sob@DRILLSYS.UUCP (Stan Barber) (03/03/86)
The ADCoMM 96/48 High Speed Modem/Multiplexor allows the use of a terminal and a separate printer at 9600 baud (adjusted for line quality) over a standard dialup phone line or a leased line. It also has auto-dial and auto-answer capabilities and can be controlled from the terminal keyboard as can many other intelligent modems. The ADCoMM can communicate with both the printer and the terminal at 9600 baud with independent data streams fed from the remote unit. It uses data compressions and Phase Shift Keying to maximize throughput. It will also fall back to half speed automatically when line quality causes large numbers of errors (which is will correct before sending the data out the ports). Either serial or parallel printers can be supported off the printer port with the other port being a standard serial line. I had this unit for about a month using it to work on a programming project on a system across town. I had absolutely no apparent errors when using the systems. There did seems to be times when there was a bit of delay between the time I pushed a key and having it echo on the screen, but it was not annoying to me at all. I also tested the built-in 300 baud Bell 103A standard mode which worked fine as well. I have a few problems with the modem. First, the keyboard dialog with the modem follows no current "standard" for intelligent modems. This is really just annoying and no big problem. It would seem they could have had a "Hayes emulation mode" so that people who have programs that are used to using a Hayes would have no problem using this modem as well. Second, I wish the low-speed mode was 1200 baud Bell 212A. The modem has a 10 number built-in directory which would be quiet useful if the low-speed was 1200 baud instead of 300. One nice thing about the low speed mode is that the terminal still runs at 9600 baud and the modem speed matches the line so you don't have to mess with your terminal set-up when you want to change speeds. I did not have a chance to test the printer port option at all, nor do I know how it does for long distance hops (some might argue that across metro Houston is long distance). If someone does have a chance to check these features out, please post an update to this overview. This modem is made by Carterfone Communications Corporation, 1341 W. Mockingbird Lane, Suite 1100 West, Dallas, TX 75247. The phone is (214) 630-9700. I believe the price is about $1800 each, but I am not sure. I have no connection to this company what so ever, but I thought someone might benefit from my experience with this modem. -- Stan Barber Netnews Administrator Teleco DST