How to Test a MODEM for AlphaNumeric Paging Support
Using the paging capabilities of Mountain Systems Caller ID software requires two things:
Mountain Systems Caller ID software can send pages to both
numeric and alphanumeric paging services. Numeric paging can only
send a paging message that contains digits. No character data can
be sent to a numeric paging service.
An alphanumeric paging service can accept messages that contain
both digit and character data. Most alphanumeric paging services
have a message size limitation. Some can only accept messages
with 40-80 total characters of data, where other newer services
can accept up to a 1000 characters of data. Check with your
paging service to determine the maximum message size.
Most paging services have two set of paging telephone numbers.
The first are used by callers who are using a standard telephone
and no computer. They listen to a voice prompt from the paging
service and enter touch tone key presses to send a page. The
second type are computer to computer interfaces. You need to use
the computer telephone numbers when using the paging capabilities
of Mountain Systems Caller ID software.
The following are the most common problems with paging:
1. Using a paging voice telephone number rather than the computer
telephone number
2. Incorrect paging number entered in paging data
3. Incorrect paging PIN number entered in paging data
4. Incorrect init string for MODEM selected/entered
5. Wrong type of paging service selected (numeric or
alphanumeric)
6. Error correction enabled on MODEM when paging service cannot
handle error correction
7. Data compression enable on MODEM when paging service cannot
handle compression
Setting up a page requires at least the following information:
1. Description (this describes your page)
2. COM port to use (COM1 through COM4 are supported)
3. Baud rate (300 baud is most common for paging services)
4. Number of your paging service
5. Paging PIN number
6. Max message size (only required for alphanumeric paging)
7. Data bits (most use 7 data bits)
8. Delay time (only used for numeric paging
9. Message content
The software also includes a number of other paging variables
that can also be set.
The init string is used to initialize your MODEM for paging.
Leaving this blank will cause the software to use a default
initialization string (this works for most MODEMs). Try this
option first. Some MODEMs have problems with error correction and
interfacing with some paging systems. If you have paging
problems, you may need to enter a setup string that will disable
error correction for your MODEM (many paging services cannot
interface with MODEMs that attempt error correction).
NOTE: If you enter a paging init string, be sure to terminate the
string with the ~ character. This acts as a return character.
The dial string can be entered if your MODEM requires a
non-standard dial string (most do not). Leaving this blank will
cause the software to use the default dial string.
The termination string (Term string) can be entered if your MODEM
requires a non-standard termination string (most do not). Leaving
this blank will cause the software to use the default termination
string, which is the # key.
The password field is used by some paging services. Leave this
field blank unless your paging system requires a password (most
do not).
When a page is generated by Mountain Systems Caller ID software,
a PAGEBUG.TXT file is created in the program directory. This file
contains messages, paging information, and any error messages
that may result from a page. If you have paging problems, you can
E-Mail this file to Mountain Systems to help us determine the
problems with your installation.
A common paging problem is a failure to connect with the paging
service. If this error occurs on your system, try the following
test:
Use a terminal program to test paging. The TERMINAL.EXE program
in Windows 3.X can be used, or the HyperTerminal program for
Windows 95.
1. Start the terminal program
2. Select the COM port and baud rate for your MODEM
3. Enter ATZ as the setup string
4. Wait for the OK response
5. Enter ATDT xxxxxxx, where xxxxxxx is your paging telephone
number
6. If you receive a CONNECT message, press the return key 2-3
times
7. What other data appears?
The normal response from most paging services are the characters
"ID=". Does this data appear after pressing the enter
key? If not, your paging service may not be using the industry
standart TAP protocol.
If you perform this test, E-Mail us the results,( a copy of the
text shown in the terminal screen), so we can assist in
determining how to proceed to get your paging working correctly.