Zoom ComStar XT SVD Instruction Manual

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ComStar SVD Frequently Asked Questions:
Frequently asked questions about installing, configuring, and using the Zoom ComStar SVD
Speakerphone modem and BitWare software. Click an entry to go to that section.
The contained information was compiled by Zoom’s Technical Support Department from direct
research, customer interaction, and external sources.
What is SVD, and how do I use it?..........................................................................................2
Which COM Ports and IRQs does my ComStar SVD support? ............................................3
My modem is on COM5. My software only goes up to COM4..............................................4
How do I configure my ComStar SVD in Windows 3.x (and DOS)? .....................................5
How do I use my ComStar SVD in DOS after exiting Windows 95? ....................................6
Why doesn’t my ComStar SVD on COM4 work in Windows 3.1? ........................................7
What do I do if I receive a NO DIALTONE message? ............................................................8
Why doesn’t my V.34 modem always connect at 33,600 bps? .............................................9
Is my ComStar SVD TAPI compliant?...................................................................................10
Why are my voice mail messages cut off in BitWare?........................................................ 11
How do I change the volume in BitPhone?..........................................................................12
My voice messages are very quiet (or loud). .......................................................................13
How can I make them louder (or quieter)?...........................................................................13
Can I receive faxes with my computer turned off? .............................................................14
How can I update my ComStar SVD Frequently Asked Questions?..................................15

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What is SVD, and how do I use it?
SVD stands for Simultaneous Voice and Data, and is one of the many features of your ComStar SVD modem.
Your ComStar SVD is an AudioSpan faxmodem capable of sending and receiving voice and data information over
a single telephone line at the same time. This means that you and a colleague (who also must have an
AudioSpan-compatible SVD faxmodem) can talk to each other while communicating data over that same line.
This capability has many uses:
• Transferring files while talking on the phone
• Audio-graphicsconferencing (whiteboarding)
• Other collaborative application sharing
• Playing a game via modem while trash talking to your opponent
• New bulletin board and Internet features, including voice-enhanced and interactive modem games
Detailed documentation on SVD commands and configuration examples are provided in your ComStar SVD
Owner’s Manual, also available in Acrobat PDF format on the ZOOM LINK CD.

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Which COM Ports and IRQs does my ComStar SVD support?
Your Zoom ComStar SVD modem is a Plug and Play device that supports the following COM Port addresses and
Interrupts:
COM Port base address: range from 02E8 to 03FF (hexadecimal values)
IRQ (Interrupt ReQuests): 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 15.
If you also have one of our older ComStar 14.4 or ComStar 28.8 products, please note that those units only
support IRQs 3, 4, 5, and 7.
Your modem will operate on any available COM Port your operating system supports, providing that:
a) the COM Port is not already in use by another device (in which case it is not available, is it?);
b) you assign a unique base address and IRQ to that COM Port from the list of values supported by your
modem (by unique we mean choose values that have not been assigned to other devices.) And,
c) you configure your modem to those same unique base address and IRQ values.
Although you probably will not run into any problems in Windows 95, you may want to keep this information handy
for Windows 3.1 or 3.11 installations. Windows 3.1 or 3.11 will only support COM Ports 1 through 4, but you can
change the base address and IRQ settings for any one of them to whatever value you are configuring your modem
to. Windows 95’s Plug and Play architecture detects your modem and assigns resources to it as needed. You may
end up with your modem on COM5 or COM25, for that matter, but it will still work. Windows 95 queries your
modem and other devices upon start-up to see which base adresses and IRQs they support, then assigns re-
sources accordingly.
For specific information on configuring the COM Port Control Panel in Windows 3.x, please refer to the section in
this document titled How do I configure my ComStar SVD in Windows 3.x (and DOS)? You may click the blue
title to go there now.

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Windows 95 32-bit software is capable of using COM Ports labeled 5, 6, 7, etc. However, most 16-bit applications
such as BitWare can access only COM Ports 1, 2, 3, and 4. Windows 95 may have already assigned labels 1 - 4
to COM Port devices in your PC. In that case Windows 95 assigns the next available label, 5, to the COM Port
used by the new hardware.
To configure the modem for use on COM1 or COM2:
1. From the Start menu, choose Settings and then Control Panel.
2. Double click System and select the Device Manager tab.
3. Click the [+] sign next to Modems to expand the list.
4. Highlight theComStar SVD 33.6 Speakerphone.
5. Click Remove.
6. Click the [+] sign next toPorts.
7. Highlight the port you want your modem to use (COM1 orCOM2).
8. Click Remove.
9. From the Start menu, choose Shut Down and shut down the computer.
10. Disable the serial port on COM1 or COM2 in your computer. This is most likely in the BIOS setup
of your computer. Check your computer’s documentation, or contact your computer or
motherboard manufacturer if you are unsure of how to do this.
11. Turn the computer back on and re-install according to the Quick Start for ComStar SVD
instructions.
12. The modem is now re-installed on the desired port.
To configure the modem for use on COM3 with an alternate IRQ (3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, or 15):
1. From the Start menu, choose Settings and then Control Panel.
2. Double click System and select the Device Manager tab.
3. Click the [+] sign next to Modems to expand the list.
4. Highlight theComStar SVD 33.6 Speakerphone.
5. Click Properties and select Resources.
6. Deselect the Use automatic settings box.
7. Change the Basic configuration to number 002.
8. Select Input/Output Range.
9. Click Change Setting and use the up/down arrows to select 03E8-03EF and click OK.
10. SelectInterrupt Request.
11. Click Change Setting and use the up/down arrows to select either IRQ 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, or
15 (whichever does not show a conflict) and click OK.
12. ClickOK and restart your computer.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully configured your ComStar SVD modem for use on COM3.
My modem is on COM5. My software only goes up to COM4.

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Configuring your ComStar SVD modem for use in Windows 3.x or DOS is quite simple. The ComStar SVD is a
Plug and Play device, which means you no longer have to remove the modem from the computer and reassign tiny
jumpers every time you want to add a new card. You need only run SETPORT from the DOS prompt once.
SETPORT is a utility that communicates with your modem, assigns COM Port and IRQ settings, and makes the
necessary changes to Windows and DOS.
Assuming that your modem is already installed in your computer:
• Exit to the DOS prompt.
• If your modem comes with the ZOOM LINK CD-ROM, insert it in your CD-ROM reader. If your model
comes with floppy disks, insert the disk labeled BitWare Disk 2 in your floppy drive.
• From the DOS prompt, type A:\ (or the drive letter of the correct drive). and press Enter.
• At theA:\ (or B:\ or D:\) prompt, type cd setport and press Enter. This opens the SETPORT directory.
• Type SETPORT 3 and pressEnter to begin the SETPORT batch file. In this example we are instruct-
ing SETPORT to configure the modem for COM3. SETPORT installs another program, PORTWIZ, on
your hard drive and uses it to configure your faxmodem.
PORTWIZ sets the faxmodem to COM3 and the first interrupt (IRQ) that is free (it checks IRQs 12, 11,
15, 10, 7, and 5 in order). PORTWIZ displays the base address and IRQ that it assigned. Copy this
information down on theImportant Information page of your Quick Start guide.
In all but the rarest circumstances, SETPORT 3 successfully sets the modem to COM3 and a free
IRQ, usually 12 or 11.
• SETPORT prompts you to automatically insert a line in your system’s autoexec.bat and system.ini
files. Press Y to both prompts to let SETPORT modify the files. SETPORT copies your existing
autoexec.bat file and names it autoexec.zbk.
If you prefer, you can modify the files yourself. To modify the autoexec.bat file, add the following line
(or whatever was reported by PORTWIZ):
portwiz 3e8 12
To the [386Enh] section of your system.ini file, add the following two lines (or whatever was reported
by PORTWIZ):
COM3Base=3E8h
COM3Irq=12
• Save these two files, and restart you computer. Your modem is now configured!
For additional information on using the SETPORT and PORTWIZ utilities, please refer to your ComStar SVD
Owner’s Manual, also available in Acrobat PDF format on your ZOOM LINK CD.
How do I configure my ComStar SVD in Windows 3.x (and DOS)?

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NOTE: This pertains to restarting the computer in MS-DOS mode. You do not need to follow these steps if you are
going to use the modem in an MS-DOS window from within Windows 95. This MS-DOS window inherits all of
Windows 95’s device settings.
Once you restart the computer in MS-DOS mode, none of the virtual device drivers in Windows 95 are running.
You can create a DOSSTART.BAT batch file to execute programs when the computer has been restarted in MS-
DOS mode. You must use the SETPORT utility to install PORTWIZ in order to configure your modem for use in
MS-DOS mode. Instructions follow:
• From the Start menu, choose Programs and then select MS-DOS prompt.
• If your modem comes with the ZOOM LINK CD-ROM, insert it in your CD-ROM reader. If your model
comes with floppy disks, insert the disk labeled BitWare Disk 2 in your floppy drive.
• From the DOS prompt, type A:\ (or the drive letter of the correct drive). and pressEnter.
• At theA:\ (or B:\ or D:\) prompt, type cd setport and press Enter. This opens the SETPORT directory.
• Type SETPORT 3 and pressEnter to begin the SETPORT batch file. In this example we are instruct-
ing SETPORT to configure the modem for COM3. SETPORT installs another program, PORTWIZ, on
your hard drive and uses it to configure your faxmodem.
PORTWIZ sets the faxmodem to COM3 and the first interrupt (IRQ) that is free (it checks IRQs 12, 11,
15, 10, 7, and 5 in order). PORTWIZ displays the base address and IRQ that it assigned. Copy this
information down on theImportant Information page of your Quick Start guide.
In all but the rarest circumstances, SETPORT 3 successfully sets the modem to COM3 and a free
IRQ, usually 12 or 11.
• SETPORT prompts you to automatically insert a line in your system’s autoexec.bat and system.ini
files. Press Nto both prompts. You do not need to modify these files because your operating system is
Windows 95 (even though you will be using MS-DOS mode.) You do, however, want to write down the
line that Portwiz would have added to your autoexec.bat file. For instance:
portwiz 3e8 12
• After you exit from SETPORT and return to the DOS prompt, type C:\WINDOWS and press Enter.
• TypeEDIT DOSSTART.BAT and pressEnter (this starts the DOS editor.)
• On the first blank line typePORTWIZ 3e8 12 (or whatever values portwiz recommended).
•Save this file and Exit the editor.
From now on, every time you restart your computer in MS-DOS mode, Windows 95 will execute the
DOSSTART.BAT file which will configure your modem for the correct communications port. For additional informa-
tion on using the SETPORT and PORTWIZ utilities, please refer to your ComStar SVD Owner’s Manual, also
available in Acrobat PDF format on your ZOOM LINK CD.
How do I use my ComStar SVD in DOS after exiting Windows 95?

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Problem 1:
Your modem could be conflicting with the serial port on COM2. Note that COM2 and COM4 both use IRQ3 by
default, (Windows 3.1, and 3.11 only; Windows 95 handles this differently).
Solution:
We strongly recommend you use the SETPORT utility to assign a different IRQ to your modem. Please refer to the
section in this document titled How do I configure my ComStar SVD in Windows 3.x (and DOS)? You may go
to that section now by clicking this blue title.
If your computer does not have any more resources available, and your only choice is to use COM2 or COM4 with
IRQ3, read on. Your computer is probably reserving COM2 IRQ3 for external serial devices. If you do not have any
devices attached to your computer that use COM2, disable that serial port either through your computer’s BIOS
setup, or via jumper settings on the motherboard or serial port I/O card. Consult your computer’s user manual for
the proper procedure and settings. Once the port is disabled, IRQ3 becomes available. You may now configure
your modem as either COM2 IRQ3, or COM4 IRQ3 using the SETPORT utility mentioned above.
Problem 2:
Many popular SVGA cards use the COM4 I/O base address. This directly conflicts with an internal modem config-
ured for use on COM4.
Solution:
Ask your video card manufacturer about the availability of a video driver which does not use the COM4 base
address.
If your video card manufacturer does not have a driver alternative, you must configure the modem for use on
another COM Port such as COM3 IRQ5. Note that many popular sound cards use IRQ5. Your ComStar SVD can
support IRQs 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, and 15. With so many to choose from, we are confident you will find one that is
not already in use. However, if you are configuring an older Plug and Play model, like the ComStar 28.8 or
ComStar 14.4 that only support IRQs 3, 4, 5, and 7, you may have to do some IRQ shuffling . If your sound card is
using IRQ5 or IRQ7, we suggest you set your sound card to a different IRQ, such as 10, and assign IRQ5 or IRQ7
to the modem.
Another solution is to configure the modem for use on another COM Port such as COM1 or COM2. When setting
the modem to either COM1 or COM2 you must make sure that your computer does not have an external serial
port designated as COM1 or COM2. If you do have an external serial port designated as the port which you want
to use with the modem, you must disable the external serial port either in the computer’s BIOS settings or via a
jumper on the motherboard, or both. Read your computer’s documentation, or contact the computer manufac-
turer/dealer for the proper procedure.
For additional help on configuring your modem in Windows 3.1 or 3.11, please refer to the section in this document
titled How do I configure my ComStar SVD in Windows 3.x (and DOS)? You can also go there by clicking this
blue title.
Why doesn’t my ComStar SVD on COM4 work in Windows 3.1?

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If you receive a NO DIALTONE message
when trying to dial out, you may have a
problem with your actual phone line con-
nection. Ensure that you have the tele-
phone cord connected directly from the wall
jack, to the RJ-11 phone jack marked LINE
on your faxmodem (see accompanying
diagram.) If you have connected the phone
line from the wall to the jack on the modem
marked PHONE (intended for an optional
handset) you may experience this problem
because that jack may be disabled via a
relay depending on what mode the modem
is in.
Another reason for a NO DIALTONE
message could be the phone line itself.
Try a telephone on the line to see if the
telephone line is active. If it does not work,
check to make sure that you are using an
analog and not a digital telephone line.
Analog modems such as your ComStar
will not work on digital lines and may be
damaged if you attempt to do so.
Another reason for a NO DIALTONE message is a weak dial tone. In this case you can instruct the modem to
ignore the dial tone. In terminal mode (blank screen, blinking cursor) of any communications software, such as
BitCom, Windows Terminal, HyperTerminal, COMit, or PROCOMM, type:
ATX3DT nnn-nnnn (where nnn...is the number you wish to dial) and press Enter.
The modem will dial without looking for a dial tone. If the modem dials out and establishes a connection, you
simply have a weak dial tone. You can add the X3 command to the initialization string of any software you intend
to use with your modem to ignore the weak dial tone. You should notify the telephone company to service your line.
If you receive a NO CARRIER message, your modem was unable to make a connection. Although this is a normal
response if the other party does not answer the line, you may be experiencing a hardware conflict. Make sure
there are no other devices/peripherals (including other modems) using the COM Port address and/or IRQ (Inter-
rupt) that your ComStar is attempting to use. For help on selecting COM Ports and IRQs, see the section in this
document titled Which COM Ports and IRQs does my ComStar SVD support? You may click the blue title to go
to that section now.
What do I do if I receive a NO DIALTONE message?

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NOTE: In order to make a 33.6k connection, both parties must have modems capable of supporting speeds as
high as 33,600 bps. Your ComStar SVD modem supports the 33,600 bps speed.
One of the largest factors which prohibit high speed modems from connecting at their fastest speeds is line noise.
You are more likely to achieve a high speed connection on long distance calls, because the lines are newer and
quieter than many local lines. Many telephone lines will not support a “full” 33.6k connection. You may often attain
no higher than 28.8k or 26.4k connections. Even if your phone line supports 33.6k, the other line or the ‘trunk’ may
not.
Another issue is the fact that not all modems out there conform to the latest V.34 standard (Annex 12). In that case
the highest connection between dissimilar modems may be 28,800 bps, or even as low as 14,400 bps; the next
ITU standard (V.32bis) which most modems conform to.
In your software you can set the rate at which your computer communicates with your modem. This is called the
DTE rate. In most software, this can be set as high as 115,200. It is suggested that you set this to 38,400 or
57,600 as very few computers will operate reliably at a DTE rate of 115,200. Optimum throughput on most com-
puters will be realized at around 38,400.
You can check the quality of your phone lines with the following test:
while connected to a friend, BBS, etc. and in terminal mode of your communication software type:
+++ (wait a second until you receive an “OK” response).
AT%Q and pressEnter.
AT%L and pressEnter.
ATO and pressEnter to resume your connection with the other party, BBS, etc..
The %Q response is the measured level of line noise for this connection, at the instance the command was issued.
The response should be between 001 and 015 with higher numbers indicating noisier lines. Though within ac-
cepted parameters, 013 and 014 can indicate high noise levels. A zero response indicates that you are not
connected.
The %L response is the signal strength of the carrier you are connected to. This is reported in units of -db. Note
that the minus sign will be omitted from your response. The response should be between 020 and 030 with higher
than 030 and lower than 020 indicating a poor signal. Though within accepted parameters, 021 and 029 can
indicate poor signal strength.
You should have your phone company check your phone lines if your responses are not within the above param-
eters. Disconnecting all other telephone equipment from the line can also eliminate the possibility of interference
from other devices.
Why doesn’t my V.34 modem always connect at 33,600 bps?

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Is my ComStar SVD TAPI compliant?
Yes, the Zoom ComStar SVD is TAPI (Telephony Application Programming Interface) compliant. Actually it is not
the hardware but the “drivers” that need to be compliant.
TAPI is a new technology that is currently under development at Microsoft. You will need the latest UNIMOD file,
currently UNIMOD/V, from Microsoft as well as any necessary patches provided by your software manufacturer in
order to utilize the enhanced communications abilities which TAPI can offer.
Unimodem V, as well as the Serial Wave Driver (which are the TAPI components) are available for the ComStar
SVD and can be found on the ZOOM LINK CD (that ships with the ComStar SVD ) in the UNIMODEM directory.
There is a ReadMe text file with installation instructions in that directory as well.

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NOTE: The current version of BitWare that ships with the ComStar SVD eliminates this problem. In the event
that you already had a previous version of BitWare installed, and do not wish to update your software, the following
solution is for you. However, we recommend you install this latest version of BitWare that shipped with your
modem.
There are settings in the BitWare INI files that control the playback and recording of messages. These INI files are
located in the Bitware directory on your hard drive. BitWare modifies these settings to optimize initial performance.
These settings may not accommodate the more advanced features of BitWare as they come into future use. You
can edit the INI files to facilitate maximal operation.
1. In the Program manager, click File, click Run
(in Windows 95, click Start, click Run).
2. On the command line, type:C:\BITWARE\BITWARE.INI
This will run Notepad and load the BitWare.ini file.
3. Find the lines: Cut Recorded Dialtone =
Cut Recorded Silence =
Cut Recorded Timeout =
and set each of these values to two (2). Save the file, exit the editor, and restart BitWare.
Why are my voice mail messages cut off in BitWare?

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How do I change the volume in BitPhone?
BitPhone is an application included with Cheyenne BitWare. It takes advantage of the speakerphone capabilities
of your ComStar SVD modem. If the person you are speaking with has trouble hearing you, you can adjust your
microphone sensitivity. If you have trouble hearing the caller, adjust the speaker output.
BitPhone appears as a common cellular telephone. It includes an ear piece, status window, keypad and mouth-
piece.
Adjusting Microphone Sensitivity:
1. Click on the mouthpiece on the BitPhone. This brings up a level indicator in the BitPhone
status window.
2. Click on the Right or Left arrow buttons (* and # on the keypad) to decrease or increase the
volume. You will see the level indicator rise or fall along with the speaker output.
3. Click again on the mouthpiece to make the level indicator disappear.
NOTE: This can be done before, after, or even during a call.
Adjusting Speaker output:
1. Click on the ear piece of the BitPhone. This brings up a levelindicator in the BitPhone
status window.
2. Click on the Right or Left arrow buttons (* and # on the keypad) to decrease or increase the
volume. You will see the level indicator rise or fall. Ask the person you are speaking with to
access the volume change.
3. Click again on the ear piece to make the level indicator disappear.
NOTE: This can be done before, after, or even during a call.

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My voice messages are very quiet (or loud).
How can I make them louder (or quieter)?
In most voice software such as BitVoice, there is a playback and/or record level setting. In BitWare, this is under
the VOICE SYSTEM SETUP. Settings higher then 199 are usually not necessary.
If you are using a speaker other than the one supplied with your ComStar SVD , you may need to change the
speaker jumper settings on the modem itself to adjust for the new speaker. See Appendix B of the ComStar SVD
Owner’s Manual.
The ComStar SVD should not be directly connected to a sound card. The BitVoice software provided with the
modem has a setting to allow it to route the playback and recording of voice messages through your sound card
indirectly. You may need to check the volume settings of your sound card software if you are playing or recording
your messages in this manner.
Additionally, the phone(s) that you have connected to the modem line can also have an effect on voice message
volume and quality. Every telephone device (even your modem) has what is called a Ringer Equivalence Number
(REN). This can be found on the FCC sticker or stamp on the telephone device. The higher the number, the more
current it draws from the phone line. It is recommended that you do not connect any devices after the modem that
would increase the total ringer equivalence rating higher than 0.9.

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Can I receive faxes with my computer turned off?
No, in order to receive faxes, your computer must be turned on and your fax software/driver loaded. Your internal
ComStar modem is turned on when your computer is on. You can leave your computer running but just turn off its
monitor to conserve energy.

Page 15
How can I update my ComStar SVD Frequently Asked Questions?
You can download updates to the ComStar SVD Frequently Asked Questions (aka FAQs) from either our Internet
Web site or our forums on America Online and CompuServe. If you are using the Weblink plug-in and you want to
reach the file section of our Web site now, just click the following link:
http://www.zoomtel.com/files.html
If you do not wish to connect now, you may visit our Web page by typing the previous link into your web browser.
To reach our America Online or CompuServe forums, you must first have an AOL or CompuServe account. We
have provided complementary sign-up software that allows you to try these services for up to 10 free hours of
usage the first month.
To access the Zoom forum from America Online,
sign on to your AOL account,
select Go To from the menu,
then select Keyword,
type ZOOMT and press the Enter key.
To access the Zoom forum on CompuServe,
sign on to your CompuServe account,
select Services from the menu,
then select Go,
type ZOOM and press the Enter key.