How to Test a MODEM for Caller ID Support
To use AlarmTraq with
Caller ID support you need two things:
- Caller ID Service
From your local telephone company
- A MODEM or hardware
device that supports Caller ID
The first is required
as only your local telephone company can supply this data. The second is required
so that the data sent by the telephone company can be passed to software programs
for processing.
Many current Modems offer
support for Caller ID. The key question is always what setup string to use to enable
Caller ID (virtually every MODEM disables Caller ID as the default).
For most Modems, the
string ATS0=2#CID=1 or ATS0=2+VCID=1 will enable Caller ID.
Look in the user’s manual for your MODEM to see if any setup string is referenced
or mentioned.
For MultiTech MT5634ZBA
modems use:
|
Modem Initialization String |
|
|
ATS0=1 |
No caller-ID |
|
ATS0=2+VCID=1 |
Caller ID Enabled |
For US Robotics modems
use:
|
Modem Initialization String |
|
|
AT&F1S0=1 |
No caller-ID |
|
AT&F1#CID=1S0=2 |
Caller ID Enabled |
Other common setup strings
are:
|
Modem Initialization String |
|
|
ATS0=2#CID=2 |
|
|
AT%CCID=1 |
|
|
AT%CCID=2
|
|
|
AT#CC1 |
|
|
AT*ID1
|
|
The best way to test is to use
a terminal data program. In Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP, the HyperTerminal program
can be used.
To use HyperTerminal do
the following:
1) Press the Start button and select
Programs> Accessories> HyperTerminal
2) Double click on "hyperterm"
or "hyperterm.exe"
3) Name the new connection "test,"
and select OK
4) Change the "connect using"
to Direct to COM X, were X is the COM port used by the Caller ID device
5) Click on OK on the screen for
port settings
To test your MODEM, do the following:
1. Type the string ATZ, (OK should
appear on the screen)
2. Enter the Caller ID string
to be tested, (ATS0=2#CID=1 or ATS0=2+VCID=1 for most modems)
3. If OK results, continue; If
ERROR results the modem may not support Caller ID; try a different setup string
4. Have someone call you and watch
the terminal screen
5. If Caller ID is working, you
will see the word RING, followed by one or more additional data lines. The word
RING will then continue to appear for each incoming ring.
6. If Caller ID is not working,
you will only see the word RING for each incoming ring. If this is the case try
another setup string and go back to step 2.
There are other formats
as well. The key point is that other data generally appears between the first and
second rings.
Some telephone companies
ship Caller ID data in different formats. If you see a format different from the
above, send us the data and information via E-Mail at support@alarmtraq.com. We see a new format about once a month, and can usually
make a minor software adjustment to handle the new case.