NetNews Offline 2/NetNews Offline Volume 2.iso/news/comp/dcom/modems-part1/1679

Text File | 1996-08-05 | 3.6 KB | 88 lines

Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Path: lazrus.cca.rockwell.com!dtmedin
From: [e-mail] (David T. Medin)
Subject: Re: Sportster Vi 28.8 V.34 external Modem
X-Nntp-Posting-Host: marley.cca.rockwell.com
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Originator: [e-mail]
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: Rockwell Avionics - Collins, Cedar Rapids, IA
References:  <4dbugg$[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 22:38:37 GMT


In article <4dbugg$[e-mail]>, sc <[e-mail]> writes:
>
> Hello,
>
> Anyone has some experiences with US Robotics Sportster Vi 28.8 V.34
> external modem ?
>
> I would like to know how good the voice_mail function is.

I've had experiences--about two months and $45 of experiences. I've
heard from USR support recently after pursuing questions and waiting
(and waiting, and waiting), twice on their BBS, and am expecting
some fix ROMs (with v.34+--whee) to evaluate soon, and a fix from Smith
Micro, the providers of the highly exclaimed [sic] Quick Link that the
modem ships with.

I've had several responses criticizing my Rockwell address and
objectivity. No, our division doesn't make modems. Same company,
different world altogether. I write as a private user.

First, as the modem ships, you will not get anything that uses the
Voice View features USR has been bragging about. Nada.  Originally,
the reviews and the trade show gossip was that USR would ship with
Radish Voice View SW.

Known bugs are:

 57K serial line problem--should be fixed in 10/15/95 ROMs

 Voicemail unreliable above 38K serial line speed--Smith Micro fix
                        (soon)

 Low voicemail playback volume of incoming
 messages and lots o' noise--From the response I got from USR, it
            appears USR Engineering doesn't think this
            is a problem, but rather a matter of personal
            opinion. My opinion is that it is important
            to be able to understand the incoming messages
            without putting my ear directly on the modem
            and asking everyone in the room to be quiet.

Generally, you will hear in this group that USR tech support does not
exist as a significant entity for Sportster owners. This is true. I
waited over 1 month to get my first response, in November, after
hitting all their support outlets. I waited another month for the
second. Both were introductory contacts without significant solutions
except disclosure of the 57K problem above. Smith Micro responded
quicker, but pointed the finger back at USR all the time until
recently.

You will not be able to use your sound card for playback or
recording--the software does not support this for USR modems. You can
route the output of the modem's speaker jack into your soundcard's
line input, though, for playback.

Using the modem under Windows 95 is a crapshoot, regardless of what it
says on the modem box sticker. Read the other posts in this group,
including people having tried the USR faxback suggestions. All bundled
software is 16 bit for Windows 3.1x.

I've had no problems with data or FAX, although some have been
reported on this group. It is my personal suspicion that many of these
problems trace back to init strings and 2nd party software.

In short, I'd wait awhile and make sure the modem you buy has the
10/15/95 ROMs. On the other hand, although I'd never buy the following
option, my friends with Boca voicemail modems are up and working fine
WITH Voice View software.

--
-------------------------------------------------------------------
       David Medin            Phone: [phone]
   Rockwell Collins ATD          Internet:
     Cedar Rapids, IA           [e-mail]