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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Modem|
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- What's the advantage of an FM56 PCI modem over an ISA counterpart?
- What are Controllerless Modem and Software Modem?
- How do I identify if my modem can support 56k?
- How do I identify which firmware revision my modem has installed?
- What is the procedure to display real ISP connection speed instead of default 115200 bps?
- Why does my system freeze for a few moments while PCI modem dial out?
- Some tips on configuring communication software.
- What is V.90 ?
- Can I upgrade my modem to V.90?
- Do I have to choose a new ISP which will provide V.90 service?
- I had a K56flex connection at 43Kbps. Why is the modem connecting at less than 33.6Kbps after upgrading to V.90 firmware? What should I do?
- What should I do if my modem cannot achieve a good connection
speed?
- Why can't my 56K modem reach to 56Kbps?
- What's the advantage of an FM56 PCI modem over an ISA counterpart?
1. The PC99 specification will not support ISA slot, Internal modem has the trend to move to PCI bus.
2. The PCI Bus has wider bandwidth then ISA ( 33M V.S 8M Bytes ).
These are advantages of PCI, however FM56 PCI is a controllerless modem. It can cause CPU resource issues. (Like On-line gaming)
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- What are Controllerless Modem and Software Modem?
In general, a modem system can be divided into three parts:
-
Controller: This part communicates with the CPU via the bus (PCI or ISA) interface, executes modem AT command sets, handles data access between applications and datapump, and also executes the error correction and data compression algorithms.
- Data Pump: This part handles floating point operations like FFT, DTMF, and other tone generation and detection, modulation and demodulation and spectrum analysis. This part is the engine of the modem, the kernel of modem
operation. It modulates data from the controller and transmits the analog signals to the DAA. It demodulates the received signals from the DAA and sends the data to the controller.
- DAA ( Data Access Arrangement ): DAA (Data Access Arrangement): This part contains analog circuits to provide the characteristics required to connect to the telephone network. The matching characteristics include line impedance, current sink and hybrid circuitry. The DAA also enables features such as Caller ID and pulse dialing.
Hardware Modem: If a modem contains controller, data pump and daa, it is a hardware modem.
Controllerless Modem: As CPU's become more and more powerful, internal modem structure can be saved by moving some parts to the CPU. If we move modem command execution to the CPU, we can skip the controller. This is a controllerless modem.
Software Modem: If we move the tasks of the controller and data pump to the CPU, and just use an ASIC to handle the PC interface, we have a software modem. Software modems do not contain a data pump or controller but will require more CPU resources. In general, a Pentium MMX-200 will be the minimum requirement for a software modem.
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- How to identify my modem can support 56k or not?
There are two ways to help you to determine whether your modem is 33600bps (33.6kbps) or 56000bps (56kbps).
First there is the "OFF LINE" method to determine the speed of your modem. If your modem is installed in your PC you will need to remove it. You can directly view the label of the largest chip on your modem.
you can see like:
RCVDL56ACFW/SP
R6772-22
ROCKWELL 97
9814 B57736-5
MEXICO
If you can see the word 56 in the first row, then your modem is a 56kbps modem. If you only see the word 336 in the first row, then your modem is only a 33.6kbps modem.
Second there is the "ON LINE" method to determine the speed of your modem. Your modem needs to be installed in your PC correctly, via the following procedures to know whether it is a 56kbps or 33.6kbps modem.
1. Click Start, point to settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Modems
If you can see the number 56, in TAICOM_MR56SVS_56000 or
Aopen_FM56_EX_56000 for example, then your modem is a 56kbps modem.
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- How do I identify which firmware revision my modem has installed?
Exit current ISP connection
1. Go to My Computer --> Control Panel --> Modems --> Diagnostics
2. Select the COM Port your modem is using
3. Select "Information" and press it
4. If the modem is enabled, you will find the ATIX string where “X?in the ATI name denotes ATI3, for example, as the firmware version.
The other method is to issue AT commands under a communication utility like HyperTerminal from the Accessories menu. In terminal mode, type the commands given below
ATZ: Reset modem
AT&F&W : Load the factory default setting and save it to EEPROM.
ATI3: Get Firmware information
ATI4: Get Manufacture Company information
AT+MS?: Get the communication protocol the modem supports (V90 or K56)
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- What is the procedure to display real ISP connection speed instead of default 115200 bps?
115200 bps is the speed between the modem and your computer. You can use the following procedure to display the true connection speed.
1. Exit current ISP connection
2. Go to My Computer --> Control Panel --> Modems --> Properties --> Connection --> Advanced --> Extra Settings --> and type in:
AT+MR=2
--> OK --> OK
3. Reconnect ISP
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- Why does my system freeze for a few moments while PCI modem dial out?
The system freezing shortly is normal, it only last for a few seconds. Perhaps around 0.5sec to 1.5sec. At this moment, the modem occupies most of the CPU resources. It's normal to have this symptom.
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- Some tips on configuring communication software.
Your fax/modem uses the most up-to-date industry and commercially popular standards to ensure functional compatibility with most communication software. During initial set-up of the communication software, it will normally prompt you to define the type of fax/modem you are using. Following is a general guideline to the device type you should choose.
NOTE: The device type only defines the protocol by which your software will communicate with your fax/modem and does not set or limit the speed.
For modem device type, choose 'Hayes V.32' or 'Hayes Compatible' modem.
For the baud rate. choose 115,200 bps.Your fax/modem will automatically adjust to the best transmission speed after successfully connecting with a remote fax/modem.
Many communication programs use the modem response to control program flow. There are three flow control modes: none, hardware (CTS/RTS) or software (XON/XOFF). Set your software to use either hardware or software flow control. If set to none, the communication software will not be able to detect a buffer overflow and result in transmission errors.
For fax device type, choose 'TR29 Class 1'.
For fax speed, choose 'automatic' or 'fastest speed'. Your fax/modem will automatically adjust to the best transmission speed after successfully connecting with a remote fax machine or another fax/modem.
Make sure that you have correctly set all the other parameters required by the software to operate successfully. Refer to the manual that came with your communication software for details
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- What is V.90 ?
A modem is a type of communication device. To achieve
compatibility, two sides of connection should follow the same communication protocols. In general, the ITU (International Telecommunication Unit) responses to build up the protocol for telecom devices. ITU's last modem protocol is V.34Plus, it supports point to point connection (end-user to end-user) and can provide maximum data speed 33.6K bit per second (bps). To achieve higher data transfer rate in the same twisted wire media, private companies have developed new technology to increase the data speed to maximum 56Kbps. There are two groups of companies can provide such technology: Rockwell K56flex and 3Com X2 respectively. Unfortunately, these two protocols are exclusive, so the connection speed will drop to 33.6Kbps between X2 and K56flex. To solve this problem, ITU integrates both K56flex and X2 to V.90 protocol. V.90 have the following characteristics:
1. V.90 can not be used in point to point connection. It only can be used in client - server modem connection. It means ISP should build up server modem and connects the server modem to telecom central office.
2. V.90 only provides download path ( ISP to end user ) 56Kbps , the upload path is limited to 33.6Kbps.
3. V.90 uses PCM (pulse code modulation) technology, signal level will be very sensitive to affect the connection speed. So, PABX or distant connection will damage the protocol and degrade to V.34plus.
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- Can I upgrade my modem to V.90?
Please check the manufacturer's web site to see whether your modem can be upgraded to V.90. If your modem can be upgraded to V.90, you can download the V.90 firmware code from the manufacturer's web site.
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- Do I have to choose new ISP which will provide V.90 service?
To make V.90 connection possible, your ISP must support V.90. All of ISP will gradually upgrade their service to provide 56K connection based on new ITU standard, no matter they are using K56flex or X2 technology. When your ISP starts to provide V.90 service, you can upgrade your modem firmware to ensure the best performance. If you are impatient, you can change your ISP if they do not support V.90 right now.
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- I had a K56flex connection at 43Kbps. Why is the modem connecting at
less than 33.6Kbps after upgrading to V.90 firmware? What should I do?
There are two possibilities that your modem can not enjoy real V.90 performance.
1. Remote ISP compatibility: After upgrading your modem to V.90 firmware, your modem can only establish the connection with ISP either by V.90 or V.34 standard (33.6 Kbps). That is, K56flex is no longer supported by your modem so that you may have connected with your K56flex ISP or X2 ISP by V.34.
2. Connection environment, please refer to another FAQ.
You can use the old K56flex firmware if your ISP does not support V.90.
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- What should I do if my modem cannot achieve a good connection
speed?
1. Please check the protocol of your ISP. Are they using K56flex X2 or V.90 protocol. Your modem should support same protocol. If the protocol does not match, the connection speed will be less than 33.6K. If your ISP has upgraded to V.90, you may need to upgrade your modem firmware to V.90 too.
2. If possible, please dial to another ISP or dial at different hour which is not busy in your country. You can use your telephone to check if your ISP is busy or not.
3. If you have another modem, please use it to double check the telephone line quality.
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- Why does my 56K modem not reach to 56Kbps?
The connection speed is decided by both side modems and the telephone line quality. V.90 uses PCM (pulse code modulation) technology, signal level is very sensitive and line quality affects the connection speed a lot. Frankly speaking, 56Kbps is idea speed in lab which the telephone line condition is well controlled by equipment. In real world, most of the 56K modem can reach 40Kbps. If your connection is below 33.6Kbps, make sure that the ISP is support V.90 and your modem have update to V.90 Firmware.
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