Instructions for Upgrading Your Courier V.Everything to x2



Upgrading your Courier modem (analog) to operate at x2 speeds is a three step

process:



Step 1:                Verify that your modem hardware configuration will support x2

Step 2:                Upgrade your system firmware

Step 3:                Enable the x2 feature key



Each of these steps is described in more detail below.



Step 1:        What Options Are Available to Me if I'm Among the Few That Needs a

Hardware Upgrade to Utilize x2?



For most Courier owners, upgrading to x2 will be a two step process.  First,

firmware supporting x2 must be downloaded to the modem.  Second, you dial a

BBS to configure the x2 security feature and enable speeds of up to 56kbps. 

No hardware upgrade is required.



For some older Courier models, a hardware upgrade or exchange may be required.



If you have a Courier V.34 modem you will not need any type of hardware

upgrade.  Your modem can be upgrade to x2 with the firmware flash and key

enable only.  If you have previously upgraded your daughterboard to V.34,

you also will be able to upgrade your modem with a firmware flash and key

enable.



If you are not sure if your modem is V.34, you can check the clock frequency.

An easy way to do this is to use the ATI7 command to display the configuration

profile screen.  In particular, your are interested in seeing what is

displayed on the Clock Freq line.  



If the Clock Freq = 25Mhz then the modem is 25Mhz, and is flashable.



If the Clock Freq = 20.16Mhz and "options" DOES include VFC, then
the modem 

is 20Mhz, and is flashable.



If the Clock Freq = 20.16Mhz, but "options" DOES NOT include VFC,
then the 

modem is a V32terbo and therefore requires a daughterboard upgrade.



If the Clock Freq < 20.16Mhz, the modem is not flashable and will require

a Trade-Out.



How Do I Obtain a Hardware Upgrade If I Need One?



If Your Modem Requires a Trade-Out:



The following Trade-Outs are available:



        Option        Price        

Trade-Out        Trade-Out for a new Courier V.Everything 56k (Internal,

External, or MAC)        $199.00        



Trade-Out**        Trade-Out for a new Courier V.Everything 56k (Internal,

External, or MAC)        $99.00        



Orders can be placed at the BBS "Trade-in Door" at 847-982-5092 (the BBS

can be accessed 24 hours per day) or by calling 1-800-231-8770 (Monday

through Friday,  7:00 AM to 8:00 PM CST  USA).   Select Option #3 (additional

options) then Option #5 (order hardware upgrades).



Orders can be billed to a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express).

  After receipt of an order, U.S. Robotics Customer Network Services will mail

a detailed letter with the description of the process for the order to you. 



IMPORTANT:  You should not mail in any modems to U.S. Robotics until after

they receive the instruction letter.



Note:  Requests for trade-in outside the U.S. and Canada must be referred to

the local U.S. Robotics office.



If Your Modem Requires a Daughterboard Upgrade:



Daughterboard        Price        

Daughterboard Upgrade Kit        $99.00        



Orders can be placed by calling 1-800-231-8770 (Monday through Friday,  7:00

AM to 8:00 PM CST  USA). Select Option #3 (additional options) then Option #5

(order hardware upgrades).



Orders can be billed to a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express).

After placing an order, you will receive a daughterboard upgrade kit in the

mail.



Note:  Requests for daughterboard upgrades outside the U.S. and Canada must

be referred to the local U.S. Robotics office.



IMPORTANT:  After obtaining your daughterboard and installing it in your

Courier modem, you will need to update the firmware on your modem and

configure the x2 security feature to complete the upgrade to x2.  



What If I Registered With U.S. Robotics for a Free Upgrade to x2, and My

Modem Requires a Hardware Upgrade?



Products registered with U.S. Robotics prior to February 28, 1997 are eligible

for a free x2 upgrade.  The vehicle for registration is the Courier x2 Upgrade

registration page on the web (the address for this site is

http://totalservice.usr.com/x2/.



The free x2 upgrade covers the firmware update and configuring the x2 security

feature.  If the modem requires either a trade-in or a daughterboard upgrade,

this must be purchased even if the owner registered for a free x2 upgrade.  



Step 2:        How Do I Upgrade the Firmware in My Modem to the Version
that Supports

x2?



The quickest and easiest way to access the Courier x2 firmware is from our

TOTALservice Online web site, at http://totalservice.usr.com.  If you have

not yet registered at the site, please take a moment to complete the user

registration screen.  If you prefer, you can also enter the site as a guest.

After registering, following the instructions on the main display to guide you

to the location of the Courier x2 firmware files.



If you prefer, you can also download Courier x2 firmware from the U.S.

Robotics Bulletin Board System (BBS).   The BBS telephone number for this

purpose is 847-982-5092.  If you are unfamiliar with using a BBS, we recommend

that you use any one of the commercially available communications software

packages that support Z-Modem.  Some Courier modems shipped with

communications software packages (such as "QuickLinkO" or
"RapidComO") which

could be used for this purpose.  You will also require a modem and an analog

line.



Following are step-by-step instructions for downloading code from the BBS.



1.Dial the BBS.

2.You will be prompted with the question "DO YOU WANT GRAPHICS?".
 Type "Y"

for Yes, or "N" for No, and hit enter.

3.You will be asked to enter your first name.  Type "X2 COURIER" and hit

 enter.

4.You will be asked what type of Courier modem you have.  Options include

 V.Everything, External I-Modem, or Internal I-Modem.

5.If you have a V.Everything modem, you will also be asked about the clock

 frequency of your V.Everything modem. 

6.Based on your responses to the questions, the system will start to send the

 appropriate file to your PC, using Zmodem as the transfer protocol.  

7.After the transfer is complete, the BBS will terminate the connection.

8.When the BBS connection is terminated, you will find the file that the BBS

 downloaded to you on your computer.  The file will be located in whatever

 drive/directory that you specified in setting up your communications package.

 The file will be a self-extracting zip file with a ".exe" file extension.

 Simply double-click on the file to extract it.  Once the files are extracted,

 you are ready to proceed with the installation.   



The files you download from the TOTALservice Online website or BBS will be a

self-extracting zip file.  One of the resulting files when you complete the

extraction will be an executable file (file ending with .exe).   Launch this

executable file to begin installing the new firmware on your Courier modem. 

Release notes are also zipped with the file that you download.



Step 3:        How Do I Configure the x2 Enable Key?



You will need your x2 enable password to complete the upgrade using the BBS.

If you registered for a free x2 upgrade prior to February 28, 1997, the x2

enable password will be sent to you via electronic mail.  If you did not

receive your enable password via e-mail, you can call 888-USR-XTWO

(888-877-9896) to obtain your enable password.  If you purchased x2 after

February 28, 1997 by calling 888-USR-XTWO (888-877-9896), you will be given

your x2 enable password over the telephone.  



To enable the x2 security feature, call the BBS at 888-877-9249.



Please use the login "X2 UPGRADE" when accessing the BBS to
enable to x2 security feature.  This will automatically send you to the x2
registration application.  You will be prompted to enter you x2 Enable Key.



After successfully completing these steps, you will need to reset your
modem by turning it off, waiting a few seconds, then turning the modem on
again.



If you have difficulties using the TOTALservice Online web site or BBS, you

can contact our technical support hotline at 800-231-8770 for assistance.



How Do I Obtain an x2 Enable Key?



Customer who register for a free upgrade will be contacted via e-mail

with information on how to implement the x2 upgrade, including their x2

enable key.  Questions regarding your registration can be directed to

888-USR-XTWO.  Questions regarding a corporate registration can be directed

to 800-231-8770 (option #5, x2 support).

                        

After February 28, customers can obtain an x2 upgrade enable key by calling1

888-USR-XTWO.

If you have a Courier analog modem, the key will cost $60.00, and can be

billed to a credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express).   



After February 28, 1997, U.S. Robotics can also process requests for upgrades

to large quantities of modems for a single customer.  Customers interested in

a bulk upgrade can fax their request to the x2 Program Administrator at

847-342-6744, or can call 800-231-8770 (select option #5, x2 support).



Frequently Asked Questions



How Do I Know if x2 is Enabled in My Modem?



Note:  After updating the firmware in your modem and configuring the x2

security feature, you must reset your modem.  To reset your modem, turn it

off, wait a few seconds, then turn the modem back on again.



After resetting, an easy way to verify that x2 is enabled in your Courier

modem is to use the ATI7 command to display the "U.S. Robotics Courier

V.Everything Configuration Profile" screen.  In particular, your are

interested in seeing if x2 is displayed on the Options line.  



If you encounter problems with your Courier modem, please contact our

technical support hotline at 800-231-8770 for assistance.



I downloaded the x2 firmware to my modem, but I cannot establish an x2

connection.  What might be wrong?



Upgrading an existing modem to x2 is a two step process.  Downloading new

firmware to your modem is the first step.  The second step is configuring

the x2 security feature.  



Also, did you reset your modem?  After completing the firmware upgrade and

configuring the security feature for x2, you need to reset your modem by

turning it off, waiting a few seconds, then turning it on again.



I don't know if my Courier modem has had a daughterboard upgrade or not. 

How can I determine this?



If you are able to establish a modem connection at 28.8 kbps, your modem

has had a daughterboard upgrade.  This is the easiest way to tell if your

modem has had a daughterboard upgrade.



You can also check the clock frequency.  An easy way to do this is to use the

ATI7 command to display the configuration profile screen.  In particular,

your are interested in seeing what is displayed on the Clock Freq line. 

If your Clock Freq is greater than or equal to 20 Mhz, your modem will not

require a daughterboard upgrade to support x2.



I have installed and enabled x2, powered the modem on and off, and still seem

to be connecting at v.34 speeds.  What troubleshooting techniques are

available to help me determine why this is the case?



A helpful troubleshooting approach is to use the ATI11 command to view the

"U.S. Robotics Courier V.Everything Link Diagnostics" screen.  In
particular,

you are looking for the information displayed in the x2 status field.  In this

field, if x2 failed, you will be able to read a message explaining why.

Potential messages and your meaning are listed below:



Unspecified negotiation failure

This means that all indications were that we could do x2, but we actually

 couldn't (probably best not to mention this one).

x2 disabled on local modem

This means that the user has set the s-register disabling x2 on the Courier
V.Everything.

3200 baud disabled on local modem

This means that the user has set the s-register disabling 3200 symbol rate
on the Courier V.Everything.

Remote modem is not x2        

This means that the modem that the user is calling (or is answering from) is

not an x2 modem

Multiple CODECs in channel

This means that there are multiple Analog to Digital conversions in the

network and x2 does not work in this situation.

Remote modem is not a Server

This means that the user has called another x2 client modem.

Channel will not support 3200 baud

This means that the channel is not capable of supporting 3200 symbol rate.

This is a requirement for x2.

Channel is x2-capable but feature not installed

This means that the user is calling an x2 server and the line is good, but

the user did not install the x2 feature (i.e. I7 will not show x2 under

Options.)



This is a powerful debugging tool which should help you determine why you were

not able to establish an x2 connection. If you need assistance troubleshooting

you can contact our technical support hotline at 800-231-8770.



How do I know if my Courier V.Everything modem is a 20Mhz or 25Mhz model?



An easy way to determine if your Courier V.Everything modem is a 20Mhz or a

25Mhz model is to use the ATI7 command to display the configuration profile

screen.  In particular, your are interested in seeing what is displayed on

the Clock Freq line.  



If the Clock Freq = 25Mhz then the modem is 25Mhz, and is flashable.



If the Clock Freq = 20.16Mhz and "options" DOES include VFC, then
the modem

is 20Mhz, and is flashable.



If the Clock Freq = 20.16Mhz, but "options" DOES NOT include VFC, then the

modem is a V32terbo and therefore requires a daughterboard upgrade.



If the Clock Freq < 20.16Mhz, the modem is not flashable and will require a

Trade-Out.



I Have an Internal Modem, But I Don't Know if it is a Sportster or a Courier.

How Can I Tell?



Look at the back of your PC, at the slot where the modem is installed. 

In some cases, the modem brand name will be printed on the back of the modem,

so that it can be read from the back of the PC.



If the name is not printed on the back of the modem, execute any of the ATI

commands (such as ATI7).  The brand name of the modem should be displayed at

the top of the screen that prints out when you execute this command.



Russell

--- Terminate 4.00/Pro