tos@psc90.UUCP (Tom Schlesinger) (11/05/89)
Perhaps someone can puzzle out my problem with com ports. The machine is an IBM PS2/30-286, i.e. the "late model or afterthought AT." I've been using the Procomm pkge, and for all but one function quite successfully. The function is the HOST MODE, by which I can reach the machine from the office (it's at home). I can only get the HOST MODE to work at 300 baud. When I try 1200, I carefully set the line speed both on the machine here at home, and then on the terminal at the office to 1200, with requisite bits,parity, checkbit. The modem connects quite normally, but the clue that there is a speed problem, is that when the modem from home connects, it does not respond with a CONNECT 1200, but only with a plain CONNECT, even when I've set things up for 1200! Someone from the campus told me to check the ports. I ran ISCOM to ask my machine what ports it's using, and it's "com1" and the others are supposedly not used. On his instructions, I've used the MODE command to adjust the speed on that port, in case Procomm is not doing that... it made no difference. Now here is the weird catch: On the line settings in Procomm, I'm set up as if I were using Port2, i.e. Com2. That's always been the case... it's the only way I've ever gotten it to work. When I change it to Com1, I can't even reach my own modem!. And, I've also tried switching ports in the back of the modem, by plugging the phone line in the other female plu and changing the slidw switch to the other position. Then too, nothing works, i.e. I can't even reach the line that way or properly contact the modem. What's the hidden catch here? How do "ports" work, anyhow? I'll appreciate any clues or assistance whatever.