






              __________________________________________________
                                    T H E 
                                  M O D E M
                                 D O C T O R
                             Version 7.0S / 7.0R
             Hank Volpe copyr. 1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1996
                                P.O. Box 43214
                               Baltimore MD 21236      
              __________________________________________________

     Thank you for using the Modem Doctor. This file offers you a brief
     introduction into how the program works, and how you can use the Modem
     Doctor to  solve your  communication problems. Why  would you  need the
     Modem  Doctor? Well, have you ever tried  to install a serial card or a
     modem to  find out that you have the IRQ  lines set wrong, or the modem
     cable wired  wrong, or  some silly jumper  set incorrectly?  What about
     when you have  had trouble connecting to  a BBS? Is it  the phone line,
     your setup,  or your  modem? Could  it be  the uart,  settings on  your
     serial card, or  an incorrect assignment of the base  port address? The
     Modem Doctor was written  to assist you with all of  these problems and
     some of the pitfalls involved in Personal Computer communications. 

     The Modem Doctor checks every serial port chip (uart) register, checks
     cables and modems  for proper handshaking signals, and  will inform you
     if it runs across something that isn't set properly. Modems are also
     rigorously tested, including handshaking tests and modem self-connect
     tests which simulate an on-line connection. IRQ assignment errors, base
     port addressing errors, and  a host of other settings  are checked. The
     Modem Doctor also  will inform you  of the type  of uart and  modem you
     have installed, and will print a copy  of the test results to a printer
     or a file.

     I feel the Modem Doctor is very easy to use, in fact all you need to do
     is move the cursor around with your arrow keys and press return to  run
     a  feature or press the escape key to  get out. You can get help at any
     time  by pressing ALT-H. You can  change the baud rate  of the port you
     are  working with  at any  time  by pressing  ALT-B. ALT-F  is  used to
     by-pass  the  microprocessor  tests (which  is  discussed  more in  the
     technical  reference manual). These special keys are called "Hot-Keys",
     and can be short-cuts at times during testing.

     Remember a left or a right arrow is used to move around the main menu.
     Pressing enter  will activate a  pulldown window.  Use the  up or  down
     arrows to  make a selection. Press enter  to start a test  or escape to
     abort. Use  any  of the  "hot-keys" at  any time  you  wish. It's  that
     simple!
















           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe



     Starting Modem Doctor
     ---------------------

     Here is a list of all the Modem Doctor files. Make sure you are logged
     onto the disk drive that has all of these files. Hard disk users should
     be
     logged into a directory that contains these files;

     MDR.EXE       The Modem Doctor program executable file.
     MDR.CFG       A file that contains your custom color selections 
                    (optional, created by the user).

     MDR7.DRV      A reserved file name for future external modem drivers.
                    (there are currently no files with this name).

     MDR.DAT       A file that contains user created setup instructions for
                   running MDR in the /S mode (this will be explained
                   later).

     MDR.MNU       A mouse driver file that can be loaded with any
                   Microsoft-compatible menu load program (such as
                   menu.com).

     The program MDR.EXE can be  run out of a  dos path command without  you
     being  logged into  the  proper  directory or  disk,  however the  user
     selected configuration (MDR.CFG) and external driver files will  not be
     used.

     Also included with  the Modem Doctor are the  following text files that
     are  a good  source of  technical  information about  testing, and  the
     history of the Modem Doctor program. Included is an order form, for the
     Modem Doctor  is distributed  in two  versions.  The shareware  version
     (5.0S) allows you to take a look at the Modem Doctor before you buy it.
     The  Registered  Version  (7.0R)  includes  more  features,  comm  port
     selections, higher baud  rates and some extra test  information. I feel
     quite certain you will agree that  the Registered Version is worth  the
     price of $19.95 (which  includes shipping in the U.S.). Here  is a list
     of these support files;





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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe



     MDR7DOC.TXT   The Technical reference Manual that explains in detail
                   the operation and testing of your modem and uart. 
     MDR7FST.TXT   This file.
     MDR7ORDR.TXT  The form for you to use to order the registered version
                   of the Modem Doctor.
     VENDOR.DOC    Info for shareware distributors on how to place Modem
                   Doctor in their library.

     There are eight modes that the Modem Doctor operates in; normal, bios
     writes  (/b),  bypass   ATI  video  board  ports  (/e),  use  Digiboard
     Intelligent  Serial ports  (/d), use  FOSSIL  drivers (/f),setup  (/s),
     bypass IRQ tests (/q), and exchange (/x).

     Normal mode is simply starting the Modem Doctor from the dos prompt by
     typing; MDR. This  is the mode  99% of  you will use.  The other  modes
     allow  Modem Doctor  to  work  with either  special  hardware or  under
     special conditions

     Bios write mode is a feature that you might use if you have a totally
     incompatible  display adapter.  If  you  are  visually  impaired,  this
     feature allows the text of the Modem Doctor to be echoed to your speech
     synthesizer  system.  Bios writes  use  the ROM-Bios  of  your computer
     instead of working  to the display  adapter. This method  is very  slow
     compared  to screen writes,  so if  you have  no need  for it,  I would
     suggest that you  refrain from using it.  Starting the Modem  Doctor in
     this bios write mode is done from the dos prompt by typing ; MDR /b

     Bypass  of ATI video boards  is a new  switch in version  7.0. Some ATI
     Mach 32 graphics  boards use the same address as reserved for Com4. The
     /e switch tells Modem Doctor not to use the Com4 address (02E8 Hex)  in
     its diagnostic routines. Starting the Modem Doctor in this mode is done
     from the dos prompt by typing ; MDR /e

     Intelligent Serial Ports are becoming increasingly popular due to the
     popularity  of  Windows  and  other  multi-tasking  environments. Modem
     Doctor  supports  the Hayes  ESP  directly,  however  other boards  use
     special setups and  drivers. Modem Doctor 6 now  supports the Digiboard
     Com/Xi series  of Intelligent  ports. In this  mode, Modem  Doctor will
     test up to 4 separate boards, each  containing up to 16 comm ports. You
     need to  be using  the Digiboard X  series drivers  with Modem  Doctor.
     Starting the Modem Doctor in this  mode is done from the dos prompt  by
     typing ; MDR /d

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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     Fossil drivers are also becoming popular interfaces to serial ports. A
     FOSSIL  (Fido/Opus  Standard Serial  Interface  Layer) is  a  small TSR
     program  that controls input and  output to serial  ports. Many new BBS
     programs  use Fossil drivers  to make programming  easier. Modem Doctor
     can test and report these interfaces. Starting the Modem Doctor in this
     mode is done from the dos prompt by typing ; MDR /f

     Setup mode  is a very useful  feature and gives you the  ability to use
     the Modem Doctor every day. Setup mode is used to send setup strings
     (initialization strings) to your modem. In this mode, the Modem Doctor
     looks for a  file called MDR.DAT,  which you make  with a simple  ASCII
     text editor. This  file contains the port, the baud rate, and the setup
     string  you want  to send  to  the modem.  If the  modem  received this
     information  properly, a  message  is  printed to  the  screen, and  an
     errorlevel of  0  is returned.  If there  is a  problem,  a message  is
     printed and  an errorlevel of 99 is returned.  You can use this feature
     inside  batch files,  and  these  errorlevels can  be  used to  trigger
     different actions. This mode is explained in great detail, with example
     batch files and MDR.DAT files. Starting the Modem Doctor in this  setup
     mode is done from the dos prompt by typing ; MDR /s
     (Note, the setup mode is a registered feature).

     Modem Doctor includes routines that verify the actual occurance 
     of interrupts  associated with Comm  ports. In this mode,  Modem Doctor
     will verify assignments and  also report if they are  associated with a
     mouse driver.  However, self-testing of  IRQ's may not be  desirable in
     all environments.  Additionally,  some environments  may "freeze"  when
     running Modem Doctor  in the IRQ  test mode.  Bypassing these tests  is
     accomplished by typing ; MDR /q at the dos prompt.

     Finally,  the exchange  mode is used  to swap Comm  pointers in memory.
     This makes  Com1 act like Com2. The main  reason for this feature is so
     you can  access a serial  device that is  not interrupt driven  (like a
     printer)  from some high  level languages that  do not  allow access to
     Com2.  Some  programs do  not  work with  two  Comm ports.  Running the
     program  does  not  permanently  alter  anything,  all  changes can  be
     restored  by running  the Modem  Doctor in  exchange mode again,  or by
     warmbooting  your computer. Starting the  Modem Doctor in this exchange
     mode is done from the dos prompt by typing; MDR /x. 

     You can use MDR /x to swap any of the 4 Dos  comm port pointers besides
     the defaults of Com1 and Com2. To  do this just type the numbers of the
     two ports you wish to  switch..ie  MDR /x 1 4  will swap Com1 and Com4.

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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     MDR /x 2 3 will swap Com2 and Com3. 

     The following  pages show you  operating instructions that  you receive
     when the Modem Doctor runs in the normal or bios write modes.
     After the Modem Doctor starts, you are presented with the following
     screen;

      The Modem DoctorĿ
                       Welcome to the Modem Doctor                      
     

     [ Modem / Uart Hardware Detection]͸
      Port assignments  Base(hex)    Irq  Port Usage       Modem         
      Com port 1   [ ]     3f8        4                                  
      Com port 2   [ ]     2f8        3   IRQ/MOUSE                      
      Com port 3   [ ]     3e8        4                    Modem On      
      Com port 4   [ ]     2e8        3   IRQ/MOUSE                      
      Com port 5   [ ]                                                   
      Com port 6   [ ]                                                   
      Com port 7   [ ]                                                   
      Com port 8   [ ]                                                   
        Bus type: AT Bus  Interrupt Levels: 15   HD uses DMA Ch3?: NO    
        Interrupt Status :  15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0        
     

     [  Serial Port Detection ]ͻ
                            Serial port detection                         
                 Searching for other standard active Comm ports          
                                                                         
                           Total Comm ports  =2                          
                       PRESS ANY KEY TO START TESTING                    
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                                                         
     ͼ 
     When you  start  Modem  Doctor for  the  first time,  two  windows  are
     displayed  on screen. The first window, (Modem/Uart Hardware detection)
     gives  you a  snapshot of  your computer/serial  port hardware.  In the
     example above, it found 2 Comm ports  (or serial ports). The registered
     version also looks for custom Comm ports  (those defined by a user in a
     section called Log-in). 



                                      Page 5














           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     Modem Doctor will also attempt to verify which IRQ line your  comm port
     is using. Modem  Doctor traps IRQ's  and then creates a  situation that
     should cause  an interrupt.  When the  interrupt happens,  Modem Doctor
     notes  the IRQ  line, and  displays  it under  the IRQ  heading.  If no
     interrupt occurs, a  0 is displayed,  which means you  may have an  IRQ
     problem,or you need to use a  FOSSIL driver for support. (See the  tech
     reference manual under FOSSILS and TIMER routines).

     If a  serial port is  being used by a  mouse driver, Modem  Doctor will
     flag this usage.  This is done by  requesting this info from  the mouse
     driver.  Note, this feature only  works with Microsoft compatible mouse
     drivers.  Also, the new  "SNOOP" feature in Modem  Doctor 7.0 will find
     active modems and  display which ports have modems  attached and turned
     on, a  handy feature if  you're looking to  locate and troubleshoot  an
     internal modem.

     At the bottom of the display, Modem Doctor summarizes the initial state
     of your  system hardware. All  system interrupts  are displayed.  Those
     that are active are white, those not active are gray. These  interrupts
     and information are  critical to some  communication programs. More  on
     this is explained in the technical reference manual.

     Meanwhile, the Serial Port Detection window displays what Modem  Doctor
     is doing. This window maintains a dialogue between you and the program,
     and  if problems or special instructions need to be displayed, they are
     shown in this window.


















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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe



     Finally, at the bottom of the screen, the copyright notice is displayed
     along with either  "shareware version" or your  personal serial number.
     As a  registered user, you need your serial  number for support and for
     updates. At this  point, pressing  any key  will bring up  a series  of
     windows, whose function is explained below;

     [  Ports  ]ͻ   [  IRQ's  ]ͻ    [  Baud  ]ͻ
      Use COM 1      Use IRQ 2         300 BPS  
      Use COM 2      Use IRQ 3        1200 BPS  
      Use COM 3      Use IRQ 4        2400 BPS  
      Use COM 4      Use IRQ 5        4800 BPS   * 
     ͼ    Use IRQ 7        9600 BPS   * 
                       Use IRQ 9       19200 BPS   *              
                       Use IRQ10       38400 BPS   *Registered Versions
                       Use IRQ11       57600 BPS   *only
                       Use IRQ12      115200 BPS   *
                       Use IRQ15      ͼ
                      ͼ

     If  you  have a  PC-XT compatible  machine,  you only  have  1 Priority
     Interrupt controller. In  this case, only IRQ's 2-7  are displayed. The
     Ports window will only display valid comm ports that you can work with.
     The IRQ  window automatically selects  what it believes is  the correct
     IRQ (based on its tests), however  you are free to select any  IRQ line
     you wish. Note- selecting the wrong IRQ is a great way to get all kinds
     of useless  error messages,  so unless  you think  Modem Doctor  made a
     mistake, use the  choice that Modem Doctor  has made for you.  Finally,
     you can pick a baud rate. 

     Although any  computer, even an old XT will  work at the highest rates,
     you  should realize  that  only  fast machines  can  really use  faster
     speeds.  Make sure  you read  the sections  in the  Technical Reference
     Manuals regarding high  speed modems and Interrupt  Latency testing.Use
     up or down arrow keys to move the highlighted bar to your selection. If
     you are using  a mouse, and if you  have the custom Modem  Doctor mouse
     driver loaded, , moving the  mouse up or down on  your pad will do  the
     same  thing. Press  return  or  the left  mouse  key  to complete  your
     selection.





                                      Page 7














           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     Please take care when selecting a baud rate, for you should  not select
     a speed faster than the modem you wish to test can support. If you  are
     just testing  the serial port  without a modem,  you can set  the speed
     anywhere. In the example  above, say we decided  to use port 2  and use
     2400 bps as the speed. 

     After selecting the speed, you will get the next window;

                         [  Select an Option  ]͸
                          Test Modem / Port 2 to 2400 BPS     
                          Test the Uart Hardware Only         
                          Don't set up modem, return to Menu  
                         

     Testing  the  Modem and  the  Port  starts  a  series  of  tests  which
     communicate to the comm port, talk  to the microprocessor in the modem,
     run  a few tests of the modem in  what is called the "command mode" and
     then it displays of all Uart status and control and the first 16  Modem
     S-registers.

     If you decide to test the uart only, then only the comm port section of
     the tests are run. You should use this test if you are just testing the
     comm port, or if you want to determine if the problem you are having is
     with the modem or the comm port.

     The last option gives  you the ability to change your mind  in case you
     made an  error in any of the  port or baud rate choices,  or simply hit
     the escape key to get out of this testing.

     The Modem Doctor requires that you have logged  in at least 1 comm port
     so that it can  execute tests. So, if this  is your first time  through
     and you did not select, you will be "beeped" and warned to setup a port
     in  order to  access  any of  the  other tests  with  the exception  of
     auto-login  and  manual log-in  (for  registered  users). If  you  have
     selected at least  1 comm port, then  if you escape, the  last settings
     you used will still be in force.








                                      Page 8














           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     Assuming  you made a  selection to start testing,  the Modem Doctor now
     begins testing. If  you selected to  test the modem  and the port,  you
     will get the following displayed to you in most instances;

     [ Modem / Uart System Diagnostics ]͸
      Comm port /IRQ in use [ ] Port = 3  Address = 3E8  IRQ = 4        
      Int 14 interface      [ ] Inactive                                
      Uart type             [ ] 16550AN/AF/AFN buffered Uart detected   
      Baud rate selected    [ ] 2400                                    
      Baud Rate reg test    [ ] Confirmed correct baud rate             
      Modem Microprocessor  [ ] Diagnostics passed                      
      Modem ID Type         [ ] 16800+ bps modem                        
      Modem Fax Ability     [ ] G3 EIA Class 2 Fax Capable              
      Modem Memory/Rom      [ ] Memory /Rom test passed                 
     

     [ Diagnostic Dialog ]͸
                   Modem microprocessor command bus active              
      Modem ID reports a 16800 ZyXel U-1496 Series &T1  modem installed 
                        Modem uses EIA Fax Commands                     
                    Modem microprocessor memory tests OK                
                 Modem microprocessor accepts setup commands            
                        Modem microprocessor ON-LINE                    
                     Modem - uart status appears correct                
                         Press any key to continue                      
     

     What did the Modem Doctor do? Well, first, the Modem Doctor  looked for
     the type of uart so that it could figure out what tests to run. It next
     checked a very  important register in the uart that holds the baud rate
     divisor. It  programmed it for a certain speed  and then made sure that
     speed  was indeed held properly in the  uart register. These same tests
     are run if you had decided only to run the uart tests and not the modem
     tests (or visa versa).

     Next, the Modem Doctor established communications with the modem
     microprocessor. There  are dozens of  ways in which this  could happen,
     but  for  starters,  it  figures  you  are  using  an  "AT"  compatible
     instruction set.  There are ways  to test modems  of any kind  with the
     Modem Doctor. This information is available in  the technical reference
     manual that comes with the Modem Doctor, so for now just assume this is
     a standard PC-type modem. When the Modem Doctor makes contact, it tells
     you that the modem is in the  command mode. it then asks the modem  for

                                      Page 9














           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     its  ID number. Theoretically,  this should indicate  the maximum speed
     your modem  can work at, however, there  are some manufacturers that do
     not follow this  convention, so don't be alarmed if you have a 9600 bps
     modem and it says you  have a 2400 bps installed, for  the Modem Doctor
     is  only  working with  information  provided by  the  manufacturer and
     stored in its ROM. Next, a quick test of the RAM and ROM memory is run.
     Some modems do both, others only do one or the  other. Finally, a setup
     string is sent to the modem, which should respond back properly. If you
     decided to run the uart tests alone, then none of these modem tests are
     run.

     Finally, the screen is filled with displays that show you the internal
     settings  of the  Uart registers  and  the first  16 S-registers.  Many
     modems  have more than 16  S-registers, however these  first 16 are the
     only universally agreed-upon registers. If a problem turns up, you will
     get a diagnostic message that points out the error gives you an idea of
     what the problem can be.

     A normal Uart test sequence looks like this;

     [ Line Control Register ]͸
       DLB STB STP EPS PEN STB WS1 WS0   *These will alternate color
        Dim -logic low, Bright for a
     [ Line Status Register ]͸   logic high. If all is ok
           TSE THE BI  FE  PE  OE  DR      you get the diagnostic window
        message displayed below.
     [ Modem Control Register ]͸
                   LP  OT2 OT1 RTS DTR  
      [ Diagnostics ]͸
     [ Modem Status Register ]͸     Hardware tests OK    
       RLS RI  DSR CTS DRD TER DDR DCS   Press any key to continue
                               
     [ Interrupt ID Register ]͸ 
                           ID1 ID0 ITP  
     
     [ Interrupt Enable Register ]͸
                       ESI ELI ETI ERI  
     
     [ Interrupt Mask Register ]͸
       IQ7 IQ6 IQ5 IQ4 IQ3 IQ2 IQ1 IQ0  
     



                                     Page 10














           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     If however something is wrong, you will get this display;

     [ Line Control Register ]͸
       DLB STB STP EPS PEN STB WS1 WS0  * The register name is displayed
       as the first item and what was
                                            wrong.
     [ Line Status Register ]͸
           TSE THE BI  FE  PE  OE  DR   [Diagnostics]͸
     ٳ Line Control Register readings
     [ Modem Control Register ]͸ show that the word length     
                   LP  OT2 OT1 RTS DTR   selected is incorrect or you  
     ٳ have a parity error. WS1 and  
     [ Modem Status Register ]͸ WSO should both be on for 8   
       RLS RI  DSR CTS DRD TER DDR DCS   bit characters. All others    
     ٳ should be low. Parity errors  
     [ Interrupt ID Register ]͸ could happen once but not     
                           ID1 ID0 ITP   Every time.If either persists,
     ٳ then the Uart is defective    
     [ Interrupt Enable Register ]͸ or communications to Uart are 
                       ESI ELI ETI ERI   suspect.                      
     ٳ   PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE   
     [ Interrupt Mask Register ]͸                               
       IQ7 IQ6 IQ5 IQ4 IQ3 IQ2 IQ1 IQ0                                 
     

     There are many diagnostic messages you could get, and all of these are
     detailed  in the  technical reference  manual. If  you are  running the
     modem test, you  will get this display  plus the first 16  S-registers,
     however if there was an error detected, you will get the example listed
     above and no S-register display. The reason for this is simple, because
     the  uart might  have a problem  there is  no way  to know if  the data
     coming from the modem is totally correct.

     After you  have logged in at  least 1 comm port, the  Modem Doctor will
     enter the main  menu section. Use the  main menu bar by  operating your
     left and right  arrow keys. Complete a selection with the enter key, or
     escape with the escape key.

     The menu system is  very straight forward, so you will only  see here a
     list  of all  the  possible menus  you  might  run into.  For  detailed
     explanations on the tests that are conducted, refer to the Modem Doctor
     technical reference file (MDR7DOC.TXT).


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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     Main Menu Bar:

      The Modem DoctorĿ
     Log-in   Regs    Carrier   Loopback  Options   Setup  End Program  
     

     For example,  if you wanted  to display the registers  again, chose the
     Regs selection  and  press return.  Next  you will  get  a pulldown  of
     various register tests. Just use the down or up arrows to slide the bar
     to the selection you wish to make, and press return to activate it.

     Pulldowns
     ------------
     Pulldowns are easy to use. Each pulldown system follows the same ground
     rules; First, you can escape any  pulldown by pressing Escape, or  skip
     to  the next pulldown  by using the  left or right  arrow keys. Second,
     each pulldown includes  a detailed  help menu  that you  can access  by
     moving  the sliding bar to help  or by pressing the hot-key combination
     ALT-H. Press any  key to escape help  and return to your  selection. As
     you move from pulldown to pulldown, the Modem Doctor will remember your
     last selection and move the sliding bar to that choice for you.

     Detailed Menus and what each  does for you;

        * Select these from the Login menu

      The Modem DoctorĿ
     Log-in   Regs    Carrier   Loopback  Options   Setup  End Program  
     
     [  Comm Port Login  ]ͻ
      Let me Auto Detect COMM Ports   <- Searches for all Comm ports
      You Manually Enter COMM Ports   <- You enter port addresses
      Help with Auto login Commands   <- Detailed help or ALT-H
           Return To Main Menu       
     ͼ                             

     Most  BIOS's only  accommodate two  serial ports  in CMOS  memory. This
     means that unless  you specifically remind your computer  each time you
     turn it on, it will forget about Com3 and Com4. The Auto Detect feature
     (also performed when  Modem Doctor starts) shows you  all the available
     hardware. This information is then stored in the DOS Communication area
     for any other program to use until you warmboot your computer again.


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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     Some serial boards do not use standard addresses or IRQ's. Most notable
     are BBS  "specialty" serial  ports.  You can  test these  by using  the
     Manual Entry  mode.   Its simple,  and all  you need is  the comm  port
     hardware address.



      The Modem DoctorĿ
     Log-in   Regs    Carrier   Loopback  Options   Setup  End Program  
     

        [  Register Tests  ]ͻ
         Quick uart register diagnostics    <- Displays all registers
         DTR/DSR  RTS/CTS echo test         <- Tests handshake lines
         DTR Continuous Pulse test          <- New, pulses DTR on/off
         RTS Continuous Pulse test          <- New, pulses RTS on/off
         Dynamic  RTS/CTS handshake test   +<-|Handshakes under simulated
         Dynamic Xon/Xoff handshake test   +<-|on-line conditions.
         Display any 10 S-registers         <- Display S-registers
         Help and info on these tests       <- Help or ALT-H
               Return to main menu            
        ͼ    + registered version only


     These tests help you check out your system. The Quick Uart Register
     diagnostics show  you the  settings of all  uart and PIC  hardware, and
     verify that the system is running properly.

     The Echo tests raise and lower control lines that are commonly used for
     flow control  handshaking. With a  loopback plug installed,  you should
     see DTR and DSR  follow each other, as well  as RTS and CTS. Without  a
     plug, your modem or  serial device may or may not  follow, depending on
     your setup.  These echo tests  are very helpful in  troubleshooting bad
     cables.

     Other handy  cable-related test  are the DTR  and RTS  continuous pulse
     tests. Each test raises or lowers a control line every 2  seconds. With
     a  simple meter  or  logic probe,  you can  troubleshoot  any cable  or
     connector problem.

     The  Dynamic tests in  the registered version  allow you to  test flow-
     control under connection conditions with most modems. A control line is
     dropped and a  burst of  20 characters is  sent shortly afterwards.  If

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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     handshaking  worked, no characters should have been received. This test
     is by no means conclusive in itself, but serves as a quick test of your
     system's ability to handle handshaking.

                          * Select these from Carrier menu
      The Modem DoctorĿ
     Log-in   Regs    Carrier   Loopback  Options   Setup  End Program  
     
                       [  Modem Tests  ]ͻ
                        Carrier Self-tests      <- Simulate on-line tests
                        Burst Mode Self-Test    <- New, burst mode tests
                        Burst Signature Test    <- that stress modulation
                        Burst Alt Data Test     <- techniques
                        Select modem drivers    <- Pick a modem driver
                        Help with carrier test  <- Help
                         Return to main menu   
                       ͼ
     Carrier test simulate an actual on-line connection. The three different
     tests  are targeted  to specific  areas.  The Carrier  test checks  the
     ability  of the  modem  to  connect and  demodulate  characters on  the
     originate and answer frequencies and at different baud rates. The first
     Burst mode test  sends these characters in  a burst of data  and checks
     the round trip time. This can help you  determine the actual throughput
     of your  system, and  also tells  you if  you do  or do  not need  flow
     control  at different  baud rates.  The  second and  third burst  tests
     additionally create  modulation patterns  that can  help spot  problems
     that sometimes appear as "line noise".

                                     * Select from Loopback
      The Modem DoctorĿ
     Log-in   Regs    Carrier   Loopback  Options   Setup  End Program  
     
                [  Loopback Tests  ]ͻ
                 Analog Loopback using a PLUG   +<- test Uart & Cables
                 Digital Loopback 8250 UARTS    +<- Uart test only
                 Burst Mode Self-Test           +<- New, burst data
                 Burst Signature Test           +<- New, Burst signature
                 Burst Alt Data Test            +<- New, Alt Burst data
                 Loopback Plug Technical Data   +<- How to build a
                 Help with Loopback Tests           loopback plug
                     Return To Main Menu       
                ͼ
                                                   +registered version only

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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     The Loopback tests are designed to test your uart, your motherboard
     data path, and cables. These are all part of the registered package
     of Modem Doctor and can be quite helpful in locating system problems.
     Modems are only 1/2 of the system. These tests can give you confidence
     that your system hardware is properly working under all conditions.
     The Analog and  Burst tests use a  uart and cables  to and from  serial
     devices, so  you can also  test serial printers and  other devices. The
     Digital test  requires no special  plugs and self-tests the  uart, thus
     eliminating a cable or connector as part of any problem. 


                                              * Select from Options
      The Modem DoctorĿ
     Log-in   Regs    Carrier   Loopback  Options   Setup  End Program  
     
                                        [  User Options Selection  ]
         A Built-in mini-terminal  ->    Interactive Terminal Mode    
     New, List Current Fax settings->    View FAX Mode Settings        
         Status of all tests       ->    View Current Statistics      
         Reset all tests to 0      ->    Reset Current Statistics     
         Send results to printer   ->    Print Current Statistics     
         Create a special Windows  ->    Generate MDRD Windows File 
           troubleshooting file          Help with these options          
                                            Return to main menu     
                                        ͼ


     Under Options, you will find some useful tools. The Interactive Mode
     is a fully-functional TTY terminal with a 16k communications buffer. 
     Although you can use it to communicate with other systems, its  primary
     purpose is to allow you to send your own commands to your modem in an
     easy fashion. Also, the Interactive mode has a subjective test for
     "Interrupt Latency" that you can use to determine if some of your
     communication problems are being caused by a slow VGA adapter.

     The  FAX mode  is new with  version 7.0.  Using T.30 Fax  commands, the
     Modem  Doctor will  tell you  information  about your  Fax modem.  Some
     commands may return errors. This is  due to the fact that manufacturers
     do not always  implement the full T.30 diagnostic set. In any case, the
     critical  info  on  Group,  Class  and  DTE  manufacturer  is  normally
     supported.



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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     New  in  Version  7.0,  Modem  Doctor  can  now generate  a  file  that
     accurately logs all installed hardware and settings in a manner similar
     to Windows. This file,  MDRD.INI is created and stored  in your current
     working directory. You can use this file together with Modem Doctor for
     Windows to pinpoint and quickly fix configuration problems in  Windows.
     For more  information on  Modem Doctor for  Windows, see  the Technical
     Reference manual or the order form.

     The rest of the Options menu allows you to see or print the results of
     the testing that Modem Doctor has performed on your modem.

                                                        * Setup selections
      The Modem DoctorĿ
     Log-in   Regs    Carrier   Loopback  Options   Setup  End Program  
     
                                            [  Setup  ]ͻ
      Pick the Comm port and Baud rate   ->  Setup Command Section  
      Customize your choice of colors    ->  Choose System Colors   
                                              Return to Main Menu   
                                            ͼ


     The  setup section allows  you to select  different Comm  ports and IRQ
     settings  so that  you can test  (or re-test)  modems during  one Modem
     Doctor  session. You can also  change system colors  to your liking, or
     just use a black and white mode.

                                                              * End options
      The Modem DoctorĿ
     Log-in   Regs    Carrier   Loopback  Options   Setup  End Program  
     
                                                        [  Exit Options]ͻ
                        Quit and display results     ->  Exit the Program
                        Don't quit, stay in program  ->  Don't Exit      
                                                        ͼ

     This menu is  used to properly exit  Modem Doctor. Please use  it after
     testing a modem,  because Modem Doctor does program  uart registers and
     system  IRQ  hooks. These  have  to  be  restored upon  exit.  Pressing
     Control-C from allowed locations will also clean up properly.




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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     Mouse support
     ----------------
     Modem Doctor does not support a mouse directly. This is due to the fact
     that Modem Doctor may test a serial port that the mouse attaches to. If
     you have  a mouse and you do not plan  to test the serial port attached
     to the mouse,  you can easily construct a custom mouse driver that will
     replace  all of your motions. Modem  Doctor works with any program such
     as Microsoft's Mouse.com  and Menu.com. An  example driver is  included
     with the files on disk  (MDR.MNU). Basically, you use the  mouse motion
     left to  right and  up and down  to replace the  arrow keys, a  key for
     escape and a key for enter or return.

     Test report generator:
     -----------------------
     Whenever you quit the Modem Doctor  you will get a statistical  summary
     ofall  the tests and  results that were  run. You can  also access this
     report anytime, and print it or reset it  to zero from the options menu
     pulldown system. The results of these tests look like this;

     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
     THE MODEM DOCTOR Ver. 7.0 Copyr.1996 Hank Volpe has tested this modem
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------
             Diagnostics were run on your modem with the following results

     Results of COM2 Testing
      Test Name             # of Tests      # of Char Sent    # of Errors
      ---------------       ----------      --------------    -----------
      CARRIER ORIGINATE         0                0                  0
      CARRIER ANSWER            0                0                  0
      ANALOG LOOP               0                0                  0
      DIGITAL LOOP              0                0                  0
      MICROPROCESSOR            0               n/a                 0
      REGISTER TESTS           24               n/a                 2
      INTERRUPT TESTS           1               n/a                 0

                            Speeds Modem/Uart were tested at
                            --------------------------------
     Tested Baud Rate : 2400

     Results will be  displayed in order for  each comm port you  tested. If
     there  was an  error detected,  this  line will  be highlighted  on the
     screen.  You can  reset these tests  at any  time, print and  reset, or
     whatever you like.

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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe



     The Status Bar
     ---------------

       Com1 | 2400bps | Micro:ON | TxINT: ON | Cfg: Generic Compatible

     The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the screen. It shows you
     The Port you are using and the speed your port is operating at.
     Additionally  it  shows  you  if  the  Modem  Doctor  has  successfully
     communicated  to the  modem microprocessor.  MICRO :  ON means  it has,
     MICRO : OFF  means that it has  not. Normally, if  you run the Modem  /
     Uart test from the setup mode, this display will say MICRO : ON. If you
     only ran  the Uart test, then it  will say MICRO : OFF.  You can toggle
     between  states  using  a  short-cut  Hot-Key  ALT-F,  but  I  wouldn't
     recommend it your first time out.

     The ALT-F really can help if you have a modem problem to force testing,
     which is why  it was included as a feature. See the technical reference
     manual for a detailed description of this feature. 

     TxINT :ON indicates that Modem Doctor is using "transmit interrupts" to
     determine  when to  send characters  to your  uart. ALT-T  toggles this
     feature on or off. Older 8250 Uarts running on slow systems had serious
     problems using transmit interrupts. If you have such a machine, I would
     recommend you turn this feature off if you have any problems.  Refer to
     the  Technical Reference Manual  for further information.  Finally, the
     name of the Modem Driver you are 
     currently using is displayed on the right. 

     Alert Bars:
     -----------

     Alert bars are  warnings that the Modem Doctor found  something that it
     thinks should  be set  another way to  insure good  communications. The
     warning is  displayed with  a red bar  and a "beep".  That is  called a
     fatal error, which  means that it is doubtful that your modem or serial
     port will operate with these settings. Other alert bar displays that do
     not  have a  audible  "beep"  are considered  setup  warnings, and  are
     suggestions of what you should do to make your communications better.





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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     External Modem Drivers (MDR7.DRV)

     The Modem Doctor uses a software module to communicate with most brands
     of modems. These  "modem drivers" are built into the Modem Doctor. When
     you start  up the Modem  Doctor, it will  make a choice  of the correct
     driver to use depending on  what kind of modem it finds. You can always
     override this  choice by going  to the Carrier tests  and selecting the
     pulldown "Select Modem Commands".

     To keep your registered version of Modem Doctor as state-of-the-art as
     possible,  Version 4.0  and higher  have the  ability to  read external
     modem driver files. Like printer drivers, these files  can be loaded to
     extend the ability of the Modem Doctor to communicate with any  type of
     modem. This  means you  should never  need to  update for  the sake  of
     incorporating a new  modem selection into the Modem  Doctor. ALL FUTURE
     MODEM DRIVER FILES  WILL BE DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE.  You can always
     download the latest version of Modem Doctor  and Modem Drivers from the
     Modem Doctor BBS (410-256-3631).

     Questions about the Modem Doctor
     --------------------------------

     Q: Will the Modem Doctor "fix" a problem?
     A: If the problem is software based, or if it is a problem with port
        conflicts or incorrect assignments, the Modem Doctor will
        straightened it out for testing purposes only. It will advise you
        though what it found and suggest what you can do to correct the
        problem later. You can always print this information by using the
        Print Screen command from your keyboard.

     Q: I've run Modem Doctor, now my modem will not work
     A: Shut off your modem and reboot your computer. Modem Doctor does not
        write *ANYTHING* to your modem or your serial port. If you fail to
        exit the program properly after testing your modem, it will not 
        reset properly.

     Q: Will Modem Doctor test High Speed Modems?
     A: Yes, however the shareware version is limited to 2400 bps. The
        registered version supports DTE speeds to 115,200bps. Although
        shareware testing is at a lower speed, all of Modem Doctor tests
        are enabled for both shareware and registered versions.



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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     Q: I start Modem Doctor, but it freezes at the main menu.
        What's wrong?
     A: Modem Doctor 7 performs a self-test IRQ generation and verification
        routine that might not be compatible with your computer
        environment, especially if it runs with a network interface. To
        bypass these tests, run Modem Doctor with the /Q switch. In this
        mode, no IRQ verification is performed. 

     Q: I run Modem Doctor under Windows or on a Network. In either case,
        the system halts or crashes.
     A: Modem Doctor needs direct control of all hardware. Windows and
        other pre-emptive multi-taskers take control of the hardware. If
        you must run Modem Doctor under Windows, start it with the /Q
        switch. Also via Window's Control Panel, tell the Port option not
        to warn of a system use conflict.If you run Modem Doctor on a
        network, start it with the /Q switch.

        If you wish to accurately test Windows environments, use Modem
        Doctor for Windows. See the order form or the Technical Reference 
        manual for more details.

     Q: I have a LCD display, and the colors the modem doctor uses do not
        give me good contrast.
     A: Go to setup, select custom colors, and pick the shades you like, or
        better still, use monochrome shades. This information will be saved
        in a file in the same directory you are in currently for the next
        time you load the Modem Doctor.

     Q: I tell the Modem Doctor to test my Modem, but it says it is not
        compatible.
     A: This could be due to several things;
         1) You must make sure you use a baud rate equal to or lower than
            the maximum baud rate of your modem. If you try for example to
            talk to the modem at 19.2K bps but your modem is only a 2400
            bps, then the Modem Doctor will report falsely about your
            modem.

         2) You do not have a modem attached to that port. In this case run
            the Uart diagnostics.

         3) Your modem is off or disconnected.
         4) You have a defective Uart. Many 16450's and 8250's were
            manufactured with a defect that does not allow transmit

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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


            interrupts to work properly. Many programs do not operate with
            these uarts. Modem Doctor has the ability to work around this
            problem with the ALT-T command. See the tech reference manual
            for more details.

     Q: I would like to use a mouse, but the Modem Doctor doesn't 
        recognize it.
     A: The Modem Doctor does not have internal mouse support, but it will
        work with programs such as Microsoft's Menu.com and special mouse
        drivers that you create. A sample driver is included with the Modem
        Doctor.

     Q: If a new modem comes on the market that is not compatible, can the
        Modem Doctor work with it?
     A: You can use the Modem Doctor in what is called the "Dumb Modem"
        mode to test any modem than has external switches to generate
        carrier tests. Furthermore, this release of the Modem Doctor will
        work with externally created modules for incompatible modems. If a
        modem is manufactured at a later time that creates a new set of
        rules, these external modules will be distributed at no cost to all
        users. Also, custom modules can be created for any registered user
        for a small fee.

     Q: The Analog loop tests do not run.
     A: This feature only works in the registered version. If you have a 
        registered version and have a problem, you also need to have a
        loop-back plug attached either to the back of your PC, or to the
        end of a cable  that you are testing. You can run these tests
        usually through most modem command modes, however you might get
        errors that are not valid. The Analog loopback was meant to be a
        help in spotting a bad cable or connector.

     Q: Do I need to worry if my modem does not pass any of the Dynamic
        tests?
     A: Only if you have a high speed modem. Most 9600 bps modems need
        these handshaking signals to work properly, but at 2400 and lower,
        they are seldom used. If the Modem Doctor reports that all the uart
        handshaking signals are present, then all you need to do is set
        your modem up according to the manufacturers handbook. You can do
        this from the Interactive terminal mode without even exiting the
        Modem Doctor, and then use the Modem Doctor to test that your
        settings are correct.


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           Modem Doctor 7.0 User's Manual (c)copyright 1996 Hank Volpe


     All  material in this  document is Copyrighted  1996 by  Hank Volpe and
     cannot  be reprinted without  permission. For detailed  explanations on
     all  tests, please  read the  Modem Doctor  Technical Reference  Manual
     included with this copy of Modem Doctor.








































                                     Page 22







