RE: Debugging IIe Modem Setup

[barry.schwarz@techall.wa.com]

Ron Phelps queried:
 
 rp>Need help with debugging my Dad's first attempt at getting a modem
 rp>working on his IIe. He's in Phoenix and I'm in Chicago and I entered
 rp>the Mac market in 1995 so I'm not much help for him other than
 rp>collecting the specs on his system. This is what his has:
 rp>
 rp>Computer: Apple IIe Enhanced
 rp>          80 column card in auxillary slot
 rp>          Imagewriter II printer
 rp>          Dual Disk Drive
 rp>OS:       Unknown
 rp>Boards:   Apple Super Serial Board connector #1 for printer
 rp>          Apple Super Serial Board connector #2 for modem
 rp>Modem:    Apple Personal Modem, 1200 bps, no switches
 rp>Cable:    Intrec Male DB25 to DIN8 male
 rp>          Non-Intrec Male DB25 to DIN8 male
 rp>Software: Proterm v3.1
 rp>Settings: With Intrec cable, serial board set to SW1-1 off, SW2-7 off
 rp>          With non-Intrec cable, board set to SW1-1 off, SW2-2/5/7 off
 rp>Configuration Attempts:
 rp>          Tried 2 different modems, same model
 rp>          Tried the Intrec cable and non-Intrec cable
 rp>          Tried switching serial boards between modem and printer
 rp>
 rp>Symptoms: 1. Modem beeps when first powered on.
 rp>          2. System boots OK with system parms showing correct data.
 rp>          3. Activate dial in Proterm, shows dialing for 45 seconds.
 rp>          4. Message "Proterm unable to connect with remote system".
 rp>
 rp>Assuming he is dialing the correct number, what do you think? Does he
 rp>have the serial board set to match is modem correctly? Does that
 rp>cable(s) sound correct?
 
When he attempts to dial, can he hear the dial tone before the dialing
starts?  Can he hear the dialing himself?  Can he hear the ring?  Does the
other system answer?  Can he hear the high pitched and rhythmic
"attempting to connect" signals between the two modems?  If he calls the
number from a regular phone, does he get modem, fax, or voice connect?
Has he tried the standard self test of dialing his own number from BASIC
and getting a busy signal?  Is the baud rate select in PT3.1 compatible
with his modem and the target system?  Can he plug a phone into the modem
and use it?  Did he cancel call waiting as part of his dial-up?  Is PT3.1
set for pulse/tone properly.
 
These are not facetious questions.  We need a much more detailed
description of the symptons to be of any help.
 
I would start by making sure each link in the chain from his end:
        Plug a phone into the wall and make sure it works.
        Plug the modem in the wall and plug the phone in the modem and
repeat.
        Connect the modem to the computer and use a sequence of BASIC
commands such as IN#2, ^AT, ATDT *70,123-4567, etc.  This test sequence
normally is in the installation section of the manual.
        Go through the entire ProTerm installation process in Chapter 3.