I tried to "Flash" my ext. US Robotrics Sportster 56K X2 modem to v.90 I broke it!
Greetings Tech-Sperts! :)
I broke my US Robotics external Sportster modem!
I have a 56K US Robotics Sportster external modem, model 00178600. It was v.34+ & X2. It was NOT v.90. US Robotics used to have a Modem Upgrade Wizard (MUW) that would let you flash modems of this type to v.90 using the appropriate *.DMF file for the modem. US Robotics no longer makes this available so I found the Sportster Modem Flasher page, downloaded the “Flasher” file & the appropriate “*.SMF” file. Then I installed the Modem Flasher program & ran it. It prompted me to point to the location of the “SMF” file which I did. It then said “Transfer failed”, “modem is not respond! Firmware corrupted? Flash again?” (The author of this program is Russian & his English isn’t the best)
According to the FAQ on his site, you can flash it back to the original using the v.34 or X2 firmware. I tried this to no avail. His FAQ also says that his program is better than USR’s because it "doesn’t process the replacement of the Boot-block, which potentially is dangerous."
Windows no longer sees the modem. When I tell Windows to search for a new modem, the lights flash on the front of the modem, indicating activity, but Windows does not detect it. It did before the flash of course.
Does anyone know of a way to re-flash this modem to original factory specs.?
Also, if anyone has the correct DMF file for this modem, that would be helpful. I have the Modem Upgrade Wizard. unfortunately, it doesn't "see" the modem either, so I guess the file might not help much.
Dave
Crikey ! A computing pun !
He-he-he ... UART (say it) right :D
The 'bit' that does the sending & receiving is a UART - universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter, they need to be 'fast enough' to handle any increase in the data rate dictated by the modems firmware (the bit you flash), odds are a 33.6 modem don't have the right bits ....