Sierra Wireless DART 300 User Manual

Page of 137
Feature Reference 
 
DART 300 Modem 
 
Page 26 
 
2110212 Rev 1.0 
Modem to Host Flow 
The local host controls the RTS signal.  When asserted, it indicates to the modem that it is 
permitted to send data to the host on the Rx line.  This includes both command state and data state 
material.  When RTS is de-asserted, the modem will hold all data, command responses, and 
replies. 
4.4.2.2. 
DTR Flow Control 
There is an additional flow control applied using the DTR signal.  When DTR is de-asserted, the 
modem will hold data state traffic but will continue to allow both send and receive in command 
state (based on RTS/CTS). 
Any incoming packets received while DTR is off are held in the modem buffers until a packet 
arrives at a time when DTR is on.  At that point, all buffered packets are forwarded to the host. 
4.4.3. Control 
Signals 
Control signals are useful but not all of them are required in all installations.  The modem does 
require that RTS and DTR be asserted for data flow to be enabled.  This can be forced (as noted 
above) if the local host device cannot drive them in a meaningful way.  Ring Indicator (RI) and 
Data Carrier Detect (DCD) are controlled by the modem and are optional for the local host to 
make use of. 
4.4.3.1. 
Data Terminal Ready (DTR) 
DTR is used in two ways.  The first is part of flow control; the second is to escape data state. 
Flow Control 
When in data state, the modem treats the DTR signal as a permission to pass received data to the 
local host.  If DTR is off, the modem will hold received data in internal buffers until DTR is 
asserted.  DTR has no effect on the transmission of data.  This is a one-way flow control, on 
received data only, while in data state only. 
If the modem is in command state, DTR has no impact on responses and return codes.  DTR is 
specifically related to data state. 
Escaping Data State 
Using DTR as a receive flow control in data state is related to using the on-to-off transition of 
DTR as a means of escaping from data state to command state. 
The modem can be configured to use the on-to-off transition of the DTR signal from the host to 
exit data state and enter command state, and optionally close the session.  The AT command &D 
sets the desired behaviour.  The factory default is to hang up any remote connection and enter 
command state (&D2). 
The available options are: 
&D0 
Ignore DTR transitions 
&D1 
Enter command state without changing on/off-line condition 
&D2 
Hang up (close active session) and enter command state