Black Box MD1640A, MD1641A manual Configuring Your Software, Configuring Software for Your Modem

CHAPTER 3: Software Configuration

3.3 Configuring Your Software

Communications software must be configured to work with your mo- dem, your computer, and the remote system it is calling. Fortunately, most communications programs make the process easy by providing a default initialization string for your modem as well as defaults for most of the other required parameters.

3.3.1 Configuring Software for Your Modem

Because remote computers may have different connection re- quirements such as speed, number of bits, parity, log-on sequences, etc., communications software is typically configured by sessions, each session having a unique configuration for a given connection (e.g., to the Internet, to a BBS, or to a commercial on-line service). Most communi- cations programs, however, have a separate modem configuration menu because modem configurations rarely change from session to session.

The most important configuration is the modem initialization string. This is a sequence of commands the software uses to configure the modem when the communications software is loaded or when a session begins. Always begin the initialization string with the ATtention command AT, then follow it with the modem reset command, &F. Issuing a reset command before other commands ensures that you are starting with a known state.

The rest of the commands in the initialization string depend on the capabilities of the modem and what you want it to do. Some older communications programs require you to create the initialization string by yourself. Most modern communications programs, however, provide you with a ready-made initialization string that is automatically selected when you choose your modem model from a list. It is a poor idea to use an initialization string intended for another modem, especially one from another manufacturer, because modem capabilities and command implementations vary from modem to modem. However, if your Series

IIModem does not appear on a modem list, you may use any initializ- ation string labeled “MultiModemII” that might appear in the list.

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