NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #30/NN_1992_30.iso/spool/comp/sys/ibm/pc/hardware/33397

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-16 | 2.7 KB

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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc,comp.windows.ms
Path: sparky!uunet!utcsri!torn!watserv2.uwaterloo.ca!watserv1!cape.UWaterloo.ca!dherman
From: [e-mail] (Dennis Herman)
Subject: Re: Internal 14.4K Modems
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: University of Waterloo
References: <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 17:16:52 GMT
Lines: 41

I have done a bit of homework on the 14.4K FAX/modem business and came up
with a Zoom 14.4K S/R Internal Fax Modem. It is priced about 10% higher
than the Boca but does come with a buffered 16550A UART and some reasonabl
software (MTEZ (Telix look alike) and WinFAX lite). Zoom's stuff appears
to be as hardy as the big names USR and Practical Peripherals but doesn't
put much into marketing. PC Magazine wrote up a good review on a large
number of V32bis modems and I think Zoom was hard to beat for the price.
They come with a 7 year warranty ( who knows what you will be using in
7 years ). I haven't had a single problem with it and have used it alot
for communications and FAXes.

If you are looking for trouble free high speed communications under
Windows you'll be lookin' a long time. Because of windows cooperative
multitasking and the some of the poor device drivers,interrupts can be
turned off for more than 4 milliseconds. The buffer on the 16550A is only
16 bytes or about 4 milliseconds long at high communications speeds.
THerefore you will more often than not run into data overrun problems
at high speeds under Windows. Best to compress the files at the source
or transfer pre ZIPped files. Anything over 1100 char/sec under windows
seems to cause retries using Zmodem on a 33 Mhz 486. Better yet do your
high speed data transfers under DOS.
In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Ray Mitchell) writes:
>
>I'm in the process of buying a 14.4K internal modem and need some guidance.
>The brands I have had recommended include Intel, USR, Complete Comp,
>Practical Comp, MACS, and Boca.  Excuse misspellings because all of these
>have been phone discussions.  Price is an object but it doesn't outweigh
>reliability.  A FAX feature is desirable but not a must if the price is
>right.  The best price I found was on a Boca 14.4K FAX modem but one
>source told me they do not run reliably at 14.4K because they lack a
>UART, and one can't be added.
>
>Any and all recommendations, insights, and horror stories will be
>appreciated.  Please get technical about various features, problems,
>etc.  Please e-mail.
>
>Thanks in advance
>Ray Mitchell
>[e-mail]