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CyberSteve
Tl Posts:
5

Posted - 8/7/2000 1:01:04 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
Hi all. I have a winmodem. Pity me. Im looking to dump it in the trash and get a new one, but which one? Which modem is the best? I know that I need a "hardware" modem but there are so many out there that I get bogged down with all the information on this one and that one.

Here's What I want:

Easy Install. Reliablity. Speed. And I don't want to loose and arm and or a leg getting it. If it says 65k on the box thats what I want.

Im open to suggestions.


Cybersteve

Modem_Molester
Tl Posts:
30

USA
Posted - 8/7/2000 6:37:03 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  
im using a LT win myself and getting connection of 48000bps on netzero and d/l of 4.5k/sec. Thats better than my USR hard modem which connect at 40000bps and d/l at 3.8k/sec. And both modems get about the same ping about 150-230. The LT doesnt seem to make my system any slower and cost 40$ less than the USR .
jhfricks
Tl Posts:
3

Posted - 8/7/2000 2:53:13 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
If your telephone line - or more specifically, the connection between your modem and the ISP's equipemt - isn't capable of V.90 service, you may not need a new modem at all.

If you've already determined that the line is
V.90-capable, then you have a choice.

In my opinion, the Zoom 2925L with Lucent chipset does a good job. It's a "Windows modem" in that it uses a host-based controller, but it incorporates powerful DSP hardware to do the difficult work.

Because it is not a "hardware" modem, it's very easy to download updates from Lucent.

There are some cases where 3COM's x.2 mode outperforms V.90. That's true for me.

My recommendation is to buy a 3COM hardware modem (internal) from a place like Office Depot. Try the V.90 and the x.2 modes. If V.90 works best, stick with 3COM or take advantage of Office Depot's 14-day return policy to swap for a cheaper Zoom/Lucent modem.

SARGE
Tl Posts:
743

USA
Posted - 8/7/2000 7:21:01 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  SARGEs Homepage
Diamond Supra Express (external) model 2730, the non-USB version. Hands down the best modem made.
v.Richard
Tl Posts:
6222

USA
Posted - 8/9/2000 9:41:56 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  v.Richards Homepage
Why do you need a hardware modem?

Why do you need a new modem?

Aloha,
Richard

stevebot
Tl Posts:
2

USA
Posted - 8/28/2000 11:32:21 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  stevebots Homepage
I have a LT Winmodem in my HP Pavilion 4140. Even though I have Ameritech.net as my ISP, the local Ameritech phone company cannot/will not check that my phone line will support more than the 14.4K required for residential phone lines. I could once connect at 42K, but recently 36K is the best I can do. I have had the same thoughts as CyberSteve - upgrade to a better modem. Wouldn't a modem with its own controller free up my CPU for other work? Don't some modems have better send and receive circuitry that do a better job?
v.Richard
Tl Posts:
6222

USA
Posted - 9/3/2000 1:28:32 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  v.Richards Homepage
Well....
Try a USR external;
check rates/throughput retrains, diags, etc.

Depending upon a lot of factors - your line, telco, ISP modem type, you may get about same, marginally better, or significantly better results....

But, the software controller Lucent modem w/ DSP in even a 486 places no significant drain on your system and can perform better than a hardware controller modem - it all depends....

Aloha,
Richard

power
Tl Posts:
1

USA
Posted - 9/8/2000 2:18:12 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  powers Homepage
I have been helping users in my area (rural... not great phone lines) trying to resolve their slow connections and dropped connections. The ISP has brand new Lucent Portmasters and all other equipment is new at the POP.

Many users have the cheaper modems that come normally with most new computers and have problems.

Can you recommend a good modem of rural areas that have poor lines? The modems I've seen that work better are the USR - non win modems so far.

Thanks...

JWW
Tl Posts:
25

Posted - 9/13/2000 4:32:56 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
I also have had a softmodem (Motorola sm56) in the past and it was nothing but problems. I've just switched to a usrobotics 56k faxmodem external. The difference is amazing. No disconnects, no problem dialing up, good up and downstream rates. A very solid modem - I would never go back to a softmodem again. I would highly recommend it.
JJ

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