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Modem Init Strings

 

  What's a modem initialization string?

Learn how to use init Strings -- Info from www.56k.com

Before your modem software dials a phone number, it initializes (inits) the modem by sending it a series (string) of commands, typically Hayes commands. These commands configure the modem's options for things like error correction, data compression, flow control, and many other parameters. The modem manual should list the Hayes commands the modem recognizes, and what effect each command has.

The important thing about modem init strings is that having the right one often makes the difference between connecting and not. Init strings are fairly specific to each modem. The string that made your friend's modem fly may not work at all for your modem.

Not all programs use simple init strings. Some use settings files, such as Windows 95 .inf files, Mac CCL modem scripts, etc.

Guidelines to use when setting your own modem Init up:

  • Enable hardware handshaking (a.k.a. RTS/CTS)
  • Disable retrains (Do not disable upshifts and downshifts!)
  • Disable MNP 5 (Both MNP 5 and V.42bis compress data; however, V.42bis is 30% faster and does not add latency to the data stream, while MNP 5--an older compression scheme--often does add latency to the data stream.)
  • Disable MNP 2-4 (This protocol suite is no longer necessary and has been replaced with superior error detection and correction methods for a few years now.  Disabling it can increase your modem's overall efficiency.)

The items listed above are specifically addressed by the &F1, S15=2, &K3 and S27=16 commands in my Init string, respectively. Put your Init string in the 'Extra Settings' field.

Other Init Strings

 

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