TECHNICAL BULLETIN #157 - Rev 1.00 (7/31/96) ============================================================================== TITLE : PROCOMM PLUS and RPI Modems PRODUCT : PROCOMM PLUS 3.x for Windows ============================================================================== This document discusses the RPI modem, provides some details as to its operation, and shows how to use it with PROCOMM PLUS 3.0 for Windows. WHAT DOES RPI STAND FOR? Most modems that support ECC (Error Correction and Data Compression) have a chip built-in that handles these functions. This additional piece of hardware adds considerably to the price of the modem but the price is considered worthwhile when considering the additional speed and reliability that the chip adds to communications. Rockwell Semiconductor Systems decided to make a modem chipset that did not need this extra chip to implement ECC. This is the RPI modem, a modem that uses an additional software layer (Rockwell Protocol Interface) to correct errors and compress data. HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE AN RPI MODEM? From the main PROCOMM PLUS (Terminal) screen, type ATI3. If the resultant message contains the string "Rockwell (TM) RPI Modem" then the modem has an RPI chipset. The word "Modem" may be followed by the string "+01". This indicates an RPI+ modem. For all practical purposes, there are two different types of RPI modems, regular RPI and RPI+. The regular RPI modems were designed to use a separate software application to achieve ECC. The communications software would talk to the RPI application, which would talk to the modem. The RPI software is called DAPI for DOS applications and WinDAPI for Windows applications. WinDAPI led to some interesting problems. In DOS, DAPI was the only software layer between a communications package and the modem. In Windows, there is already a software layer between a communications package and the modem; the Windows communications driver. Adding WinDAPI to the mix just increased the chances of data loss. This led Rockwell to develop RPI+. RPI+ still needs that additional software support to achieve ECC. Instead of using a separate software application, however, Rockwell developed a modified Windows communications driver, WRPI.DRV. Previously, anyone wanting to use ECC with an RPI modem had to buy a communications package that had DAPI or WinDAPI already built in to the software. With WRPI.DRV set as the communications driver, any Windows communications package can achieve ECC with an RPI+ modem. Rockwell's latest version of WRPI.DRV will even work with regular RPI for data communications. An RPI+ chipset is required if a user wants to send/receive faxes with WRPI.DRV HOW DO I KNOW IF MY MODEM WILL WORK WITH THE WINRPI.DRV? A complete listing of all ROM revisions used with all chipsets supporting RPI is not available. This table does show the chipsets and ROM revisions that have been tested with WinRPI: =========================================================== Device Firmware Hardware Software Needs Version ECC ECC WinRPI? ----------------------------------------------------------- RCx288ACF all Yes RPI+ - - - ----------------------------------------------------------- RCx288ACi 1.400 and above Yes RPI+ - - - ----------------------------------------------------------- RCx288ACi pre 1.400 Yes - - - - - - ----------------------------------------------------------- RCx288ACF all - - - RPI+ - - - ----------------------------------------------------------- RCx144ACi all Yes - - - - - - ----------------------------------------------------------- RCx144ACF 2.400 and above Yes RPI+ - - - ----------------------------------------------------------- RCx144ATF 2.400 and above - - - RPI+ Yes ----------------------------------------------------------- RCx144AxF 2.200 ? (some do)RPI+ Probably ----------------------------------------------------------- RCx144ATF 1.xxx - - - RPI Yes ----------------------------------------------------------- RCx144ATi 1.xxx - - - RPI Yes ----------------------------------------------------------- RCx224ATx all - - - RPI Yes =========================================================== The Device column lists the specific Rockwell chipset, the firmware version is the ROM revision for that chipset. Hardware ECC means that this is not a true RPI chipset, this chipset will work with the WinRPI driver, but does not need it for ECC. HOW DO I SETUP MY ROCKWELL MODEM WITH PROCOMM PLUS? To set up your Rockwell modem with PROCOMM PLUS 3.0, do the following: 1. Locate the latest version of WINRPI.DRV. The driver is usually supplied by your modem manufacturer and is typically included with the software shipped with a RPI modem. Once you have this updated driver (it can be found as WRPI_226.EXE in the utilities Library of our BBS), copy the driver into your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM (or \WIN95\SYSTEM) directory. 2. Use a text editor (such as Notepad) to edit the [boot] section of the SYSTEM.INI. Locate the line that contains: COMM.DRV=COMM.DRV.Change this line to read COMM.DRV=WRPI.DRV. 3. Save the SYSTEM.INI and restart Windows. 4. Edit the modem's initialization string. From the main Terminal screen of PROCOMM PLUS 3.0, click Setup, Data, Data Connection, and General. Erase the current Initialization string, and enter AT&C1&D2+H3S95=3^M. Click OK, and the RPI setup is complete. For more information about the RPI modem, please reference the Rockwell RPI FAQ on the World Wide Web, at the URL: http://www.nb.rockwell.com/mcd/bman/rpi_faq.html. ========================================================================== To ensure that you have the latest version of this document, compare its revision number to that of the same document on any of our support sites. This technical bulletin may be copied and distributed freely as long as it is distributed in its entirety and it is not distributed for profit. Copyright (c) 1996 Quarterdeck All rights reserved. ==========================================================================