug and Play setting which is ideal for Windows 95 users. In this configuration, the shunts used to set your modem's COM port and IRQ settings are hanging from single jumper pins and will not affect your modem's settings. As a Windows 3.x user, you need to run the ComTest program (on the ConnectionsTM CD) to determine what settings your modem should use. 6 INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X 3. The screen in the next column appears when NOTE: Some communications software programs require a particular setting for your modem (the RapidCommTM software, which shipped with your modem, does not). If you wish to use a program other than RapidComm, now is a good time to read that software's manual to determine what setting is required. ComTest starts. · If there is a modem in your computer which you are replacing with your new U.S. Robotics modem, go to "Testing an Installed Modem" on page 9 to determine which COM and IRQ settings the older modem is using. · If a modem is not currently installed in your computer, click Recommend settings for a new modem. Then click Next. How to Use ComTest to Determine Your Modem's Settings 1. Insert the Connections CD into your CDROM drive. 2. In Windows' Program Manager, click File and then click Run. Type d:\comtest.exe and press ENTER. This starts ComTest, the program that determines which COM ports and IRQs are available for use by your modem. 7 INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X 4. Click Internal Modem. Then click Next. Write down the displayed settings here: COM Port_________ IRQ_________ You will need to know these settings later. Click Next. If you do not have a free setting, you will see a screen like the follwoing. Click Finish to exit ComTest. Go to "What to Do with ComTest's Recommendation" on page 10. 5. If you have a free setting, you will see a screen like this. (COM2/IRQ3 is free in this example.) 8 INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X 6. When you see this screen, click Finish to exit ComTest. 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 U.S. Robotics modem. Write down the displayed settings here: COM Port_________ IRQ_________ Turn off and unplug your computer and remove your present modem using its documentation as a guide. Go to "How to Change the Modem's Settings" on page 12. If ComTest recommended COM 1/IRQ 4 or COM 2/IRQ 3, turn to "How to Change the Modem's Settings" on page 12. Otherwise, go to "What to Do with ComTest's Recommendation" on page 10. 9 INTERNAL MODEM INSTALLATION WITH WINDOWS 3.X What to Do with ComTest's Recommendation NOTE: If your communications software requires a modem setting that ComTest does not recommend, there is a good chance that the setting is being used by another device in your system. To free that setting in your system, consult your computer's manual. Go to "How to Change the Modem's Settings" on page 12. 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 10 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" where it will be convenient during the software installation. You will have to change the setting ...