x2 Technology FAQ Question: What x2 products have recently been released? Answer: The following modem models have been released and are available for purchase: 00178600 - Sportster Data/Fax external x2 00178700 - Sportster Data/Fax internal x2 00178900 - Sportster Data/Fax for Mac x2 00178602 - Sportster Data/Fax external x2 00178701 - Sportster Data/Fax internal x2 00178902 - Sportster Data/Fax for Mac x2 00178400 - Sportster Voice external x2 00178500 - Sportster Voice internal x2 The model number can be found on the UPC sticker(see document 14121) on the outside of the box. _____________________________________________________________________ Question: What are the current code dates for the released x2 model modems? Answer: As of 4/03/97: 00178600 - 3/21/97 00178700 - 3/21/97 00178900 - 3/21/97 00178602 - 3/8/97 00178701 - 3/8/97 00178902 - 3/8/97 00178400 - 3/10/97 00178500 - 3/10/97 _____________________________________________________________________ Question: How do I check my modems current code date? Answer: Enter a terminal program(i.e. RapidComm, HyperTerminal, MacComCenter, ZTerm, etc.) and type ATI7. There will be a line that says EPROM date. This is your modem's code date. _____________________________________________________________________ Question: I have a U.S. Robotics Sportster modem. How do I upgrade to x2? Answer: We have made a utility called the U.S. Robotics Modem Update Wizard which is available at http://x2.usr.com/update/. This program will determine if it is possible to do a software upgrade on your modem and if not, it will provide you with instructions on what you should do. If your modem is software upgradeable, the Modem Update Wizard will perform all necessary actions. Shipments of upgrades for Sportster Faxmodems (Internal & External) and Sportster for Macintosh(r) will begin March 31st. Shipments of upgrades for Sportster Voice Faxmodems and Sportster Winmodem(TM) will begin in April. Your upgrade will be processed in the order in which it is received. Visit our web site at http://www.usr.com/x2 or call 1-888-USR-XTWO to order your upgrade. _____________________________________________________________________ Question: I downloaded the Modem Update Wizard and it said my modem was not upgradeable to x2. Why? Answer: There are two reasons you might see this message. First, the Modem Update Wizard only supports standard Sportster 33.6 desktop data/fax modems. It does not support Couriers or Sportster Winmodems. We will be modifying the Modem Update Wizard to support those modems in the near future. The other reason you might see this message is if your modem is not a Sportster flash modem. If that is indeed the case, then you should call 1-888-USR-XTWO for more information. _____________________________________________________________________ Question: I have a Megahertz or Sportster PC Card (PCMCIA) modem. How do I upgrade to x2? Answer: Upgrades will be available for the Megahertz XJ1336 PC Card Modem and Sportster SP1336 PC Card Modem in late Spring of 1997. See http://x2.usr.com/upgrades/index.html for more information. _____________________________________________________________________ Question: How much will the upgrades cost? Answer: The upgrade for eligible Sportster 33.6 desktop products to 56k x2 Technology is $60. For more details on the upgrade program, visit our website at http://www.usr.com/x2. Anyone who purchased a Sportster modem from the below list after August 15, 1996 can upgrade their modem to x2. Sportster 33.6 Faxmodem External #839 Sportster 33.6 Faxmodem Internal #840 Sportster 33.6 Faxmodem for Macintosh #1265 Sportster 33.6 Voice Faxmodem External #1172 Sportster 33.6 Voice Faxmodem Internal #1171 Sportster 33.6 Voice Faxmodem for Macintosh #1141 Sportster 33.6 Winmodem #1125 (upgradable to x2 regardless of purchase date) _____________________________________________________________________ Question: I heard something about a utility called Linetest. Where can I find this test and information about it? I want to test my line before I buy a x2 modem. Answer: Line Test is a utility U.S. Robotics has developed to test your line for x2 compatibility. Visit http://x2.usr.com/connectnow/linetest.html for instructions on how to perform a Line Test. There was a client utility that was shipping with early versions of the Sportster 56k Connections CD. Please use the new test as it is much more reliable. Note: We've taken great care to ensure that LineTest reports accurate results. However, due to the complexity of the diagnostics LineTest performs, we can't guarantee 100% accuracy. We'll improve and enhance LineTest as your feedback rolls in. _____________________________________________________________________ Question: How do I know if x2 is enabled in my modem? Answer: Open up a terminal software package and type ATI7 while in terminal mode. This command displays the modems Configuration Profile screen. In particular, you are interested in seeing if x2 is displayed on the Options line. _____________________________________________________________________ Question: I have an x2 modem and I'd like to know where I can connect at x2 speeds. Answer: We have released final code to our ISP partners, and they are actively testing and deploying. More than 50 ISPs now have x2 POPs on their networks, and we expect more to come online each day. More than 400 ISPs have already committed to supporting U.S. Robotics' x2. Check with our web site at www.usr.com/x2 for a regularly updated listing of available ISP's with x2 POPs in their networks. If you are an AOL member, then you can go to keyword "x2" for more information. Also, the USR BBS at 847-982-5092 supports x2 connections. _____________________________________________________________________ Question: I have an x2 modem which I am using to call into an ISP which supports x2, yet I'm not connecting at x2. Answer: Our research shows that the vast majority of telephone lines in North America support x2 connections. However, due to unusual telephone line configurations, some users will not be able to take advantage of this technology. It's important to remember that your line conditions may change, so you may be able to make x2 connections in the future. To make sure that you can achieve x2 speeds, please perform the following tests: (a) First, you want to make sure your modem supports x2. On the Sportster/Courier end, you can verify that your modem supports x2 by opening a terminal application (RapidComm, HyperTerminal, MacComCenter, ZTerm, etc.) and issuing an ATI7 to the modem. If the Options lines has x2 on it, then your modem supports x2. (b) Make sure that the number you're dialing into is an actual x2 server. Some ISPs may have a mixture of x2 and non-x2 servers. You can check this by contacting your ISP/Online Service and ask them about x2 availability. (c) If it is an x2 server, you may want to try calling it a few more times. Remember, the phone company routes each call in a different fashion. (d) If you've called into the x2 server multiple times, and never connect at x2, you may want to call a different x2 number. The USR BBS at 847-982-5092 has x2 servers attached to it. (e) If you connect at x2 on the USR BBS, there may be something between you and your ISP that is preventing an x2 connection from being negotiated. You may want to contact your ISP and see if they have received similar reports from other customers. (f) If you do make an x2 connection to our BBS, your line might not be capable of supporting x2. If that's the case, then see the next item in this list. (g) If you are experiencing consistent problems with x2 connections(i.e. not making an x2 connection, abrupt disconnections, etc.), you can do one of two things. First, you can take a look at the "x2 Requirements - Technical Details" section below and see if something in your line configuration will prevent x2. Or, you can call U.S. Robotics Technical Support(for Sportsters - 847-982-5151). Before you contact support, please dial into the U.S. Robotics BBS or another x2 server with a terminal program (RapidComm, HyperTerminal, MacComCenter, ZTerm, etc.), wait one minute then send +++ to the modem. When the modem says OK back, send ATI4I6I7I11Y11 then hit return or enter. Now type ATH and return/enter to hang up. Keep all this information available when you contact our support department. _____________________________________________________________________ Question: I make an x2 connection, but it's not at 56k. Why? Answer: FCC regulation prevents all devices attached to the telephone network from exceeding a certain power output. As a result, we had to scale back the output, which has a direct effect on the speed at which we can transfer data. Currently, we have the server modem limit set to 53333. This does not mean that people will not be able to hit the higher speeds, it just decreases the likelihood. Also, there are many factors which can influence the connection rate and the speed at which you transfer data. Even though one end of the connection is pure digital, there are things that can hamper an x2 connection, while not necessarily preventing it altogether. Essentially, the qualities of the phone line plays an essential role in the speed of the connection. _____________________________________________________________________ Question: x2 Requirements - Technical Details: Answer: x2 is a new technology that utilizes the telephone system in a way that has never been tried before. However, as a result, it has some requirements that were unnecessary in previous speed technologies. There are three primary requirements for x2 speeds to be achieved. They are: 1. Digital at one end. This end is where the x2 server lies. The digital line servicing the x2 server must be an ISDN PRI, ISDN BRI or a "trunk-side" T1. This item is taken care of by the ISP/Online Service. Simply asking your ISP/Online Service if they support x2 will be good enough to verify this requirement. 2. x2 support at both ends. In order to achieve x2 speeds, both ends of the connection must support x2. In other words, you must have an x2 modem(called an x2 client) on your end and your ISP/Online Service must have an x2 device on their end(called an x2 server). To check for x2 support on the server side, talk to your ISP/Online service about x2 availability. 3. One analog section. This is the section most relevant to you. In almost all residential homes, the phone line going into your modem or phone is analog. This does not mean that it is all analog to the CO(Central Office), which is a very important aspect. After determining your line is capable of x2 connections, there are other items which can hamper x2 connections, either by reducing the speed capable or reducing the number of times you actually achieve an x2 connection. some such things are: a. Load coils - these are primarily in long wire lengths to improve the quality of a voice call. they will not necessarily prevent x2, but they can reduce the speed of your x2 connects. b. Pads - these come in primarily two forms: digital and analog. Both types are used to balance the volume between different lines, so that the volume of the voice call is the same on both ends and within a reasonable range. With a digital pad, the digital data is manipulated to adjust the volume. There may be a reduction in x2 speeds with this, but it should not prevent x2 connections. With analog pads, the digital data is converted to analog where the volume is adjusted and then converted back to digital. This will prevent an x2 connection since there is more than one analog section in the path. c. Wiring in the home or in the phone companies area can also hinder x2 connections or speeds. If the lines are old and/or subject to a lot of interference, then that may reduce your x2 speeds. _____________________________________________________________________ Question: Where can I find more information on x2? Answer: The following x2 links are available on our web pages: http://x2.usr.com/technology/wp.html http://x2.usr.com/faq.html http://x2.usr.com