From: baustin@billapc.UUCP (Bill Austin)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: OS/2 2.0 and modem use
Keywords: Does not work
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 06:27:27 EDT
Organization: Ground Zero Group, Columbus, OH 43227

rene@hardy.u.washington.edu (Rene Magritte) writes:

>       I am still unable to background transfer with OS/2 2.0.  I am
> running a 486/33 with 8 megs of memory, a soundblaster configured on
> interrupt 2, an IDE drive and adapter, a microsoft serial mouse, and a
> Boca Research 14.4k modem (has a 16450 :(  ).   I know that a 16550 is

For starters, use an OS/2 terminal program like TE/2.  DOS programs eat
processor for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.. with snacks at all hours
between.  Though your machine should have a little 'left over'.  (I use
a 386-dx 40 btw)

Second, if your using the Boca internal.. it doesn't have a 16450.. it
has a Rockwell datapump which EMULATES the uart with its own firmware.
Obviously not to rub too much salt in the wound.. this is why I didn't
buy the internal version.. emulating a $9 (16450) chip, worse.. NOT
emulating the $14 (16550) chip, or better just having a socketed uart
that could be replaced is in very simple terms.. dumb..  So what if the
card had been a LITTLE bigger, used a LITTLE more power, or whatever
their design decision had been based on to EMULATE the uart rather than
use a real uart when they (Rockwell) designed the chipset.

Now.. if your still with me.. I didn't say you (or anyone else) was
dumb for buying the Boca (or other Rockwell based internals) internal..
Rockwell was the dumb party.. you just bought an internal for whatever
reason.. As much as this advise is likely NOT welcome.. (however, with
the fact that their is ONLY ONE fix for your problem of no 16550..)
Find someone to buy your internal.. go buy the external Boca and use a
16550.
I myself looked into (in fact borrowed the Boca internal from a friend
that was going on vacation and not using it) the Boca internal.. its
lack of upgradable uart was THE reason not to buy it.  I also prefer
status lights.. but which could I get along without.. status lights or
reliable function under a multitasker.. (DV or OS/2)
However, the lacking 16550 is really less than half of your overall
problem.  I HAVE used 16450's with the Boca with little trouble (in
stock DOS, or a non-loaded down OS/2 w te/2)

Your main problem is the combination of no-16550 and a dos terminal
program.  (FWIW.. I use Qmodem in dos and in VDM's on occasion.. But
thats of no value in this matter.. Commo is a heck of a terminal
program as well..)

Additional hint (which could make up for some of your trouble).  ALWAYS
(this goes for OS/2 terminal programs as well it seems) use them in a
full screen session.  That way the terminal program can do more work at
getting work done than work making itself pretty on the WPS.

> at 100.   I have tried TE/2.  Both appear to work fine, and will
> download OK if I don't leave their full screen sessions.  However, any

How are you leaving the full screen?  Alt-Esc or ??? I bounce out of
TE/2 or Qmodem via Alt-Esc

> attempt to do something else will result in an aborted/trashed
> transfer -- I notice it when I return.  Anybody got any clue to this

Asside from the above..  I have my upload and download directories (dos
and os/2 based terms) set for my second HD.  I also have 8M and have an
average sized 4M swap file.  How robust is your swap file?  Perhaps you
are doing something brutal enough that a higher priority task is
hogging the HD for its own File I/O or OS/2 is hogging the drive for
swap file maint.  (this is one reason I transfer from/to a different
drive than swappath...  I don't have that problem of swapper hogging
access, but I don't want to be 'pleasantly surprised' either)
Caching (Lazy Write) might cure this you have only one (Physical unit)
drive.

This was true in DOS.. I'm unsure if this is still true with OS/2 (esp
with Virtual everything for VDM's..) but you should (esp with an
emulated uart!) have a high speed modem on Com2.  IRQ2 is serviced
before IRQ3 (Com1)

I remember a reference to 'direct com ports' somewhere.  You might want
to search  your .inf's and the various os2 newsgroups and see if you
can get directly to the hardware to remove a layer of code from your
commo use of the port.
This was mentioned right around the same time as the (current) Service
Pak was released.. it might be something that I didn't see (in GA) when
I installed my dos based programs.  If you don't have it, the SP is
mostly worth it for the 32-bit GRE even if you have no problems.  Esp
if you run ET-4000 based SVGA cards.

> one?  The mouse and modem use work fine otherwise; I don't suspect a
> conflict ( maybe I should?).  This is the only remaining problem I am
> having with OS/2.

Your lucky. I still have a few leftover problems.  (lacking drivers for
my Diamond Speedstar 24x with its Western Digital chipset for example..
The card is a blaze in Windows, and even dos.. OS.. sigh...)
The mouse was one of the first (and easiest) problems I had.  I had a
frozen mouse problem which I fixed the next day..  as far as it being
any part of your downloading.. not unless you have mixed up IRQ's with
your modem and your mouse.  (not likely.. Do you have a com3 and com4
set up and in use?)

>       And does anyone know if the Boca can be upgraded to a 16550?

I can't say it strongly enough.. even though you likely don't want to
hear it.  Get rid of the internal.. There is still a market for it in
good condition and don't yet know about its non-upgradable uart..
There is no other way to get out from under its emulated non-uart 16450
limitations.
Any soul that can afford $300 (yeah.. the external is a bit more
because of the case and power supply.. but they do throw in a real nice
9->25 adapter and a good quality serial cable) for a modem can afford
the deskspace to have it external.  Besides.. can you buy an extra slot
for that kind of money?  (Maybe you don't need 'every' slot.. I usually
fight for every free slot eventually)

On a different note.. Have you found a cure (replacement) for Weak Link
II (QLII bundled).. I don't mind it being dos based (prefer it
actually) but I do mind its limits.  Have you had any luck with ANY fax
program under OS/2?  (VDM, OS/2, Win-OS2?)  I just purchased WinFax Pro
3.0 (from chipsoft via special TurboTax offer) and am hoping that it
might work better than QLII.  Heh.. $29 isn't much to loose for
something that might have cost alot more and actually works better)

Good Luck, and sorry if I steped on toes about internal vs external
bocas.. but short of going to an OS/2 based terminal program (te/2..
which is costly (IMO) at $60+) and taking a few other precations as
above.. you are not going to see much improvement.. unless of course
there is a problem that is effecting your particular machine in your
installation that isn't effecting mine.  If my 386-40 8M can background
transfer (in fact.. while playing falcon 3.01 in a dos full screen)..
then your 486-33 certainly should be able to.
baustin