Buying a modem
Austel approval Speed Ease
of use Warranty and
support Pass-through
phone plug 9-pin
and 25-pin serial plugs Telephone
sockets Extra features
Going shopping for a new modem? Follow our buyer's
checklist and you won't go wrong.
It's illegal and dangerous to use a modem which has
not been approved by the Australian telecommunications
authority known as Austel.
To browse the World Wide Web, your modem must have a
data speed of at least 14.4kbps (kilobits per second),
although 28.8kbps modems are now dirt cheap and are worth
every penny in smoother browsing, faster 'downloading' of
files from the Internet onto your computer, and for
trying some more advanced Internet features such as Net
phones. But for just a bit more, you can buy one of the
latest 33.6kbps models. Sure they're not much, if any,
faster than a 28.8 on the Net right now. But some new
33.6 modems are now upgradeable to 56kbps. So when that
chipset is available (soon), you could be able to
increase Internet speed by almost double -- although we
must point out that 56kbps performance also depends on
having a complete pathway of digital exchanges between
your modem and your ISP, and of course on your ISP buying
56kbps modems too! And then you must also remember that
modem speed is not the only bottleneck on the Net (see ISP performance
considerations).
This covers everything from the documentation to modem
set-up and operation. Pay close attention to the manual
-- it should be well written (in English!) and
illustrated with a good section on troubleshooting
(you'll almost certainly need it!). Check the fax and
communications software that comes with it, and if you
want to conntect to the Net or change Internet Service
Providers, check its bundled ISP access kits.
Check the length and conditions of the warranty and
the availability of tech support -- when it comes to PC
communications you're bound to need this sooner rather
than later. Most vendors offer telephone support but few
have a 1800 or 1300 numbers and fewer still will answer
your cries for help outside business hours.
Unless the modem is to be connected to a dedicated
data line, you'll want to have a telephone on the same
line, so the inclusion of two modem connection sockets
(one for the telephone and one for the line itself) is a
definite plus: otherwise you'll have to spend extra on
adaptor plugs and cables.
Older PCs feature a 25-pin COM or serial port, whereas
the most newer models and all notebooks employ the
smaller 9-pin socket. Ensure your modem has a cable with
leads for both configurations. This, like buying a modem
without a telephone pass-through plug, is one of life's
annoyances which you can do without.
Most homes and older businesses have the old yellow
four-pronged plug mounted in their wall plate (three
prongs of which are active). More recent business
installations have an RJ wall plate with the same type of
miniature modular push-plug used in modern telephone
handsets and found on modems. Look for a modem which has
cables and plugs suited for connection to both styles or
an adaptor plug which can convert between the two.
It's these features -- which which allow you to use
the modem for more than browsing the Web -- that mainly
contribute to the cost of the modem. All modems come with
built-in fax at the standard 14.4kbps fax speed, but some
have better fax features than others -- such as auto
fax/voice switching for distinguishing between incoming
calls or faxes. Common among mid-range modems now is
voice capability, which allows you to use your PC as an
answering machine, while businesses might be interested
in the security features of higher-end modems.
By
David Flynn
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