I have a customer who needs to run an old DOS application with built-in
comms on a brand new PC running Windows XP.

His old setup is a Windows 98 machine with an external USR Sportster on a
COM port. His new PC does not have a COM port, but does have a built-in
modem.

Just copying the old configuration fails because his new machine's modem
does not like the USR Sportster AT commands it gets sent.

I have had a poke around and the comms software is all scripted, so I am
in with a chance of simply editing the script file to suit the modem.

The problem is, working out what commands I need to send, and what CONNECT
and error message strings to check for.

I've asked him to tell me what modem he has, as reported by the Control
Panel applet (e.g. my own shows up as "Intel(R) 536EP Modem"). He hasn't
got back to me yet, so I don't yet know what modem he has. I'm assuming
his is a motherboard chipset like mine. In the meantime I am fishing
around for general information.

Can I expect the default configuration of the modem to be pretty much
"ready to use"? In other words, could I just sent it ATDnnnnnnnn and
expect it to do all the right things?

If I do have to change something from the default setting where would I
look to find the appropriate AT commands for his particular modem?
I've tried looking on the web for the command set for my own modem, for
example, and not had much luck.

--Bill Sparrow--

On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 00:40 +0000 (GMT Standard Time),
bsparrow@cix.co.uk (Bill Sparrow) put finger to keyboard and composed:

If his is a "soft" or controllerless modem (as is yours), then you
might not be able to access it from a DOS box, unless the drivers have
DOS support.


- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 's' from my address when replying by email.

Well it looks like the drivers on my machine have DOS support. I just
loaded up a copy of the old DOS comms program Odyssey and it talks to the
modem fine. (Although it hogs 99% of the CPU time!) Oh, the nostalgia!

I will have to wait till Tuesday to find out if the drivers on my
customer's machine also have DOS support.

--Bill Sparrow--

"Bill Sparrow" <bsparrow@cix.co.uk> wrote in message
news:memo.20050325004018.3560F@bsparrow.cix.co.uk. ..
I think the simplest solution would be to install either a serial port
bracket plugged into the motherboard (most new motherboards without built in
comm/serial ports still have header pins to plug in a serial port bracket),
or if this isn't possible install a cheap serial port card. This will allow
us of the original external USR modem.

Paul