PENTAGRAM Omen 56l (Motorola SM56 PCI Modem)
Build 80.5
November 12, 1999
Revision History Log
This file lists the main functional enhancements, additions, bug fixes, and known incompatibilities for the Omen 56l ( Motorola SM56) PCI Modem.
Known Bugs and Incompatibilities
3Com Network Interface Card (NIC) Interrupt Sharing Problem
After investigating a periodic (approx. once every 8 seconds) desktop freeze (no mouse response for a second or so) we found that the offending device was actually 3Com's 3C905B-TX NIC. This NIC/driver has an interrupt sharing problem. The problem shows up with any devices that share the interrupt with it, including various modems (AC-Link and PCI) and PCI display adapter cards. Be aware that the same sharing problem may exist with other members of 3Com's 3C905xx family of NIC boards and software.
Telephone Answering Machine Local Message Playback
The 56l PCI Data/Fax/TAM modem supports telephone answering machine (voice message recording and local/remote message playback), it does not support other voice features such as speakerphone ( Data/Fax/TAM/Speakerphone modem does this). Local message playback through the PC's sound system can be done with the Data/Fax/TAM model. However, some telephony applications may query the modem for speakerphone support, and, on finding that speakerphone is not supported, will not play the message back locally. This is an issue for the telephony application provider. Local TAM message playback should be independent of modem features.
Cannot Upgrade From 56l ISA to 56l PCI
If possible, install the 56l PCI modem in a PC that has not had a previous 56l modem install.
If you have a previous install of our 56l ISA modem on your PC you must first un-install that modem completely. A later version of the 56l PCI modem software will allow ISA to PCI upgrades. A complete 56l ISA modem un-install can be performed as follows:
1. Delete the Pentagram 56l .inf files from \windows\inf\other. Delete only 56l INF files -- Pentagram IncMISGMODM.INF and SERWAVE.INF.
2. From the Windows 95/98 Device Manager:
Double click Modem, select the 56l modem and then click Remove.
Optional: If the previously installed 56l ISA modem was Data/Fax/Voice double click Sound, Video and Game Controllers, select Wave Device for Voice Modem , and click Remove.
3. Edit the Windows 95/98 Registry (run REGEDIT) and delete the following key:
HKLM-->System-->CurrentControlSet-->Services-->SM34DFV
4. Shut down the computer and remove the 56l ISA modem board.
AOL and Juno Installs
Juno is an ISP that provides Web access and enhanced Email services, particularly geared at first time Internet users. When installing these applications they provide a list of "supported" modems and you need to select one from the list. The 56l is not listed. Instead, select Pentagram Premier from the list that their install wizard provides. This selection enables the 56l to work correctly at full K56Flex and V.90 rates.
Supervoice Initialization Problems
Supervoice is a telephony application that includes data, fax, voice, and Email support. After installation, the application performs a modem initialization sequence. Older versions of the software issue some unsupported AT commands to the modem, which in turn correctly returns ERROR. On receiving ERROR the application aborts. After working with the vendor, Pacific Image Communications, Inc., Rev. 2.2i –990311 and later of the application functions correctly with the 56l.
Problems with OHCI Compliant USB Devices Freezing When Modem Connected
If your PC motherboard uses a USB chip set that is OHCI compliant, (e.g. silicon Integrated Systems (SiS), Opti), there is a chance that a USB device will freeze when the modem is connected. This was found when using a USB camera. It looks like the USB hub driver freezes up due to the modem hardware interrupts. It usually requires a PC restart to kick the driver back into working condition. This problem does not occur with other USB chip sets that have been tested -- UHCI compliant. It is not a problem with only the 56l modem or the software. Other interrupting devices in the PC will result in a similar USB driver problem. Microsoft are working to fix the OS kernel OHCI drivers, and a fix should be included in a a future Windows 98 Service Release.
Build by Build Details
·183 56l Build 0.80.5
1) Fixed problem causing OS to blue screen.
·183 56l Build 0.80.4
1) Changed volume settings for answering machine playback.
2) Added a PCI voice page for speakerphone in the tray app.
·183 56l Build 0.80.3
1) Fixed CCITT override problem.
·183 56l Build 0.80.2
1) V.90 retraining enhancements.
2.) Fixed problem with New Zealand international call progress.
·183 56l Build 0.80.1
1) Dial-up networking fix.
2.) Moved the tray executable from the run key in the registry to the startup folder. This fix was required by PC 99 WHQL.
·183 56l Build 0.80
1) Removed Runonce key from installation -- required by PC 99 Logo.
2) Implemented call progress through the PC sound system using DirectX 5.0 and later.
3) Added some fixes to pass Jate -- beep tone and speakerphone levels (used in D/F/Speakerphone only).
4) Install auto-detects country and language settings in the OS and defaults to those.
5) Uninstall now deletes ALL modem components -- including Registry entries and INF files.
6) ATI8 response customizable via the INF file
7) S7 (call timeout) now settable 1-255.
8) Fixed an array problem in the DSP code which could be encountered when dialing some headend. An overflow could cause OS to blue screen.
9) Fixed fax abort tone mis-detection whihc could show up under certain circumstances.
·183 56l Build 0.70
1) Cleaned up residual 2400 Hz tone when exiting at*ho12, at*ho13, and at*ho14 commands for countries which use continuous snoop mode for caller id, which occured if caller id was enabled.
2) Cleaned up voice mode connect failure and connect problem when using at*ho12, at*ho13, and at*ho14 commands for countries which use continuous snoop mode for caller id, which occured if caller id was enabled.
3) Added individual DTMF tone level selection per country from 0 to - 15dBm using the homologation utility.
4) Made S11 register country specific with per country limits settable using the homologation utility.
5) K56flex optimization.
·183 56l Build 0.69
1) Added PCI Plug-n-Play ID for ActionTec.
2) Fixed problem with K56flex server not responding to retrain initiated by the remote side during rate negotiation.
3) Fixed power management "wake on ring" bug.
4) Changed the default of the Caller ID alert for Japan from line reversal to short ring.
·183 56l Build 0.68
1) Removed all popup boxes that require user intervention from the 56l install program.
2) Fixed a .CAT file location problem with the auto-install feature of the modem. Previous builds require the user to point the install engine to the location containing the original install files. (#448).
3) Added some V.34 performance enhancements.
4) Fixed a problem where the modem could disconnect during a V.90 retrain (either forced gy the user using ATO1 or by the headend). (#445)
5) A problem with interrupt sharing on an Intel SE440BX-2 motherboard has been fixed. Previous builds mask off the interrupt line when the modem unloads. This causes problems for any other device that happened to share that interrupt line. (#461).
6) Added PCI Plug-n-Play ID's for Wintop and CIS.
7) Changed all PASCAL and OPTCALL to STDCALL calling conventions.
·183 56l Build 0.671
1) Fixed problem of modem not switching to tone dialing when "D" was encountered in the dial string. This bug was introduced in the previous build.
56l PCI Data Fax Build only
2) Added country support to the control panel applet.
·183 56l Build 0.67
1) Fixed V.32bis ranging problems.
2) Fixed interoperability problem with Lucent Head ends.
·183 56l Build 0.66
1) The country configuration tables are moved out of memory and into the registry.
2) The Distintive Ring feature availability is based on registry voice profile key.
3) The product name string in glb_ver.h file has been modified to reflect Data, Fax, and Voice capabilities using a single version of that file.
4) Added feature to be able to disallow pulse dialing on a country by country basis.
5) AT#UD command enhancement in DSP.
6) Code size optimization in DSP.
7) Bug fixes in K56flex, V.34, and V.90.
8) Additional call progress filter added to improve dial tone detection in China.
·183 56l Build 0.65
1) Added support for generating reporting functions for #UD commands.
·183 56l Build 0.641
1) Adjusted transmit levels of modulation modes.
·183 56l Build 0.64
1) Fixed a bug that caused Windows Explorer errors in previous builds.
2) Added #UD command support to modem.
3) Added Data/Fax code base to Combined Data/Fax/Speakerphone and Data/Fax/TAM code bases. All builds now use the same VxD's. However, the install is still different for each. (#347).
4) Fixed V.32 training bug.
·183 56l Build 0.63
1) Windows 95/98 DOS box support added. (#301).
2) Combined the Data/Fax/Speakerphone and Data/Fax/TAM code bases into one. Both builds now use the same VxD's. However, the install is still different for each. (#347).
3) After a successful install, if the PC is powered OFF and the 56l modem board is moved to another PCI slot, although Windows re-enumerates the new hardware and the 56l install runs again, both instances of the 56l modem will now work. In earlier builds the second modem instance (the real modem) did not function. (#379).
4) Enhanced the Upgrader Utility (invoked by running setup.exe) to retain the COM port and IRQ resources after the upgrade is complete so that communications applications will continue to function correctly.
5) The modem now correctly detects all Chinese and Korean busy signals. (#403).
6) Eliminated the "Duplicated Device Driver" error message when upgrading from Windows 95 to Windows 98 on a PC where the 56l is installed. (#408).
7) Added Italian, Spanish, and Universal International (UI) to the list of language selections in the Control Panel applet. This selects the language for the online User's Guide. (#396).
8) Fixed a problem when ATD was issued without supplying a number. Earlier builds may cause the modem or OS to lock up or blue screen. (#400).
9) ATM3 turns ON call progress speaker monitoring during negotiation, and OFF during DTMF dialing and data transfer. In previous builds the call progress monitoring was ON all the time even after issuing ATM3. (#399, #404).
10) The 56l now operates correctly with the speaker volume controls (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH) in the Windows Control Panel properties sheet. (#399, #405).
11) Fixed a problem where V.32bis connections would sometimes get dropped due to retrain time-outs. (#277).
12) Fixed a problem with earlier builds where the modem drivers allowed the PC to go into standby mode on ACPI compliant machines....usually during fax and voice modes. The modem now veto's standby messages while connected in all modes.(#346).
13) Added "wetting" pulse support for UK caller ID detection. (#384).
14) Added software support for the telephone handset stuffing hardware option. (#388).
·183 56l Build 0.62
1) An interoperability problem with Cisco headends has been fixed. Previous 56l builds sometimes failed to connect in V.90 and K56Flex modes. (#389).
2) V.90 throughput has been increased across the network model. The average increase is 0-600 characters per second over previous build. (#372).
3) During K56Flex and V.90 training the 56l now auto-detects if the headend uses A-Law or Mu-Law. This eliminates problems in countries that use both compansion techniques. Previous 56l builds used only the Country code to select between A-Law/Mu-Law. (#317).
4) K56Flex fallback to V.34 algorithm reliability has been improved. Under certain circumstances previous builds failed to connect K56Flex and did not correctly fall back to V.34. (#385).
5) Operating System blue screens and PC freezes while using Shark's Dialtone application have been fixed. With previous builds, bring up Dialtone, receive a fax, then dial to a headend. When the modem connects the OS blue screened and/or PC froze, forcing a hard boot of the PC to recover. (#360).
6) A completely new install program has now replaced the Install Shield. Among other things, this fixes install problems if Windows is on a drive other than C. (#118, #377).
7) Added the parameter lists for numerous countries, including:
Argentina
Belgium
Columbia
CTR-21 European Union
Czech Republic
Hong Kong
Ireland
Israel
Jordan
Malaysia
Norway
Portugal
South Africa
Spain
Switzerland
Thailand
Turkey
Venezuela
Vietnam
These country selections are available via the 56l Control Panel application. (#318).
8) In previous builds writing invalid data to some S-Registers returned ERROR. This caused problems with some software applications, that wanted to see "OK", even if the registers were not being updated. To aid interoperability we have changed the controller code to return "OK" when attempting to write invalid data to some S-Registers. The S-Registers will not be updated with invalid data. (#310, #374).
9) Added PCI Plug-n-Play ID support for TurboComm. (# 368).
10) Fixed the DTMF "Twist" problem. DTMF tones are dual tones. In previous builds the lower frequency tone was too low by 2dB and the higher frequency tone was too low by 3dB. (#390).
Speakerphone Build only
11) The microphone and speaker gain sliders in the Control Panel applet have been modified to read unsigned 8-bit integers from the Windows Registry. In previous builds they were read as signed --...
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