Knowledgebase

Issue:

This describes how to use a Windows PC to obtain a modem initialization string, and also to capture a modem log for dial in trouble shooting.

Solution:

Attach the modem to a Windows PC.

Add the modem through the normal Windows method.
View the Properties of the modem.

Windows 9x:
Connection tab -> Advanced button

Windows 2000/XP:
Diagnostics tab

Enable the recording of a log file

Then use an application such as Hyperterminal or Dialup netoworking to dial a remote device. To generate a log it is not required that the connection gets established.

A log will be created and the init string that Windows sends to the modem will be recorded. Use this init string to configure the Perle.

WIN 95 / NT
This will create a file in the C:\Windows or C:\WINNT directory called modemlog.txt.

Win 98 / 2000 / XP
Will automatically log each session -> you can view the log file with the button under the check box.

NOTE: if you leave this checked the log file will continue to append until you turn it off. So it is possible to create a file that will continually grow unitil it fills the hard drive.

The file/log will appear similar to the example:

03-30-2000 16:28:36.96 - Courier V.Everything EXT PnP (V.90&x2) in use.
03-30-2000 16:28:37.18 - Modem type: Courier V.Everything EXT PnP (V.90&x2)
03-30-2000 16:28:37.18 - Modem inf path: USROBO~1.INF
03-30-2000 16:28:37.18 - Modem inf section: Modemex
03-30-2000 16:28:37.50 - 115200,N,8,1
03-30-2000 16:28:38.62 - 115200,N,8,1
03-30-2000 16:28:38.70 - Initializing modem.
03-30-2000 16:28:38.70 - Send: AT
03-30-2000 16:28:38.85 - Recv: OK
03-30-2000 16:28:38.87 - Interpreted response: Ok
03-30-2000 16:28:38.87 - Send: AT&F1E0Q0V1&A3&C1&D2X6S0=0
03-30-2000 16:28:39.03 - Recv: OK
03-30-2000 16:28:39.03 - Interpreted response: Ok
03-30-2000 16:28:39.03 - Send: ATS7=60S19=0M1&M4&K1&H1&R2&I0B0X4
03-30-2000 16:28:39.20 - Recv: OK
03-30-2000 16:28:39.20 - Interpreted response: Ok
03-30-2000 16:28:39.20 - Dialing.
03-30-2000 16:28:39.20 - Send: ATDT#,#######
03-30-2000 16:28:46.08 - Recv: BUSY
03-30-2000 16:28:46.08 - Interpreted response: Busy
03-30-2000 16:28:47.81 - Hanging up the modem.
03-30-2000 16:28:47.81 - Send: ATH
03-30-2000 16:28:47.96 - Recv: OK
03-30-2000 16:28:47.96 - Interpreted response: Ok
03-30-2000 16:28:48.52 - Session Statistics:
03-30-2000 16:28:48.52 -                Reads : 32 bytes
03-30-2000 16:28:48.52 -                Writes: 82 bytes
03-30-2000 16:28:48.52 - Courier V.Everything EXT PnP (V.90&x2) closed.

You can see in the above example Windows sends two initializations to the modem. You can combine these to form one initialization string by removing the "AT" from the second string.

example: AT&F1E0Q0V1&A3&C1&D2X6S0=0S7=60S19=0M1&M4&K1&H1&R2&I0B0X4

Note: S0= represents the auto answer, 0 is disabled and 1 is answer after the first ring.
Note: some products do not require the carraige return at the end of the string.

This modem log can also be used to trouble shoot modem connection problems. The modem log will show the modem to modem handshake and may indicate where the problem may lie.

Related Articles:
1.) Trouble shooting PPP connections with PPP logging