Windows 2000 & HSF Soft56k WinModem
 
Conexant HSF 56K Conexant/Rockwell SoftK56 (formerly Rockwell)
 
CHIPSET: RS56/SP-PCI
 
A software Windows-only Dual-Mode chipset that supports both V.90 and
 
K56Flex.
The original Windows modem driver-name was "Rockwell SoftK56
 
Data,Fax,Speakerphone PCI Modem" & by v2.05 had become "Conexant SoftK56
 
Data,Fax,Speakerphone PCI Modem" .
 
Drivers seem to be interchangeable between suppliers [use at own risk].
 
This modem has caused much grief to many owners. It has the least number of
 
chips on-board of all the Conexant modems, therefore the lowest cost & also
 
the greatest number of modem functions implemented in software.
 
The host computer's cpu needs enough horsepower to get the job done. It has
 
been reported to run fine on a 450 MHz cpu but not on a 233 MHz cpu
 
You already may have a version of the driver installed, you can check this by
 
going to your modems diagnostics in Windows. It will report the version No in
 
the ATi3 response like the following;
 
SoftK56V_B2.1_V2.11.06
SoftK56V_B2.1_V2.11.03
SoftK56V_B2.1_V2.09.03
SoftK56V_B2.1_V2.08.02
SoftK56V_B2.1_V2.07.01
SoftK56V_B2.1_V2.05
SoftK56V_B2.1_V2.02
SoftK56V_B2.1_V1.44
SoftK56V_B2.1_V1.42
SoftK56V_B2.1_V1.33
 
for companies that use this chipset go to;
http://www.modem-help.freeserve.co.uk/moddrivers.html#hsf
 
Try the Zoltrix Windows 2000 beta Driver first. http://www.zoltrix.com/modem/fmsft56i-drivers.htm
 
If that doesnt work, then download the appropritate NT Driver for your card.
If you cannot find the driver for your card (No name card) try a few
 
different ones. (See Troubleshooting at end of this article)
 
INSTALLATION for NT Driver;
 
Windows 2000 will detect the modem as a "PCI Simple Communications Device" or
 
similiar. It will try to install it on bootup.
Cancel this (Unless you have the actual Windows 2000 driver)
 
Make sure you remove all other previous installs for the HSF Modem.
You can do this by - Control Panel - Add/Remove Hardware -
follow all the prompts for unistalling the device and so on.
 
Now you must unistall the software for it as well
You can do this by - Control Panel - Add/Remove Programs
find either "Rockwell" or
"Conexant SoftK56 Data,Fax,Speakerphone PCI Modem"
and uninstall the software.
 
Now you must reboot your computer.
 
Again Windows 2000 will attempt to install "PCI Simple Communications Device"
 
or similiar. Cancel this.
 
Run the setup.exe file and follow the prompts.
It may ask you for your Windows 95/98 disk.
It is looking for a file called "Amos.vxd"
 
If all is well the setup will finish and you will have to reboot your
 
computer.
 
Your HSF56k should now be operational.
 
SUGGESTED SETTINGS FOR INTERNET CONNECTION
 
Select 56k instead of 115
 
Enable Hardware Flow Control
Enable Error Correction
Enable Modem Compression
 
Under PPP Win95/98 NT4/2000 Internet - Settings
Uncheck Enable LCP Extensions
CHECK Enable Software Compression
Uncheck Negotiate Multilink for Single Link Connections
 
If you are experiencing connection problems
Extra Settings - Extra Initialisation Commands
add this: AT&F&C1&D2
 
TROUBLESHOOTING
 
PROBLEM: You try dialing and Modem does not respond or Port Not Open
ACTION: Try another driver to this one. NT driver Only, not 95/98
(I tried a few and found only a few would open the port correctly)
(There are at least a dozen companies who use this chipset)
try; http://www.modem-help.freeserve.co.uk/moddrivers.html#hsf
 
PROBLEM: Modem opens port and you hear the dial tone, but reports no Dial
 
Tone and fails to continue
ACTION: Disable "Wait For Dial Tone" in Control Panel - Phone & Modem
 
Options - Select "Conexant SoftK56 Data,Fax,Speakerphone PCI Modem" and click
 
on properties. Under the General Tab uncheck "Wait For Dial Tone"
 
 
PROBLEM: Windows 2000 continues to try installing "PCI Simple Communications
 
Device" or similiar
ACTION: Control Panel - System - Hardware - Device Manager - find PCI Simple
 
Communications Controller - right click and disable.
CAUTION: Disabling this may stop the port from opening.