Hello Bill,

 BG> change your dialling string for those boards to ATS54=96DT.
 
 WE> Problem, that command is not accepted, and results with "error"?

 BG> Issue ATS$ whilst in terminal mode, and that will tell you almost all
 BG> you need to know about the higher S-registers.  I'm surprised that S54
 BG> returns ERROR though.  Perhaps the PnP internals are quite different
 BG> from earlier models. 
 WE> I notice in the manual, that s38 is the highest value??

I have previously checked out ATS$, and s38 is definately the highest value

 BG> The V.34 Sportster manuals are hopelessly out of date.
 
 WE> After another aborted handshake to Custom Built BBS, I looked at my ATI6
 WE> screen, and the  message for "disconnect reason" was,
"XID timeout"

 BG> ---------------------------------------------------------------
 BG> XID Timeout:  The modems failed to negotiate the V.42 Detection 
 BG> (XID Exchange) phase. 
 BG> ---------------------------------------------------------------

 BG> In that case, S27=48 (disable V.42 detect phase) should solve your
 BG> problem.  You'll still negotiate LAPM connects with those modems which
 BG> support it. 
Tried S27=48, (modem accepted as OK), but that made no difference, as Custom
B. BBs still drops out after about 12-18 secs of handshaking, (but Telix is
still counting down the rest of the 60secs, as set in Telix config.) On Sat.
night, it took about 12 aborted handshakes before making a firm connection.
I might add, that when the connection IS made, I have no further problems. 
 WE> I changed the default value of S28 register from 008 to 012, and that seems
 WE> to have given me access to Custom Built BBS?  Any comment on that change.

 BG> Can't see that helping with V.34 connects.  Have some quotes...

Yes, you are correct, it doesn't make any difference, I only thought it did,
as when I applied that change, I logged on a couple of times in succession
with no probs. After that however, the F-${at}## thing went bad again. I might 
add, that I am trying some of these things in desparation, with no real idea
of whether what I do will work or not. :(((((((!
My big problem is that CB BBS is the one I use for my genealogical research,
and is the only one I can't do without.
I sent a couple of fax's to USR in the US, but they were ignored. I also
tried thru Joe Frankiewicz, and I had no reply from him either. Seems like
USR are very poor at customer relations. 
I am now considering whether I should buy a local modem, and shove the bloody
Sportster in the bin. 
Once again, thanks for your help Bill,
Regards.............Warwick.

--- Blue Wave/386 v2.30