Atari XM301 User manual

A ATARI - XM301
MODEM
With XETERM ™ COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM
OWNER’S MANUAL

AATARr XM301
MODEM
With XE TERM ™ COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM
OWNER’S MANUAL

INTRODUCING THE XM301 MODEM
AND XE TERM
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Your ATARI XM301 Modem and XE Term communications program
transform your ATARI Computer into a powerful communications
station that links you to an almost infinite variety of information
resources. Databases, business and financial services, bulletin
board systems, and even other personal computers are all
available to you through your XM301 Modem.
How do you link up with another computer or information system?
Easy-just type in the correct phone number that connects you
to the other system. Your modem and communications software
handle the rest for you. Once you have your modem set up, you
have instant access to the Atari Bulletin Board System and a free
online tutorial from The Source ™ .
Your XM301 Modem is the hardware that links your ATARI Com¬
puter to another computer system through the telephone lines. The
word “modem” is a shortened form of the words Modulation and
DEModulation which describe how your modem transfers the
digital electrical signals used by the computer to the analog
signals used by the telephone. The XE Term communications
program is the software that makes your modem “smart”, giving
it the intelligence to understand and manipulate the information
into a form you can use.
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
This manual is arranged for easy access to all the information you
need to set up your modem and go online. Spend a few moments
to look over the manual, then set up your modem and take advan¬
tage of the free access to the information services included with
your XM301 Modem. It is especially important that you follow the
instructions in Chapter 1 on making a back-up copy of your XE
Term Program Disk and look over the FCC Requirements for your
modem in Appendices E and F.
Chapter 1 , Getting Started, shows you how to hook up your
modem, load the XE Term program, and make a back-up copy of
the XE Term Program Disk. The main menu of the XE Term
program is also introduced.
Chapter 2, Going Online, gets you connected to another
computer. The process of dialing and connecting with another
computer system is explained in detail.

Chapter 3, Sending and Receiving Files, is a step-by-step
introduction to the procedures for sending and receiving
text and data files.
Chapter 4, Managing Your Files, demonstrates how to use the
File Utilities Menu of XE Term and shows how simple it is to take
care of all your disk and file management chores with the XE
Term program.
Chapter 5, Advanced Features, explains the Automatic Log-On
feature of XE Term, the Options Menu where XE Term's com¬
munications protocols can be modified, and how to access the
Technical Software Specifications Document and device handler
that are stored on the XE Term Program Disk.
The Appendices provide a host of supplementary information. A
Glossary, Modem Specifications, Troubleshooting Guide, and ASCII
Character Code Chart for the advanced user are provided. Appen¬
dices E and F outline the FCC Requirements and offer helpful hints
on radio and television interference. And should you need addi¬
tional information, refer to the ATARI Customer Support section.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
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CHAPTER 1: GETTING STARTED.i
Unpacking 'it>urXM301 Modem. 1
Minimum System Requirements. 1
Hooking Up Your XM301 Modem.2
Loading the XE Term Program.2
Making a Back-Up Disk. 3
XE Term Functions Menu. 4
Leaving XE Term .6
Returning to XE Term.6
CHAPTER 2: GOING ONLINE. 7
Online Services. 7
Bulletin Boards and Information Services.7
Personal Computers .8
The Dialing Menu.10
Dialing Mode. 1 0
Dialing From the Keyboard . 1 1
Connecting Online to Another Computer.12
Hanging Up. 1 3
The XE Term Phone Book. 13
Entering a Number in the Phone Book.13
Dialing From the Phone Book . 14
Letting Other Computers Call You . 1 5
CHAPTER 3: SENDING AND RECEIVING FILES. 1 7
File Transfer Commands . 17
Before You Start Transferring Files .18
Exchanging Files with CompuServe .18
Transferring Text Files: Upload/Download Commands.18
Capturing Information to the Printer.20
Transferring Data Files: XMODEM Protocol.20
The 130XE and the RamDisk.22
CHAPTER 4: MANAGING YOUR FILES.23
Viewing Your Disk Directories. 2 3
File Utilities Menu. 24
ATARI DOS 2.5 Menu. '25
CHAPTER 5: ADVANCED FEATURES. 2 7
Automatic Log-on .27
Creating a Log-on Sequence.27
Using the Automatic Log-on . .28
Log-on Sequence Format .28
The Options Menu. 29
Technical Software Specifications. 3 1

APPENDIX A: GLOSSARY
APPENDIX B: XM301 MODEM SPECIFICATIONS
APPENDIX C: TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE.
APPENDIX D: ASCII CHARACTER CODES.
APPENDIX E: FCC REQUIREMENTS .
APPENDIX F: RADIO AND TELEVISION
INTERFERENCE INFORMATION
CUSTOMER SUPPORT.

CHAPTER 1
GETTING STARTED
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UNPACKING YOUR XM301 MODEM
When you open the box containing your XM301 Modem, you will
find the following items:
• ATARI XM301 Modem
• XE Term Program Disk
• Owner’s Manual
• Warranty Card
If any of these items are missing, contact your ATARI Computer
retailer.
Minimum System Requirements
Before you begin using the XM301 Modem and the XE Term com¬
munications program, be sure you have the following items:
• ATARI 130XE ™ , 65XE ™ , 800XL ™ , or ATARI 800 ™ Computer
(with a minimum of 48K RAM)
• Television or monitor (black and white, or color)
• ATARI Disk Drive
• XM301 Modem
• Telephone Cord
• XE Term Program Disk
You can also use the XM301 Modem and the XE Term program
with a printer.
Note: You cannot use the XM301 Modem with an ATARI 1200XL ™
Computer unless it has been modified. Contact your local Atari
Service Center for information on modifying your 1200XL
Computer.
1

HOOKING UP YOUR XM301 MODEM
Hooking up your modem is easy. Follow these steps to connect
your XM301 Modem to your ATARI Personal Computer System:
1. Turn off the power to all components of your computer system.
2. Plug the modem’s interface cable into one of the jacks marked
I/O CONNECTORS on the back of your disk drive or printer.
Note: The modem must be the last component in the daisy chain
of components.
Disk Drive
Modem
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ain
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1 ITmi |fe=r)(=)| a mao a j|
Wall
Jack
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Telephone
Interface Cable
Cord
3. P l u g one end of the telephone cord into the phone jack on the
back of your XM301 Modem and the other end into a telephone
wall jack.
Your XM301 Modem is now ready to be used with the XE Term pro¬
gram. When you load the XE Term program, you’ll be ready to
communicate with other computers and information systems.
LOADING THE XE TERM PROGRAM
Your XE Term program is on a self booting disk. The new ATARI
DOS 2.5 is resident on the disk, so you can start your ATARI
System without having to use a DOS Master Disk.
Follow these steps to load the XE Term program:
1. Turn on your television or monitor and your disk drive. (Make
sure that there is no cartridge in your computer and no disk in the
disk drive.) The BUSY light on the disk drive goes on for a few
seconds.
Caution: Never insert or remove a disk in your disk drive while the
drive’s BUSY light is on.
2

2. When the BUSY light goes off, remove the XE Term Program
Disk from its protective paper sleeve and insert it into your disk
drive with the label nearest you and facing away until it clicks into
place. Then turn the latch on the disk drive to the closed position.
Note: If you have more than one disk drive, the XE Term Program
Disk must be in Drive 1.
3. Turn on your computer. The disk drive’s BUSY light goes on and
the drive makes a clicking sound.
The XE Term copyright information appears on your screen for a
few moments as the program is loading. Then the Functions Menu
is displayed on the screen.
Buffer size
Q14752
Functions Menu
end XMODEM rjialing . . .
eceiue XMODEM Hi le util ities
■ apture text H - QJdirectories
gpload text Quit to DOS
Your selection ? ■
The Functions Menu is the main menu of the XE Term program
and the starting point of all your telecommunications activities with
the program.
Note: If you get a boot error when you load your XE Term Program
Disk, refer to your ATARI DOS 2.5 Manual.
MAKING A BACK-UP DISK
Before you start using the XE Term Program, you should make a
back-up copy of the XE Term Program Disk. Use the back-up copy
as your working disk. If the working copy gets damaged, you can
always make another back-up copy from the original program disk.
Follow the instructions below to make a back-up copy of your XE
Term Program Disk:
1. Load the XE Term program.
2. Press Q to select the Quit to DOS function from the Functions
Menu and follow the prompts.
3. When the DOS Menu appears on the screen, press J and then
press [Return],
The screen prompts:
DUP DISK - SOURCE, DEST DRIVES?
3

4. Type 1,1 and press [Return].
The screen prompts you to insert the source disk and press
[Return].
5. Make sure that the XE Term Program Disk is inserted in the
drive and press [Return].
The disk drive “reads” the information in the source disk. Then
DOS prompts you to insert the destination disk.
6. Remove the XE Term Program Disk from the drive and insert
a new, blank disk.
7. When the drive’s BUSY light goes off, press [Return],
The screen asks if it is OK to use the program area.
8. Type Y.
DOS duplicates your XE Term program disk onto the back-up disk.
When the prompt SELECT ITEM OR RETURN FOR MENU appears,
the duplication process is complete.
Store the original XE Term Program Disk in a safe place. Use the
back-up disk for daily operation of the program. You should label
your back-up disk “XE Term Back-Up Copy” or “XE Term Working
Copy”.
Note: You may also back up your XE Term disk by loading a DOS
disk into your computer and calling up the DOS Menu. Then follow
instructions 3 through 8 above. However, be sure to insert the XE
Term Program Disk into Drive 1 before executing the DOS
DUPLICATE command.
XE TERM FUNCTIONS MENU
Once you’ve loaded XE Term into your computer, the Functions
Menu appears on your TV or monitor screen. Each of the items
on the Functions Menu is briefly introduced below.
Buffer size
_
end XMODEM ialin9 . . .
eceive XMODEM
ile Utilities
apture text
- 0 directories
Qjpload text
u i t to DOS
l_
Vour selection ? ■ j
4

Send XMODEM
Receive XMODEM
This pair of commands lets you send and receive files between
your computer and another using the XMODEM error-checking
protocol. For an explanation and detailed information on using
XMODEM, refer to Chapter 3, Sending and Receiving Files.
Capture text
Upload text
This pair of commands lets you send and receive files. These com¬
mands are the most commonly used for transferring letters and
lists. See Chapter 3, Sending and Receiving Files, for more
information.
Dialing . ..
The Dialing Command gives you access to the Dialing Menu
where you dial other computers and build your own personal
phone book of telephone numbers. See Chapter 2, Going Online.
File utilities
This command gives you access to the File Utilities Menu. You
can perform the DOS functions of Lock, Unlock, Rename, Delete,
and see a Disk Directory from this menu without leaving the XE
Term program.
1-8 directories
Press a number from 1-8 and see the directory of the disk without
leaving the Functions Menu.
Quit to DOS
The Quit to DOS command exits the XE Term program and brings
up the complete ATARI DOS 2.5 Menu.
Your selection ?
This prompt invites you to choose a menu option. To select an
option, press the highlighted letter that begins that function's name.
Some of these functions start as soon as you select them from the
Functions Menu. Others call up different XE Term menus that offer
a new list of choices.
5

Buffer size: 14752
When you are using the XE Term program, it automatically sets
aside a special area in memory called a buffer for use with the
Capture Text and Upload Text functions. The size of that buffer (in
bytes) is printed at the top of the screen. When you use either
function, the buffer size reappears at screen top, and is updated
so that you’re always aware of the remaining free buffer space. If
you’re capturing text and the number shrinks below 1000 bytes,
it’s a good idea to save your text and clear the buffer before
continuing.
LEAVING XE TERM
There are two ways to exit from the XE Term program.
If you do not want to use DOS, follow these instructions:
1. Go to the Functions Menu. If you are online, press [SelectT
otherwise press [Return],
2. Turn off your computer and remove the XE Term Program Disk
from the disk drive.
If you want to use DOS, follow these instructions:
1. Go to the Functions Menu. If you are online, press [SelectT
otherwise press [Return],
2. Press Q (Quit to DOS).
The screen prompts:
Sure (Y/N)?
3. Press Y.
The screen displays the ATARI DOS 2.5 Menu.
You may then use the DOS commands or exit DOS by turninq off
the computer.
RETURNING TO XE TERM
If you want to return to XE Term after you are finished using DOS:
1. Turn off your computer.
2. Make sure the XE Term Program Disk is still in Drive 1.
3. Reload the XE Term program by turning on your computer
again.
6

CHAPTER 2
GOING ONLINE
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ONLINE SERVICES
There are three general types of systems you will probably
go online with once you have your XM301 Modem set up
and operating:
• Bulletin Board Systems (BBS)
• Information Services
• Other Personal Computers
Bulletin Boards and Information Services
For most bulletin boards and information services, your ATARI
Computer System, complete with the XM301 Modem and the XE
Term communications program is ready to go online. All you need
are the telephone access number of the services and in some
cases a user ID and password.
ATARI BBS
If you want to go directly online as you work through the examples
in this manual, you can call the ATARI BBS in California. The
number is 408/745-5308. The ATARI BBS is active 24 hours a
day and will let you make contact online, as well as upload
and download files.
For more information on local bulletin boards throughout the
country, contact your local Atari User Group. Refer to the
Customer Support section at the end of this manual for
information on how to find the nearest Atari User Group.
A few bulletin boards require special settings for telecommuni¬
cations attributes, such as parity and duplex mode. If a bulletin
board requires non-standard values, it will provide them to you.
The XE Term program has an Options Menu that lets you adjust
these telecommunications attributes. To learn how to use the
Options Menu, read the Options Menu section of Chapter 5. In a
few quick steps, you can change the telecommunications attributes
and begin dialing.
7

Personal Computers
The XM301 Modem can talk to other ATARI Computers, as well as
non-Atari personal computer systems. The other computer must
have a modem and some kind of communications software. The
modem may not be an XM301—that’s no problem. However the
other system will need to know that the XM301 Modem has a baud
rate of 300.
Unlike information services and BBS’s, other personal computer
users are not always available and waiting for you to call them.
You and the other personal computer user must set up a specific
time to connect online. You also must decide who will make the
call and who will set up to receive it.
Also, unlike bulletin boards and information services, communi¬
cating with either another ATARI Computer or any other personal
computer will require changing the telecommunications attributes
set for the XE Term program.
To communicate with another personal computer, follow these
instructions:
1. Start at the Functions Menu. Press O. The screen displays the
Options Menu.
Options nenu
[input parity - now;
QutPu-t parity - nows
Heft Margin - now:
Quplex node - now:
Qranslation — now:
Your selection ?
NONE
NONE
2
F
inn
EHsH
The Options Menu keeps track of the XE Term communications
attributes. For detailed information on the options, see Chapter 5
under the Options Menu heading.
2. Press D.
The line, Duplex mode, switches from FULL to HALF If you press
D again, it will switch back to FULL. Press D until HALF is
displayed.
When you use the half-duplex mode while communicating with
another personal computer, the screen will display everything you
type on the keyboard and everything the other user types. If you
left the attribute on FULL duplex, you wouldn’t see anything on the
screen when you type. In other words, half-duplex tells your com¬
puter to display characters you type on screen; full-duplex tells it
to display only what the other user types
8

Caution: The standard default value for this attribute is FULL
duplex. This is because most information services and bulletin
boards automatically display all characters—those you enter and
those it sends. If you change the attribute to HALF duplex and
then call a service, you’ll see every character twice. The service
displays each character once and your computer displays it once.
Before you call an information service or BBS, be sure to change
this attribute back to FULL.
3. If you are communicating with another ATARI Computer, press T.
The Translation line switches from ASCII to ATASCII. If you press
T again, it will switch back to ASCII. Press T until ATASCII is
displayed. ATASCII is the special character translation code
used by ATARI Computers.
Caution: The standard default value for Translation is ASCII. This
is because all other computers use the ASCII translation code.
Before you call any system that is not an Atari, be sure to
change this attribute back to ASCII.
If you are communicating with a non-Atari computer go to Step 4.
4. Press [Return].
The screen displays the message:
Save configuration to disk Y/N?
If you intend to continue communicating only with other personal
computers after this session, press Y. The XE Term program stores
the new attributes on disk. These will remain your attributes until
you go back to the Options Menu and change them.
If you intend to call other services or BBS’s after this session,
press N. The XE Term program uses these values until you leave
XE Term. The next time you start up XE Term, the original default
attributes will return.
The screen displays the Functions Menu.
5. Decide whether you or the other computer user will initiate
the call.
If you will make the call, go to the Dialing Menu (press D) and
dial the other computer.
If the other computer user will make the call, go to the Dialing
Menu (press D) and select the Set auto-answer mode command
(press S). XE Term sets up to receive the call.
9

THE DIALING MENU
After you have the correct telecommunications attributes set in
the Options Menu, you are ready to dial and go online. XE Term
provides a Dialing Menu that makes connecting online easy. You
can call another computer automatically, dial by typing the phone
number, or set up to wait for another computer to call you.
To reach the Dialing Menu, start at the Functions Menu Then
press D (Dialing .. .).
The Dialing Menu appears.
If you want to return to the Functions Menu, make sure you are
not currently performing a dialing task, then press [Return],
Dialing Mode
Before you start making calls, you need to tell XE Term whether
you have a rotary or touch-tone phone. To adjust your dialinq
mode, follow these instructions:
1. Go to the Dialing Menu. Look at the line that begins, Chanqe
dialing mode. You will see the word PULSE or TONE at the end of
that line.
Press C.
The word switches from PULSE to TONE, or from TONE to PULSE.
2. Adjust your dialing mode by pressing C until the correct choice
appears. Rotary phones use PULSE; touch-tone phones use TONE.
3. Press [Return],
The screen prompts:
Save configuration to disk Y/N?
10

4. Type Y.
XE Term saves your dialing mode in a disk file that keeps track of
your Dialing Menu information. Unless you change phones, you do
not have to adjust the dialing mode again.
DIALING FROM THE KEYBOARD
The easiest way to dial another computer is to use the Dial from
keyboard option.
Before you start, make sure the sound on your TV or monitor is
turned on. It will help you tell whether you got a busy signal or
have reached the other party.
If you are calling a bulletin board or information service that
requests log-on information before starting to communicate
with you, be sure you have your log-on information at hand.
(Most log-on information includes a user ID and password.)
Follow these instructions to dial from the keyboard:
1 . Go to the Dialing Menu. When the Dialing Menu appears, press K.
XE Term displays a “scratchpad” on which you type any number
you like. Later you’ll send that number to the modem.
2. Type the phone number If you use 9 to dial an outside number,
type:
9,
followed by the phone number. Be sure to include the comma. You
can put the area code in parentheses and include dashes if you
like. Use the [Delete Bk Sp] key or the [Control] with the arrow
keys to correct mistakes.
The next time you use the Dial from keyboard option, the scratch¬
pad will display this number again.
3. When the number is typed correctly, press [Return].
The XM301 Modem dials the number. If you have a rotary phone,
you will hear the pulses for each number. If you have a touch-tone
phone, you’ll hear the tones. When your modem reaches the other
number, you will hear the phone ringing or a busy signal.
The Dialing Menu disappears. Your screen prepares to receive
messages from the other computer.
11

CONNECTING ONLINE TO ANOTHER COMPUTER
If the screen displays the message:
Carrier detected!
you have connected online to the other computer. Your ATARI
Computer now functions as a remote terminal in the other
computer system.
After a few seconds the screen will display the first message from
the other system. Information services and many bulletin boards
will ask for your log-on ID and password. Type the responses
required by that system. You must obtain your log-on information
from the service or bulletin board.
If you fail to connect, the screen displays the message:
No connection made!
after your modem dials the phone number. One of the following
may have happened:
• The line was busy. If your system’s sound is on, you will hear
the busy signal.
• There was no answer. After a certain number of rings, XE Term
hangs up and tells you no connection was made. Check the
number you’re trying to reach and try again.
• Your modem was not hooked up to your system properly. Check
the cord connecting your modem to the drive or printer and
make sure it is connected properly.
• The phone cord was not connected to the modem or wall jack.
Check that the cord is connected properly.
The two commands —Press [Select] and Press [Return] —switch
you back and forth between online communication and the XE
Term Menus:
Press [Select]
XE Term temporarily halts communication and returns control
to you. The screen displays the Functions Menu. By pressing
[Select], you can use all the XE Term functions without having
to disconnect from the other system.
Press [Return]
XE Term returns you to terminal mode —brings you back online to
the other system.
12

To learn how to transmit files to and from other computer systems,
see Chapter 3, Sending and Receiving Files.
Hanging Up
When you finish communicating with the other system, you may
need to tell your modem to hang up the phone. In many cases,
however, the other system will automatically disconnect for you.
If necessary, follow these instructions:
1. While you are still online, press [Select].
The screen displays the Functions Menu.
2. Hold down the [Control] key and press H.
Your modem disconnects the phone. The screen shows the
message:
Connection lost!
THE XE TERM PHONE BOOK
You don’t have to type the phone number each time you want to
call another computer. XE Term comes with a ‘‘phone book” that
lets you keep up to five telephone numbers. After you enter those
numbers, you can dial them by pressing a single key.
Entering a Number in the Phone Book
To enter a number in the XE Term phone book, follow these
instructions:
1. Go to the Dialing Menu. When the Dialing Menu appears, press
a number from 1 through 5.
The screen prompts:
Edit or Dial?
2. Type E.
The screen displays a blank line next to the number you selected.
3. Type the phone number. If you use a 9 to dial an outside
number, type:
9 ,
13