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Fax/Modem Installation Guidelines
Install the Fax/Modem
- Turn off the computer before you begin. Also, turn off any external devices that are connected to your computer, such as printers.
- Handle the board gently by the edges. Some of the component leads under the board have sharp edges and may cause serious injury.
- To prevent electrostatic discharge damage to the components on your modem, do not remove the modem from the static-shielded bag until you have discharged any static electricity from your body by touching any unpainted surface on the case of your computer.
- Remove the PC cover. Refer to your computer manual if you cannot determine how to remove the cover.
- Select any PCI or ISA slot depending whether your modem is a PCI or ISA one. Unscrew the screw possessing the slot's backplate and remove it. (Save the screw!)
- Insert the modem into the empty slot. Make sure that the modem is firmly seated in the slot.
- Secure the modem with the screw you removed earlier.
Connect Cables
- If your modem is voice-active, you can get all the voice function including message playing and recording through sound cards by connecting an audio cable from the modem to your sound card.
- If you wish to use the speakerphone functions of your modem, plug a microphone with a 1/8" mono plug into the jack labeled, microphone on the "Buy DUPLEX" sound card. Plug a 8-ohm computer speakers to the modem "Speaker Out" jack.
- Connect the telephone lines. Most modems have two modular telephone jacks on the back. One is marked as "LINE" to be connected to the wall outlet via a modular telephone cord. The second one is marked as "PHONE," to be connected to a telephone set, allowing you to use the phone when the modem is not in use. The modem can also be used as an autodialer with your telephone set. You may use either a single line phone outlet (RJ11) or two-line (RJ14) but the modem will only work on the first line using the center pair of wires.
Install Drivers
- Before turning the power back on to the computer, check the telephone connection by lifting the telephone handset. You should hear a dial tone. If you don't, check that all phone cords are firmly connected. If you still don't hear a dial tone, refer to How to Troubleshoot a Modem.
- Turn the computer power back on. Lift the handset of the telephone again to check for a dial tone.
- You've now completed the hardware installation of your modem. From here, you are ready to install the communications software.
- Determine your operating system and install driver from the driver diskette or CD. The installation procedure varies from one operating system to another. Follow instructions that came with your modem.
Here is a brief summary of how to configure the modem in Windows 95/98:
- When Windows detects the modem, the message "This wizard will complete the installation of: PCI Serial Controller" will be displayed.
- Click "Next", then "Other location", then enter the path to the drivers, then click "OK".
- Windows display "Windows found the following updated driver for this device: Brand PCI Modem Enumerator".
- Click "Finish" and Windows displays "Please insert the disk labeled 'WIN95 installation Disk', and then click OK".
- Click "OK" and enter the path of the drivers again. Installation should then complete automatically.
After completing the installation, you can check if the fax/modem was properly installed by using the following procedure: (1) From My Computer, double click Control Panel. (2) Double click Modems. (3) Select Diagnostics tab. (4) Choose the COM port where the newly installed modem device is. Click on More Info If the Command and Response box displays results from ATI1 to AT+FCLA, it indicates that your fax/modem is set up properly.
Install Communications and Applications Software
- Most popular communications software packages will work well with your modem. Turn on your computer. Start the communication software and check the following parameters: (1) The Serial port number. (2) The communication speed and protocol. (3) Data format: data bit, stop bit, and parity. Set the Serial port number to COM1, COM2, COM3, or COM4 according to which your modem is connected. Note that one port should be assigned to only one device; otherwise, the two devices will conflict with each other. Here are some tips on configuring your communications software:
- For the baud rate. choose any speed between 38,400 to 115, 200.Your fax/modem will automatically adjust to the best transmission speed after successfully connecting with a remote fax/modem.
- Many communication software uses the modem response to control program flow. Make sure that the software is set to recognize a CONNECT 115200 response. If this does not work, set the program to simply recognize just the CONNECT response without any baud rate information.
- There are three flow control mode: 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', or Consult your modem manual.
- For fax speed, choose 'automatic' or 'fastest speed'. Your fax/modem will automatically adjust to be 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.
- Once you've installed your communication software, test the modem according to the instructions in either the hardware or software manual.
- To use your new fax/data modem, you must have installed and properly configured your applications software. Most fax/modems come with some free, "light" versions of communications software. However, to utilize the software to their Buy extent, stand-alone software should be purchased separately. For instance, you must have fax software to use the modem to receive and send faxes. You must have a dial-up account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to connect to the Internet and receive/send e-mails. You must have an Internet browser installed and configured to browse the Internet.
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