On 20 May 1998, Patrick Welche writes:

>  W2  W0	? I don't know what this is.

It changes the speed numbers returned in the CONNECT response.  I
believe W2 causes CONNECT <connectionspeed> and W0 is more like
CONNECT <serialportspeed>.

If the modem is not even answering at all, this is not the immediate
problem.

> It is external - if only it were easier! - the AA LED flashes each
> time the phone rings.

Then the modem is not answering because it does not think it should,
probably because it is not seeing DTR (or some other control line?)
high from the machine?  Kermit of course opens the port and so DTR
(and friends?) goes high, and then the modem would then go off hook
and answer when a call is received.  Since the modem is external,
check the DTR LED, it should be ON when the modem is connected to the
computer and getty is running on that port.

> Thanks for your in-depth reply, but I still don't see the
> difference. It must be a configuration thing as when I have kermit
> running on the NetBSD box, the modem does answer and connects,
> however when I have getty running instead, the modem doesn't answer.

Check which control lines are high when getty is running, vs which are
high when Kermit has opened the port.  And/or, as a test only (don't
leave it this way!) try setting &C0&D0 and maybe also &S0.

It is several years since I met this issue, which is why I sat silent
the first time around (!), but I'd be 99% sure the answer lies in the
area of ensuring DTR (or just possibly DSR or similar) are believed by
the modem to be high, so the modem believes it has a working DTE to
talk to, and therefore it is worthwhile answering the phone.  The
underlying idea is that you do not want a modem answering calls when
the DTE (computer) it is connected to is down, that would waste the
time (and money, if a long distance call) of the calling party.

Jonathan
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