US Robotics 005689-03 User manual

This manual covers installation and operating instructions for the following U.S. Robotics modems:
•Sportster 56K* faxmodem for Macintosh computers
Sportster, U.S. Robotics, and the U.S. Robotics logo are registered trademarks and Connections, x2, and
the x2 logo are trademarks of U.S. Robotics. Macintosh is a registered trademark and Mac is a trademark
of Apple Computer, Inc. MacComCenter is a trademark of Smith Micro Software, Inc. America Online is
a registered trademark of America Online Inc. CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe Inc.
Other trademarks, trade names, and service marks owned or registered by any other company and used in
this manual are the property of their respective companies.
© 1997 U.S. Robotics
7770 North Frontage Road
Skokie, IL 60077-2690
All Rights Reserved
* IMPORTANT! This modem is 56Kbps capable. However, current FCC rules limit download speeds to
53Kbps. See page 3 for details.

Table of ContentsTable of Contents
U.S. Robotics: The Intelligent Choice in Information Access™ 1
Welcome to x2™ Information Access 3
Features 5
Installation 7
Software and Registration 11
U.S. Robotics Online for Mac™ Users 13
Troubleshooting 17
Glossary 23
Technical Quick Reference 35
Front Panel Lights 36
Command Summary 37
S-Registers 50
Regulatory Information 59
Limited Warranty 69

U.S. Robotics:U.S. Robotics:
The Intelligent Choice in Information AccessThe Intelligent Choice in Information Access
1
Congratulations! You have just purchased
the Sportster®56K faxmodem for
Macintosh®computers. Since 1976, U.S.
Robotics has grown to become a key
manufacturer and developer of information
access technology. U.S. Robotics' advanced
technology allows you to use your
faxmodem to open up a new world of
information access. And now you can take
advantage of the highest transfer rates
available today with our new x2 technology!
As an innovator in the data communications
field, U.S. Robotics has a history of bringing
the latest technology to market at an
affordable price.
U.S. Robotics owns the core technology,
known as the data pump, that works in its
access products. This allows U.S. Robotics
to bring new technologies and features to
market faster and at a lower cost while
passing the savings on to you.
Be sure to read the following section to
learn more about the latest U.S. Robotics
breakthrough, x2 technology. Your new
Sportster takes advantage of this technology
to make connecting over analog lines faster
than ever before.
For more information on U.S. Robotics,
visit the U.S. Robotics Web Server at:
http://www.usr.com.

Welcome to x2Welcome to x2 Information AccessInformation Access
3
The latest breakthrough inThe latest breakthrough in
online communicationsonline communications
Until now, 33.6 Kbps was thought to be the
practical limit for speed over standard phone
lines. Now, U.S. Robotics shatters that
barrier, to bring you download speeds of up
to 56 Kbps. However, due to FCC rules
which restrict power output of your service
provider’s modems, current download
speeds are limited to 53Kbps. This modem
is software upgradable, allowing easy
upgrades to new features and enhancements
when they become available.
An integrated end-to-endAn integrated end-to-end
solution from the leadersolution from the leader
U.S. Robotics is well positioned to bring
you x2 technology. Our Sportster®modems
are the world's number one seller, and our
Total ControlTM and CourierTM product lines
are favored by many Internet service
providers. This widespread acceptance
allows U.S. Robotics to offer x2 technology
to virtually anyone.

4
Taking advantage of theTaking advantage of the
modern telephone networkmodern telephone network
x2 technology uses the increasingly digital
telephone network to bring you faster
downloads by eliminating the analog-to-
digital conversion in the downstream path.
x2 takes advantage of the typical network
configuration found when an analog
subscriber connects to a digitally connected
server. x2 bypasses the analog-to-digital
conversion in the downstream path to use
nearly all of the available 64K network
bandwidth. (Upstream data, typically less
speed sensitive, travels at the standard V.34
rate.)
The result is a completely new kind of
transmission technique. Based on
“encoding” rather than “modulation,” it can
give you download speeds that you never
thought possible. What’s more, with
standard V.42 bis compression, x2 can
download at speeds up to a blistering 115.2
Kbps.
The new standard for onlineThe new standard for online
speedspeed
U.S. Robotics has already submitted x2
technology to the ITU-T standards
committee for acceptance as the next online
standard.
For more information on U.S. Robotics’ x2
technology, see our World Wide Web page
at http://x2.usr.com.

FeaturesFeatures
5
Data CommunicationsData Communications
Your new modem will transmit at speeds up
to 33.6Kbps. And with x2 technology, you
can download at speeds up to 56Kbps∗.
This will save you money in online service
charges and long distance bills.
Not only is your modem fast, it is
compatible with internationally accepted
standards which allow you to connect to
other modems across the globe. These
standards include: V.34+, V.32 bis, V.32,
V.22 bis, Bell 212A/V.22, V.23, V.25, and
Bell 103/V.21 modems.
To send data faster and more efficiently,
your modem uses hardware-based
V.42/MNP 2-4 error control and
V.42 bis/MNP 5 data compression.
Fax CapabilityFax Capability
Your modem is compatible with Class 1 or
Class 2.0 fax software included in your
package to exchange faxes with Group III
fax machines worldwide at speeds up to
14.4 kbps.
∗Current FCC rules limit download speeds
to 53Kbps.

InstallationInstallation
7
Getting StartedGetting Started
Before you begin, make sure that the
following items are at hand:
1. This package: modem, RJ11 (standard)
phone cord, power adapter, serial
connecting cable, this guide.
2. Not with this package: analog (standard)
phone jack.
Install your modem:
1. Turn off your computer.
2. Firmly attach the enclosed serial connecting
cable to both the modem and the port on the
back of your computer marked with a
telephone icon.

8
3. Connect the power adapter to your modem
and plug it into the wall.
4. Plug one end of the phone cord into the
telephone jack of the modem (labeled with a
wall plug icon on the bottom of the case)
and the other end into the telephone jack.
If you wish to use your modem and phone with
the same telephone wall jack, plug your phone’s
cord into the other available port on the back of
your modem.
Once your modem is connected, you’ll need to
install the MacComCenter software included
with your modem. This allows you to send and
receive faxes, surf the Internet, call an online
service to access e-mail, or call a local bulletin
board (BBS).
For more information on installingFor more information on installing
the communications software andthe communications software and
other applications included withother applications included with
your modem, see the Software andyour modem, see the Software and
Registration chapter.Registration chapter.

9
The Serial InterfaceThe Serial Interface
Macintosh computers require an 8-pin
mini-DIN hardware handshaking cable for
high-speed communications. This cable is
included in your Sportster for Macintosh
package.
Hardware Handshaking Cable PinHardware Handshaking Cable Pin
AssignmentsAssignments
Mini DIN-8 DB-25
Connector
Handshake Output HSKo 1 4 RTS
20 DTR
Handshake Input HSKi 25 CTS
Transmit Data+ TXD- 32 TXD
Ground GND 47 GND
Receive Data+ RXD+ 87 GND
Receive Data- RXD- 53 RXD
Transmit Data+ TXD+ 6not connected
Gen. Purpose Input GPI 7not connected
Note: The Handshake Output pin is connected to both
pins 4 (RTS) and 20 (DTR) on the DB-25 connector.

Software and RegistrationSoftware and Registration
11
MacComCenterMacComCenter™™
SoftwareSoftware
MacComCenter, a software application
designed by Smith Micro Software, Inc., is
included with your new Sportster modem.
Follow these instructions to install the
software. Please refer to the electronic
MacComCenter user’s guide on your
Connections™CD for details about
operating the software.
NOTE: ARA scripts install along with
MacComCenter.
Follow these steps toFollow these steps to
install MacComCenter:install MacComCenter:
1. Quit all other applications.
2. Insert the Connections CD-ROM into
your CD-ROM drive.
3. Double-click on the U.S. Robotics
Connections icon.
4. Follow the on-screen directions to install
the Connections software onto your
computer.