saponara@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (John Saponara) (09/19/88)
SUMMARY OF IIGS MODEM RECOMMENDATIONS ------------------------------------- What follows is the collection of the responses I received about my modem request. Many thanks to everyone who replied - I truly appreciate it. Enjoy, Eric Haines ---------- The original query: So, I've finally moved to a house where I don't have 13 other housemates who could pick up the phone and zap a modem link. I've got a IIGS. I mostly want a modem so as to hook up to my workstation at work (an HP 350) and to talk with a unix-based computer to do what I'm doing now - read-news. Other BBS communication might be nice, but not vital. Fast communication is a big plus (1200 baud minimum - is 2400 on the IIGS viable?). The question: What's the best modem & communications software for me? I'm fairly experienced with the Apple II in general, but know diddly about this topic. I'm willing to compile any responses and post them, so please just write to me. ---------- From: horan (Frederick Horan) Anyway about the modem. I will first give you the characteristics of a "good" modem and then mention some names and prices. A good modem: 1. should have indicator LEDs on the front 2. should have a speaker that gives audio queues for dialing and connecting to the other computer 3. should be fully Hayes compatible (all Hayes instructions, full implimentation of all the S-registers) 4. should be an "external" modem with an RS-232 port. Also, your computer should have an RS-232 port. You will need a cable to connect them. 5. make sure there is a warranty of at least 3 months. A good modem should cost less then $200. With just a little work, you can get a modem for ~$150. That is -- a 2400 baud modem. A 1200 baud modem will cost less than $120 and are easy to find for less then $90. I would pick up a copy of the Computer Shopper. Brands to look for Avatex 2400 I have had this for about a year and love it ($145) Everex 2400 I have seen these, they are fine ($165) Zoom MX 2400 looks good, need to call 800-423-8215 ($159) US Robotics Direct 2400 external ($175) good company, call 800-528-3138 Fred ---------- From delaney%wnre.aecl.cdn@relay.ubc.ca I'm not going to recommend a best modem I've tried a number of the Hayes clones and all work except over very long distances or noisy lines then and only then would I consider a HAYES or COURIER two of the best I've used. I use a $159 clone on my GS and am completely satisfied. Get a copy of computer shopper and have a look ps 9600 baud works too ---------- From: halp (Bruce P. Halpern) I'm using at this moment a Avatex 2400 modem. It works fine. Widely sold for <$200; often around $160. I'm using Softerm II, which works o.k. for me, does a lot of terminal emulations, but is expensive and unusual. I'm waiting for Beagle Bros. to produce a Timeout commmunications item for AppleWorks or for Softerm to update Softerm II. ****DISCLAMER: My comments, etc., are my own shakey opinions ******** | Bruce P. Halpern Psychology & Neurobiology & Behavior Cornell Ithaca | | INTERNET:halp@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu BITNET:D57J@CORNELLA D57J@CRNLVAX5| | UUCP:{vax135,rochester,decvax}!cornell!batcomputer!halp | | PHONE: 607-255-6433 Uris Hall, Cornell U., Ithaca, NY 14853-7601 | ---------- From: msp@hcx.psu.edu (Mark S. Pfaff) Proterm. without question, proterm is the best comm software available for the apple. as far as modems go, i'd recommend the Epic line of 2400 baud modems. they just recently came out with a very small version of the external 2400plus called the mini 2400. a note of caution: i got a dealer demo model a week or so ago, and i discovered that it was one of many models with defective chips. so if you're looking for an external model, i'd suggest that you wait a bit until epic clears that all up. otherwise, epic modems are of the best quality and price around. and you can buy them from me, mark pfaff, the owner of computer supplies unltd in state college, pa. thanks, mark pfaff I forgot to mention some lower priced alternatives to proterm (vis shareware.) ATP has good terminal emulation, but doesn't handle file transers. Z-link is okay. it's got h19 and vt100 terminal emulation, file transfers, and most of the other features found on any terminal program Talk is Cheap is great. it simply is a direct access program to your modem (it goes straight to terminal mode upon bootup) has some of the best file transfer utilites available (automatic binary II unpacking, etc) and supports user-definable macros (closed apple-letter keys) ACT is great for the entertainment-type usage of your modem with online chess and othello (these require the other person to be running act as well), three screen modes (split screen, one line sectioned off at the bottom of the screen, or three lines.) it also supports file transfers, will soon have a built in editor, and many more features. updates are available on GEnie. Kermit is pretty awful. i'd recommend you don't even waste your time trying it out. the other programs work much better. all of the above are either shareware, or pd, and can be found in user group software libraries and on bbs boards, etc everywhere. i would still strongly recommend proterm. even at the high price, it does what no other program can. it supports almost every file transfer protocal (even kermit and christenson), has the best automatic dialer i've ever seen that includes self-learning logon macros, extensive terminal emulation, the best editor (i use it instead of appleworks most of the time), a true break signal, an automatic scrollback buffer which allows you to highlight and copy information to disk or the copy buffer, great memory management (it searches for all available memory and allocates it to the scrollback and copy buffers, the latter of which also has a byte counter showing you exactly how much memory is left), a macro editor that lets you define 8 macros for each entry in the dialer, support for almost all clock cards (it keeps track of connect time, and also shows the time and date at all times in the status bar at the top of the screen), an unattended mode for remote file transfers or as a stand-in if a bbs dies, and the list goes on and on.... -- Mark "A stuffed pig makes an attractive lampshade" Pfaff |BitNet-MSP@PSUECL aka Farmer Satan aka Mr. Depravo Twankey et al |GEnie-M.PFAFF 260 Homan Ave, State College, PA 16801. 814-238-3249 |Compu$erve-71541,2261 ---------- From: whitney@think.COM (David Whitney) Well, there are n different modems out there. You can probably pick up an external 2400 baud modem for under $200 if you look in the right places. As for software, well there are n different programs as well. I've heard no end to the positive comments on ProTerm. Its only drawback is the $195 pricetag. If you want something cheaper, then there are three shareware programs that I know of: ATP, Z-Link, and Talk is Cheap. Each have their advantages and disadvantages. I'd say that none of them are any better than the other two, it's more just a matter of taste. All are for under $30. Kermit is also available for free. I'm personally biased toward Z-Link for two reasons: 1) I use it all the time, 2) I wrote it. David Whitney, MIT '90 DISCLAIMER: Nobody knows what I'm up {out there}!harvard!think!whitney to. Don't blame them for my actions whitney@think.com nor me for theirs. ^^^^^ will be changing before 1989 is here. Don't depend on it after 1/1/89. ---------- From: ndmath!thelink!oliver@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (Joel Sumner) I have a IIgs and a USRobotics Courrier 2400 with AE Mousetalk software and I love it!... USR is a nice MODEM.. Fully compatible...Mousetalk is a joy.. has a great editor.. I have heard that PROTERM is nice too.. I haven't tried it so you might want to find someone that has Joel Sumner A technological advance is nothing more than oliver@thelink.UUCP a Machine that is currently unsupported - Me !iuvax!ndmath!thelink!oliver GEnie --> JOEL.SUMNER [me] Is there a fallout shelter nearby? - Oliver ^^^^^^^^^^^ new!!!!!! ---------- From: Frank Steele Griswold <griswolf@k9.cs.orst.edu> I like my setup quite well, on my //e. I suppose you can skip the serial card. 1> Serial Pro (AE) which is clock AND super-serial card together, 5 yr warantee 2> Supra Modem 2400 (external) lists at $179.95 (these folks are local to me, but even so, its a darn good price, _I_ think. I just moved up from 1200 baud, (yesterday!), and I'm already a total addict. (503) 967-9075 3> Modem MGR From James H Okubo. There are several terminal emulations, including vt-52, -100, -220, and several others. Also macro capabilities, keyboard re-configuration, several file transfer protocols, a (worthless..) editor, a text-capture buffer (auto save if you wish) etc. See the MGR ads in Nibble. I have to say that the program is so powerful that it is hard to set up (which is the hardest time for it to be hard...). But once I got my macros made, configured the startup defaults (IMPORTANT: set the bits for speed and parity HERE!!!), and decided to forgo the editor forever, I found it to be a perfect program. AND he has once sent me a free upgrade! (no guarantee of future acts here, but a good indicator?) You may call (714) 993-0294. ((oh yes: $49.95)).<--- that's also GOOD. Have fun ! -frank griswold ---------- >From: SASQUATCH@ALBION.BITNET Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU I use a DataLink 2400 from Applied Engineering with TIC at 2400 baud without problems. However, you should consider whether you want an internal or external modem. I didn't want to have to find space for an external modem, so I ruled that out. However, if you want to be able to hook your modem up to any serial port (say on both an IBM and an Apple at different times) the external type would be much more cost effective. Another consideration is what the modem looks like to software. The DataLink 2400 emulates an Apple Super Serial Card hooked to a Hayes Smart Modem. This configuration is supported by most Apple telecommunications software (I've never run across anything that doesn't support it and I've tried about half a dozen telecommunications programs), so I recommend you stay with something that does Apple SSC to Hayes Smartmodem emulation so you don't have problems with software. As for speed, 2400 baud is getting quite common on not only big services like GEnie, Compu$erve, etc, but also on small, private BBS's. Running at 2400 baud is practical on the Apples. Hope this helps. Kevin Lepard Bitnet: SASQUATCH@ALBION Disclaimer: My opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Albion College. (Or vice versa, thank goodness.) ---------- >From: NETOPRMS@NCSUVM.BITNET (Michael Steele) I use a Supra 2400 baud external modem with my GS. This modem costs $160 mail-order. Proterm is also a GREAT program. You can buy it from Programs Plus for $95. This makes for an affordable and fast Gs setup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NETOPRMS@NCSUVM.BITNET Michael Steele co-sysop of NCSU Apple Users BBS 10 meg Apple downloads(latest PD software), Tech/Pascal/PCP discussion 919-783-9010 (PC Pursuitable NCRTP) Call today! 919-783-9010 ---------- From: mcgurrin@mitre.arpa I asked a similar question on the net awhile back and received several good comments on the Supra Modem 2400. I have since purchased one and I'm quite happy with it. I cost something like $150 or $170, runs fine, and I've had no problems to-date with Hayes compatibility. I mostly use Kermit to log on to work machines (it's hard to beat a free VT100 terminal emulator which supports the GS keypad), and Hayes Smartcom for other uses, since I already own it, along with an old 300 baud internal modem, now gathering dust. I wouldn't recommend buying Smartcom software, but I find it fine for my uses. ---------- >From: shawn@pnet51.cts.com (Shawn Stanley) I use a Hayes Smartmodem 1200. I've also tried a Racal-Vadic VI2422 on it (from work), but I use the Hayes every day since I run a BBS (Off-Hook, 612/933-6427). I have no complaints. UUCP: {rosevax, crash}!orbit!pnet51!shawn INET: shawn@pnet51.cts.com ---------- >From: carlb@pro-avalon.cts.COM (Carl Boernecke) I too would strongly suggesting getting a Supra Modem 2400 -- I have one, and it works like any other that I have used. As for price, I have seen the Supra Modem 2400 for anything from $129 to $179. |--------------------------( Carl Boernecke )-------------------------| Send | UUCP: crash!pro-avalon!carlb InterNet: carlb@pro-avalon.cts.com | E-Mail | ARPA: crash!pro-avalon!carlb@nosc.mil ProLine: carlb@pro-avalon | to --> | ProLine [pro-avalon] - (619) 271-0131 - 300-2400 bps - 24 hours | |---------------------------------------------------------------------|