Raw modem communications

[Red Squirrel]

What are typical commands to establish a modem call to terminal device (DMS 10 in this case but I imagine this should be standard) and get to a state where I can send text to the terminal? I can use a program like Procom and connect that way, but I'm looking to know how to do this at the raw level, as I want to do it programatically.

I know I can do atdt [number] to dial to the terminal server, but I just get no carrier. I imagine I need to setup certain parameters such as the baud rate, hardware flow control etc... what are the commands in order to do this?

[EagleKeeper]

Commands are usually hardware specific.

The manufacturer will provide a list of commands needed to use the hardware and possibly a command to interrogate the equipment for details.

[Markbnj]

Originally Posted by EagleKeeper

Commands are usually hardware specific.

The manufacturer will provide a list of commands needed to use the hardware and possibly a command to interrogate the equipment for details.

Don't they still use the 'AT' command set?

[Ken g6]

It's been a very long time since I used a modem. (That wasn't DSL, anyway.) I recall that keeping the speaker on might help diagnose "No Carrier" problems. And this thread might help keep the speaker on.

[EagleKeeper]

Originally Posted by Markbnj

Don't they still use the 'AT' command set?

Most do.

However, when you have to select the type of modem from a list; that indicates that something may not be completely compatible.

[Nothinman]

Originally Posted by Markbnj

Don't they still use the 'AT' command set?

The basic dial, hang up, etc commands are standard but some require manufacturer or device-specific in order to change settings and features on them. I would think that just dialing up to a device and establishing a connection with the default settings would work with the standard AT commands, but you never know.

[Markbnj]

Originally Posted by Nothinman

The basic dial, hang up, etc commands are standard but some require manufacturer or device-specific in order to change settings and features on them. I would think that just dialing up to a device and establishing a connection with the default settings would work with the standard AT commands, but you never know.

Yeah, that should work, and for device-specific commands they are usually just an extension of the basic command strings. Been a long time since I poked a modem over a serial port, though. Like 20 years.

[EagleKeeper]

Originally Posted by Markbnj

Yeah, that should work, and for device-specific commands they are usually just an extension of the basic command strings. Been a long time since I poked a modem over a serial port, though. Like 20 years.

I never tried communication over a parallel port
And did the internet exist 20 years ago when you did not use dialup

[DaveSimmons]

I'm geezer enough to think of it as the "Hayes" command set

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayes_command_set

I did finally throw away my 300 baud Volksmodem with Atari and C=64 cables a couple of years ago when I moved

[Markbnj]

Originally Posted by EagleKeeper

I never tried communication over a parallel port
And did the internet exist 20 years ago when you did not use dialup

Let's see... 20 years would be 1993... so no. At that time the leader would have been AOL, with Prodigy still in the game if I recall correctly. Actually, I haven't programmed a modem since the late 80's, so it's even longer. If memory serves it was to send custom commands to Compuserve. And as Dave notes it was called the "Hayes" command set, because Hayes was the early standard in modems.

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah I think it definitely would be AT commands, just not too sure what to do to set the baud rate and such or if anything else has to be done. There's a baud rate to setup when talking to the modem, but that's not the same as the baud rate from the modem to the device. We have those setup in Procomm but it does all the background work for you so I can't see what is actually happening before I get to the login screen.

I managed to connect once, I forget what I did, but I got CONNECT / 1200 or whatever but when I typed it was giberish. So I imagine there may be some encoding parameters too that need to be setup. The normal way to connect would be to use a terminal emulator and pick the modem (and not the com port) so finding this info may be tricky.

Wonder if I could maybe sniff the com port somehow to see how the program is connecting.

Other interesting tidbit I was reading is you can set a modem as the receiver too. So I think with this you could technically dial in to a Linux box. I totally have to try that one day for kicks. Would tie up my phone line though so not ideal.

[Markbnj]

Maybe try a serial port/rs-232 sniffer and see what Procomm is sending? There are a bunch out there, but I don't know whether the free ones are any good. If I remember correctly the baud rate is set in the connect command string, either as 'auto' or a specific rate, but I'm really dragging cobwebs out of the attic to get even that much .

[Apathetic]

Dang it's been a while since I've played with this stuff. It sounds like either the parity or the number of data bits is off. From what I remember, the two most common configurations were "7E1" (7 data bits, even parity, and 1 stop bit) and "8N1" (8 data bits, no parity, and 1 stop bit).

I seem to remember the rule being "never trust the default" and always manually specify these settings so you know what you have but it's been so darn long.

Dave

[Markbnj]

Up next in this thread: how to rewire the front panel switches of your Altair!

[Red Squirrel]

Maybe I can interface the DMS10 with an Altair. Hmmmm...

Actually gotta give it to Northern Telecom (Nortel), their equipment is rock solid. We have a DMS100 upstairs that has been running for over 30 years. Never been power cycled. Most landlines today are actually powered by DMS equipment.

But yeah, think at this point I will look at sniffing the serial port, probably the best bet to see what the command strings are.

[Rasterman]

Don't you have somewhere else to be?

Markbnj
Programming mod