From: seasley@ncr-mpd.FtCollins.NCR.COM (Steve Easley)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ncr
Subject: Re: NCR Voice Management System
Keywords: NCR, VMS
Date: 7 Oct 92 14:00:50 GMT
Reply-To: seasley@ncr-mpd.FtCollins.NCR.COM (Steve Easley)
Distribution: usa
Organization: NCR Microelectronic Products Division

In article <1992Oct5.165540.15201@ecsvax.uncecs.edu> dgm@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (Debby Morley) writes:
>I am having difficulty getting the 1200b modem that came with my NCR Voice
>Management System to work with communication protocols other than the PC Talk
>that it came with.  It seems that the VMODEM.COM command isn't doing what it
>should.  Any ideas as to what the problem might be or where I can get support
>for this product would be appreciated.

I've owned and used an NCR VM/1 board since 1989.  I'll try to
help you with your problem.

Microsoft Windows
-----------------
My NCR Voice Management system has worked with the TERMINAL
program in the Accessories group of:

     Microsoft Windows, version 3.0
     Microsoft Windows, version 3.1

You need to set the Settings for 1200 baud and the proper number
of data bits, stop bits and parity (for example, 8 data bits, no
parity, 1 stop bit as is common with many BBS systems).

          (Hint:  Once you find the settings that work,
          if you save the settings as TERMINAL.TRM, it
          will be the default file of settings used
          when you launch TERMINAL.)



Informix SMARTWare
------------------
My NCR VM/1 also worked with the communications application
within an older integrated software package, SMARTWare.  I used
it for many years with:

     SMARTWare version 3.10
     SMARTWare II version 1.02
     SMARTWare II version 1.5


What could the problem be?
--------------------------
There are several possibilities.  I don't pretend to know them
all.  Here are three that have bitten me:

1.The VM/1 board has a jumper to select COM1 or COM2 serial
  ports.  Whichever you use, it cannot conflict with another
  serial device, like a mouse trying to use the same COM port.

2.Your AUTOEXEC.BAT file needs to load a TSR program.  Your
  AUTOEXEC.BAT should have a line that reads something like one
  of these, depending on your version of DOS:

     vmodem /s                for earlier DOS versions
     loadhigh vmodem /s       for DOS 5.0; loads into high memory

3.My VM/1 quit working after lightning struck a tree next door!
  The modem still works, but the phone answering function
  doesn't.  Wanting to fix it or replace it, I found the name of
  the original manufacturer on the board.  BTW, it's called a
  WATSON II board by its developer.  (NCR sold it under their
  own name as the VM/1.)  The developers' contact information
  is:

     Natural MicroSystems Corporation
     8 Erie Drive
     Natick, MA 01780-1339
     (508) 650-1300
     (508) 650-1352  fax

When I called last month, they told me the following:

     They will repair my hardware for a flat $75 fee.
     
     They will take my board and software as trade-in with $200
     for a new WATSON board with 2400 baud modem.
     
     The NCR product is old, and these offers may not last long.
     
Good luck!
-- 
Steve Easley, NCR MPD Colorado Springs, MCM Engineering      (719) 578-3430
Steve.Easley@ColoSpgs.NCR.COM   Fax (719) 473-0020   NCR VoicePLUS 465-3430
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ncr