There are three stages to configuring the SafeDial+ for use with the Multitech MTA128ST TA - configuring the Multitech, configuring the SafePort and configuring the SafeDial+.

Configuring the Multitech MTA128ST

In order to get the Multitech MTA128ST to work with the SafeDial+ there is a certain amount of configuration that needs to be done to the TA. To do this connect to the TA using the RS232 cable supplied. Attach the DB25 way to the back of the TA and attach the DB9 way to a free COM port on your PC (COM2 is used in this example).

Connect to the COM port which your TA is connected to using HyperTerminal with the following settings:

Type AT a few times to make sure that you are connected. The LS (power) and TR (Terminal Ready) LEDs should be lit on the TA.

Cut and paste the following string into the terminal window:

at&f7s0=0s52=0s59=0!z=8%e5&w0z

and hit enter. You should get an OK back after a few seconds:

Click on picture thumbnail to view diagram

This string is a concatenated list of commands - you do not need to know their meaning but here they are for reference:

at&f7 = Reset the unit to default configuration.
ats0=0 = Turn off auto answer
ats52=0 = Turn off auto protocol detect
ats59=0 = Turn off dynamic bandwidth allocation
at!z=8 = Use the Softbond protocol
at%e5 = Use +++ escape sequence
at&w0 = Save the config to NVRAM and boot from this profile
atz = Soft reset

There is also a menu driven configuration option which can be entered with the command at@config. This can be useful for checking that the parameters have been installed correctly.

This completes the configuration of the TA. The next section deals with configuring the SafePort.

Configuring the SafePort

When using SafePort in this configuration it is important that the SafePort speed it set correctly. In order to check this connect a DB9 male to female serial cable from a free COM port on your PC to the serial port on the back of the SafePort. Connect via HyperTerminal with the following settings:

The SafePort has a limited to set of commands - you can either check the settings or set them to specific values. To check the settings use the command *?. To set them use the command *s <baud rate>, <parity_selection>, <word_length>, <stop_bits>. For example the command *s 115200,n,8,1 sets 115200 baud, no parity, 8 bit words and 1 stop bit. See the SafePort manual for more information.

The only setting we need to check here is that the speed is set to 115200bps. Below is an example of the *? command used to check the settings. Note the firmware version 4.4 - older versions of firmware (3.1 etc.) do not support the higher speeds.

Click on picture thumbnail to view diagram

Configuring the SafeDial+

Take the DB25 to DB9 connector from the TA and connect it to the DB9 male connector on the black cable supplied with the SafeDial+. This cable has a DB9 male connector at one end and a 15 way FCI connector at the other end and is used for interfacing with communication devices other than the Thales modem. Connect the 15 way connector to the SafeDial+.

Insert the SafeDial+ into the SafePort, disconnect your HyperTerminal session and create a new session on the same COM port with the following settings:

You should be able to send at commands to the SafeDial+. Send the commands

at$sz=z
at$zz
and
at$sb=115200

If you want to check the values assigned you can do so with the commands at$sz? and at$sb?

The purpose of doing this is that when the SafeDial+ initialises under Windows it sends the command atf0 to the attached communications device - this means "reset to factory default configuration". The at$sz=z command tells the attached device to undergo a soft reset which means the TA will then boot from its saved profile therefore recovering all the previously applied settings. The at$sb=115200 set the baud rate of the DTE interface to 115200bps.

It is very important that these options are set on the SafeDial+ - without them the ISDN connection will not work. Remember also that if you ever replace your SafeDial+s and/or Multitech TAs then this configuration procedure will need to be repeated on the new equipment.

This completes the configuration of the SafeDial+ and the SafeDial+ can now be used to make a call using Dial Up Networking. Some points to note here;

• You make a call using either one or two ISDN channels (64 or 128 kbps). To do this under Dial Up Networking you dial either one or two numbers (see below). Depending on the configuration of your ISDN network this may be the same number twice or two different numbers. When dialling two numbers they are joined together by the & symbol.

• Also remember that you need to set the SafeDial+ port speed to 115200bps under Windows:
  

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