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Modem reset

Most electronic circuits generate a Power On Reset with a circuit rather like this:

   v + 5 Volt
   |
   | +
 --+--
 --+-- 10 µF
   | -
   |
   *----> Power-On Reset
   |
   |
  +++
  | |
  +++ 82 kΩ
   |
   |
   ^ Gnd

A disadvantage of this method is that it doesn't work when the mains is down and then comes up again; The in rush current of the all equipment connected to the mains will reduce the mains voltage, which in turn makes the supply voltage of the equipment rise to slow for a proper reset.
By hard wiring the hardware reset to DTR one can reset the modem hardware with a DTR toggle.

The RS232 cable uses +12 Volt for a logical `0' and -12 V for the `1'. Inside the modem however, 0 and 5 V are used. To translate these signal levels level translators are used. The `88' chip translates TTL (0 and 5 V) to 232, while the `89' IC does the opposite;

     + 13  12  11 10   9   8
  +--O--O---O---O--O---O---O--+
  |     | |\|   |  | |\|   |  |
  |     +-|  >O-+  +-|  >O-+  |
  |       |/         |/       |
   )                          |
  |    |\         |\          |
  |  +-|  >O-+  +-|  >O-+     |
  |o | |/|   |  | |/|   |     |
  +--O---O---O--O---O---O--O--+
     1   2   3  4   5   6  Gnd

  SN75189A
  Quad RS232 level translator

My modem (Tornado 28k8 external) uses pin 13 for DTR:

            |\
  DTR >-----|  >O----> -DTR
  232    13 |/   11     TTL

Adding the following circuit will reset the modem on the low to high transition of DTR;

                     +----*------*--< + 5 Volt
                     |    |      |
                     |    |      |
                   --+-- +++ 100 |
            1N4148  /|\  | | kΩ  |
                   --+-- +++     |
                     |    |  | |/
        +----+ -| |+ |    |  |/ -
-DTR >--+    +--+ +--*----*--+    BC558B
        +----+  | |          |\
        10 k    10 µF        |  \---> Reset

The next circuit resets on the high to low transition;

                                 v + 5 Volt
                                 |
                10 µF            |
                             |  /
        +----+ +| |-         |/
-DTR >--+    +--+ +--*----*--+    BC548B
        +----+  | |  |    |  |\
        10 kΩ        |    |  |  \|
                   --+-- +++    ----> Reset
            1N4148  /|\  | |
                   --+-- +++ 100 kΩ
                     |    |
                     |    |
                     +----*------< Gnd

Any general purpose low power low frequent PNP Si transistor can be used instead of the BC558B. The BC548B is its NPN complement.

The usual disclaimers apply.