modem question and modem string wanted

[Franc Zabkar]

I'm fairly certain that _no_ ISA-based modems were controllerless.

PCtel made a PnP ISA HSP (softmodem) chipset (PCT288I):
http://www.modemsite.com/56K/pctel.asp

They were used in Commwave/Multiwave ISA modems.

Here is a datasheet:
http://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf-datasheets/Datasheets-308/16942.pdf

- Franc Zabkar

 

[BillW50]

In Greg typed on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:00:02 -0500:

Controller-less modems work fine. It is the ISA modem that does not
in xp. I tried everything (Short of reinstalling xp). xp didn't
reorganized the modem.

My system is a Compaq desktop ep pro series

Virtually all non-RS-232 modems are WinModems and requires the
manufactures driver before Windows will see it.

 

[98 Guy]

PCtel made a PnP ISA HSP (softmodem) chipset (PCT288I):
http://www.modemsite.com/56K/pctel.asp

They were used in Commwave/Multiwave ISA modems.

Here is a datasheet:

You will note that in the data sheet, it says that:

"PCMCIA or PnP (for 8/16 bit ISA) requires additional PCMCIA
interface or PnP chip."

The PCT288I itself does not contain a host-bus interface. So we (I)
will need to see evidence that this chip made it to a consumer product
in the form of an ISA-bus card.

This might be relevant:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Multiwave+Innovation+Offers+New+Low-Cost+56K+PCI+Modem.-a020489847

If I read this correctly, this press release seems to mark the first
time that a controller-less modem from Multiwave became available for
general sale. Note that it is a PCI card:

---------------
FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 1998--Multiwave Innovation
announced the introduction of the CommWave 56k PCI

The new modem is designed with the best-of-class modem chipset from
Lucent Technologies Microelectronics Group which has won numerous
awards.

CommWave 56k PCI modem is the next generation of Digital Signal
Processor-based modem solutions. Its high level of integration creates
an ultra-low-cost, high performance, low power, full-featured modem
utilizing minimum CPU CPU
in full central processing unit

The integrated PCI interface allows it to have greater access to host PC
system resources. In conjunction with the host PC, it implements K56flex
technology, with which PC users can achieve Internet connection rates up
to 56kbits/sec with backward compatibility.
------------------

 

[MEB]

Controller-less modems work fine. It is the ISA modem that does not
in xp. I tried everything (Short of reinstalling xp). xp didn't
reorganized the modem.

My system is a Compaq desktop ep pro series

Greg

Greg, I gave you the ATI commands so you could find out exactly what
this modem is, firmware, etc.. It might help to solve your issues if you
were to provide the group with that information, and would certainly end
the debate on controllerless or not, and what potential software you
might need.

It sure would help to know..

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

 

[Bill in Co.]

In Greg typed on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:00:02 -0500:

Virtually all non-RS-232 modems are WinModems and requires the
manufactures driver before Windows will see it.

But wouldn't there be some advantage to replacing a WinModem with one that
had a built-in controller to do all the processing (assuming they were still
available? I gather they are not (in a PCI card) from what you're saying.

Or is it that at this point in time, the overall difference wouldn't even be
noticeable on the current systems? Like maybe the "performance hit" would
only be noticeable on some really old and slow CPUs (like a 100 or 200 MHz)?

 

[Greg]

Greg, I gave you the ATI commands so you could find out exactly what
this modem is, firmware, etc.. It might help to solve your issues if you
were to provide the group with that information, and would certainly end
the debate on controllerless or not, and what potential software you
might need.

It sure would help to know..

MEB., That reply was for 98guy. Not you.



To All,
My computer specs again.
5 drive bays.
2 Memory slots-on board
P3 500 mhz cpu
5 pci slots or 4 pci slots and 1 agp slot.
2 ISA slots
Two USB 1.0/1.1-on board slots
One printer port -on board slots
Two serial ports-on board slots
One ps2 keyboard port-on board slot
One ps2 mouse port on-board slot
On board sound cards (Still works but using the ISA sound card, I
bought for dos game compatibility)


Trying to the fix the confusion.
My previous modem was a pci modem. Which worked fine until it quit
and it was a winmodem as well.

The modem, I am using now, is an ISA modem. This is only temporary.
Tell my pci modem comes in. Hopefully, with drivers for both 98se
and xp.

I will possible keep the isa modem installed, because it works with
puppy Linux.


Greg

 

[Franc Zabkar]

You will note that in the data sheet, it says that:

"PCMCIA or PnP (for 8/16 bit ISA) requires additional PCMCIA
interface or PnP chip."

The PCT288I itself does not contain a host-bus interface. So we (I)
will need to see evidence that this chip made it to a consumer product
in the form of an ISA-bus card.

AISI, the datasheet shows that the PCT288I does contain an interface
to the "PC Bus". Only the PnP functionality would need to be provided
by additional silicon. In fact I have a 56K Dynalink ISA modem with a
Rockwell/Conexant ACF2 chipset that can be jumpered for PnP mode or
non-PnP mode. It has a datapump, controller, RAM, OTPROM, and an
additional chip specifically for negotiating PnP.

This might be relevant:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Multiwave+Innovation+Offers+New+Low-Cost+56K+PCI+Modem.-a020489847

If I read this correctly, this press release seems to mark the first
time that a controller-less modem from Multiwave became available for
general sale. Note that it is a PCI card:

Here is Multiwave's archived news page (09 Jan 1998):
http://web.archive.org/web/19980704150803/www.multiwave.com/news.htm

New Product, October 1997:

"CommWave 56K PnP Internal modem -- the K56Flex compatible ISA
SoftModem for Windows 95 is now available for USA and most Asia
countries."

The following is a single-chip 56K ISA softmodem. Even the DSP is
emulated by the host, so this modem has less silicon than even a
controllerless modem.

Drivers for V.90/K56Flex ISA 56K HSP PnP and PCMCIA v7.55 Released :
27 October 98:
http://web.archive.org/web/19990208015010/http://www.multiwave.com/

MULTIWAVE INNOVATION, INC COMMWAVE 56K PNP (REV.1.0):
http://stason.org/TULARC/pc/modems-...INNOVATION-INC-Modem-synchronous-asynchr.html

Tech specs for CommWave CW56K HSP modem:
http://web.archive.org/web/19981205212121/www.multiwave.com/pd_cw56khsp.htm

"Full ISA Intel's Plug-n-Play"

"Single-Chip Host Signal Processing (HSP) ASIC"

"No redundant high speed chipsets such as Data Pump (or DSP), UART,
SRAM and ROM found in most high speed data/fax modem board"

- Franc Zabkar

 

[MEB]

MEB., That reply was for 98guy. Not you.



To All,
My computer specs again.
5 drive bays.
2 Memory slots-on board
P3 500 mhz cpu
5 pci slots or 4 pci slots and 1 agp slot.
2 ISA slots
Two USB 1.0/1.1-on board slots
One printer port -on board slots
Two serial ports-on board slots
One ps2 keyboard port-on board slot
One ps2 mouse port on-board slot
On board sound cards (Still works but using the ISA sound card, I
bought for dos game compatibility)


Trying to the fix the confusion.
My previous modem was a pci modem. Which worked fine until it quit
and it was a winmodem as well.

The modem, I am using now, is an ISA modem. This is only temporary.
Tell my pci modem comes in. Hopefully, with drivers for both 98se
and xp.

I will possible keep the isa modem installed, because it works with
puppy Linux.


Greg

Okay, Greg, continue to talk about it in THEORY, or supply what the
group actually needs, the MODEM device ID, firmware, etc., which comes
via running the ATI* commands which I provided using a terminal program.
The AT&V information would also be valuable. [those commands were shown
with a small i to avoid confusion with a 1]
Unless you're careful in your purchase, the new PCI modem will be
controllerless... perhaps you would like some suggestions on what to
potentially look for, for cross-platform compatibility, or have you
already purchased the new modem?

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

 

[98 Guy]

In fact I have a 56K Dynalink ISA modem with a Rockwell/Conexant
ACF2 chipset that can be jumpered for PnP mode or non-PnP mode.
It has a datapump, controller, RAM, OTPROM, and an additional
chip specifically for negotiating PnP.

Let's get a handle on the types of modems. There are:

- Softmodems or winmodems (aka full softmodems)
- controller-based modems (aka hardware modems)
- controller-less modems (aka half-soft modems)

Softmodems do not have a DPU (Data Pump Unit) which contains the
DSP-Digital Signal Processor and they also lack an MCU (on-board
microprocessor control unit). These are the dumbest and cheapest
modems, and put the highest load on the PC's CPU. They will not
function under DOS. These are the modems that you will not find in
ISA-bus format. PCTel, ESS, Conexant Soft56K, HSF, U.S. Robotics 5670
are all softmodems.

Winmodem is a trade-name owned by US Robotics. It's their terminology
for what is essentially a softmodem. Legally, other companies could not
call their product a "Winmodem". US Robotics stopped using the term
"Winmodem" at some point for their controller-based modems because many
people always equated "winmodem" with "softmodem".

Controller-based modems have both the DPU and MCU built-in. All
external modems that connect to a computer over a serial cable are full
controller-based modems. It is RARE to find a full controller-based
hardware modem in PCI or PCIe format. The U.S. Robotics 5610 is a
controller based PCI internal fax modem.

Controller-less modems have a DPU but hand off the controller functions
to the PC's cpu. From a performace point of view, this is much better
than a full soft-modem because the most CPU-intensive data processing is
done by the modem's DPU.

If there ever were any full soft-modems made in ISA-bus format, then
they must have been pathetic in operation because the performance of the
ISA bus was poor relative to the data transfer that needed to be done,
and the 16-bit ISA bus would be highly inefficient for a 32-bit OS or
driver, as it would have to constantly thunking up and down.

New Product, October 1997:

"CommWave 56K PnP Internal modem -- the K56Flex compatible ISA
SoftModem for Windows 95 is now available for USA and most Asia
countries."

Must have been a piece-of-shit in operation.

My guess is that ISA-based full softmodems were a short-lived phenomena.

 

[BillW50]

In Bill in Co. typed on Sun, 8 Nov 2009 22:27:10 -0700:

But wouldn't there be some advantage to replacing a WinModem with one
that had a built-in controller to do all the processing (assuming
they were still available? I gather they are not (in a PCI card)
from what you're saying.
Or is it that at this point in time, the overall difference wouldn't
even be noticeable on the current systems? Like maybe the
"performance hit" would only be noticeable on some really old and
slow CPUs (like a 100 or 200 MHz)?

"98 Guy" explained it better than I could. And I used WinModems back
then and while people claimed that WinModems used a lot of CPU power, I
never saw much of a performance difference.

 

[Greg]

MEB., That reply was for 98guy. Not you.



To All,
My computer specs again.
5 drive bays.
2 Memory slots-on board
P3 500 mhz cpu
5 pci slots or 4 pci slots and 1 agp slot.
2 ISA slots
Two USB 1.0/1.1-on board slots
One printer port -on board slots
Two serial ports-on board slots
One ps2 keyboard port-on board slot
One ps2 mouse port on-board slot
On board sound cards (Still works but using the ISA sound card, I
bought for dos game compatibility)


Trying to the fix the confusion.
My previous modem was a pci modem. Which worked fine until it quit
and it was a winmodem as well.

The modem, I am using now, is an ISA modem. This is only temporary.
Tell my pci modem comes in. Hopefully, with drivers for both 98se
and xp.

I will possible keep the isa modem installed, because it works with
puppy Linux.


Greg

Okay, Greg, continue to talk about it in THEORY, or supply what the
group actually needs, the MODEM device ID, firmware, etc., which comes
via running the ATI* commands which I provided using a terminal program.
The AT&V information would also be valuable. [those commands were shown
with a small i to avoid confusion with a 1]
Unless you're careful in your purchase, the new PCI modem will be
controllerless... perhaps you would like some suggestions on what to
potentially look for, for cross-platform compatibility, or have you
already purchased the new modem?

Your confusing the issue and me.

I already ordered the pci modem, it suppose to have driver for both
98se and xp.

On the ISA modem, I am using, it is temporary for 98se.

The reason I want the string, there is no volume control for this
modem in 98se. (Yes, I looked, grey out)

The other reasons, it was not showing the DTE speed.

You could of been simple and said put this string in like this

AT+W2 L0

Greg

 

[BillW50]

In Greg typed on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:44 -0500:

The reason I want the string, there is no volume control for this
modem in 98se. (Yes, I looked, grey out)

Hi Greg! Did you check the sound mixer? The control might be in there.
Otherwise it doesn't look good. Was there a speaker mounted on the modem
card?

 

[MEB]

Greg wrote:

Franc Zabkar wrote:

98se and puppy Linux live cd does recognize my ISA modem
(cl-md56xx cirrus logic)
The xx is important. Some 56xx modems were controllerless,
others had a hardware controller.
I'm fairly certain that _no_ ISA-based modems were controllerless.

The best modems were in fact ISA-based, because they always had on-board
processors and did all the communication work themselves, as opposed to
controller-less modems (which as a rule were are all PCI-based modems).

The OP is advised to remove the PCI modem and get XP to recognize the
ISA modem. His anemic system doesn't need extra load of dealing with a
controller-less modem.
Controller-less modems work fine. It is the ISA modem that does not
in xp. I tried everything (Short of reinstalling xp). xp didn't
reorganized the modem.

My system is a Compaq desktop ep pro series

Greg
Greg, I gave you the ATI commands so you could find out exactly what
this modem is, firmware, etc.. It might help to solve your issues if you
were to provide the group with that information, and would certainly end
the debate on controllerless or not, and what potential software you
might need.

It sure would help to know..
MEB., That reply was for 98guy. Not you.



To All,
My computer specs again.
5 drive bays.
2 Memory slots-on board
P3 500 mhz cpu
5 pci slots or 4 pci slots and 1 agp slot.
2 ISA slots
Two USB 1.0/1.1-on board slots
One printer port -on board slots
Two serial ports-on board slots
One ps2 keyboard port-on board slot
One ps2 mouse port on-board slot
On board sound cards (Still works but using the ISA sound card, I
bought for dos game compatibility)


Trying to the fix the confusion.
My previous modem was a pci modem. Which worked fine until it quit
and it was a winmodem as well.

The modem, I am using now, is an ISA modem. This is only temporary.
Tell my pci modem comes in. Hopefully, with drivers for both 98se
and xp.

I will possible keep the isa modem installed, because it works with
puppy Linux.


Greg

Okay, Greg, continue to talk about it in THEORY, or supply what the
group actually needs, the MODEM device ID, firmware, etc., which comes
via running the ATI* commands which I provided using a terminal program.
The AT&V information would also be valuable. [those commands were shown
with a small i to avoid confusion with a 1]
Unless you're careful in your purchase, the new PCI modem will be
controllerless... perhaps you would like some suggestions on what to
potentially look for, for cross-platform compatibility, or have you
already purchased the new modem?

Your confusing the issue and me.

I already ordered the pci modem, it suppose to have driver for both
98se and xp.

On the ISA modem, I am using, it is temporary for 98se.

The reason I want the string, there is no volume control for this
modem in 98se. (Yes, I looked, grey out)

The other reasons, it was not showing the DTE speed.

You could of been simple and said put this string in like this

AT+W2 L0

Greg

Come on Greg, that still supplies nothing from which to work. We need
the actual modem DETAILS obtainable via the ATI* commands I gave you.

And as I explained, the command should be placed together with no
spaces or comma or anything else. So what it would like using your
supplied string would be:

ATW2L0 - but that leaves it unwritten permanently, so add &W1 or &W2
depending upon which profile the MAIN string is using [either as shown
or available via the AT&V command].
{&V - Display Current Configuration and Stored Profiles.}
(&Wn - Store Current Configuration)

If this is your desired string, then add it or modify the existing, if
possible, to the main string as W2L0

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

 

[Franc Zabkar]

What motherboard with ISA slots has on-board video???

My PCChips M571 with SiS 5597/5598 chipset.

- Franc Zabkar

 

[Franc Zabkar]

Your confusing the issue and me.

I already ordered the pci modem, it suppose to have driver for both
98se and xp.

If you post the modem's ATIn responses, then we would know whether it
is a controller-based type, in which case XP would need no drivers,
only an INF file.

In Win98SE, go to Control Panel -> Modems -> Diagnostics, select your
modem, and select More Info.

On the ISA modem, I am using, it is temporary for 98se.

The reason I want the string, there is no volume control for this
modem in 98se. (Yes, I looked, grey out)

The reason there is no volume control is because you have installed
the modem with the wrong INF file, probably a standard Windows INF.

Once again, if you post the ATIn responses, or better still, post the
numbers on the modem chips, then we will be able to help you.

The other reasons, it was not showing the DTE speed.

You could of been simple and said put this string in like this

AT+W2 L0

Greg

In Extra Settings you don't need the "AT" prefix. Spaces are OK,
though. The appropriate Wn command is W2, not +W2.

- Franc Zabkar

 

[Greg]

In Greg typed on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:44 -0500:

Hi Greg! Did you check the sound mixer? The control might be in there.
Otherwise it doesn't look good. Was there a speaker mounted on the modem
card?

I found my old drivers for windows 98se. That eliminated the sound
problem

The correct AT codes

It L0 for low volume is M0 for muting the speaker.
0=number zero

This is what I have in the extra settings and it is working.

AT W2

or I could of used this

AT M0 W2

some cirrus modem may require this

AT &F M0 W2

(There) is a space between the T and & symbol.

Greg

 

[MEB]

If you post the modem's ATIn responses, then we would know whether it
is a controller-based type, in which case XP would need no drivers,
only an INF file.

In Win98SE, go to Control Panel -> Modems -> Diagnostics, select your
modem, and select More Info.

Wow, that's a duh moment for me... thinking DOS, or some terminal
program diagnostics.

The reason there is no volume control is because you have installed
the modem with the wrong INF file, probably a standard Windows INF.

Once again, if you post the ATIn responses, or better still, post the
numbers on the modem chips, then we will be able to help you.


In Extra Settings you don't need the "AT" prefix. Spaces are OK,
though. The appropriate Wn command is W2, not +W2.

- Franc Zabkar

Hmm, I was always under the impression the string inclusions must be
kept together or the additional were ignored. And my favorite comm
program QModem [IIRC] did require the AT. Other used or tested may have
required or not if the program auto sent AT. But yeah, again I suppose
you're talking Windows settings... I wonder where these are actually
being entered. DUN maybe?

Maybe a couple more links:
http://www.netfaqs.com/windows/dun/win98/Modem/index.asp
specific V90/92 other per specific modem
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/test.test111/inits.txt
Cirrus Logic Modem Drivers - 213 drivers found
http://www.modem-drivers.com/companies/216.htm

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.org/ref/windows-main.htm
Windows Info, Diagnostics, Security, Networking
http://peoplescounsel.org
The "real world" of Law, Justice, and Government
___---

 

[Franc Zabkar]

Hmm, I was always under the impression the string inclusions must be
kept together or the additional were ignored.

My Rockwelloid tolerates spaces and mixed case. However, I agree that
no spaces and all uppercase is safer.

And my favorite comm
program QModem [IIRC] did require the AT. Other used or tested may have
required or not if the program auto sent AT. But yeah, again I suppose
you're talking Windows settings... I wonder where these are actually
being entered. DUN maybe?

Yes, DUN supplies the AT. There is a key in the registry where the
Extra Settings are stored.

Examine your modemlog and you will find several initialisation lines,
including one for the Extra Settings.

- Franc Zabkar

 

[MEB]

Hmm, I was always under the impression the string inclusions must be
kept together or the additional were ignored.

My Rockwelloid tolerates spaces and mixed case. However, I agree that
no spaces and all uppercase is safer.

And my favorite comm
program QModem [IIRC] did require the AT. Other used or tested may have
required or not if the program auto sent AT. But yeah, again I suppose
you're talking Windows settings... I wonder where these are actually
being entered. DUN maybe?

Yes, DUN supplies the AT. There is a key in the registry where the
Extra Settings are stored.

Examine your modemlog and you will find several initialization lines,
including one for the Extra Settings.

- Franc Zabkar

Thanks Franc, been so long since I actually messed with my own [just
use the standard init strings put together several years ago for my
modems] or others' modem settings, I am losing the knowledge. Oh well...