jay@umd5.umd.edu (Jay Elvove) (10/18/89)
I'm interested in information on cheap but reliable 2400 baud modems. Are there any that are particular good? Are there those that one should stay away from at all costs? I am interested in external modems only. Thanks very much (and I'll be glad to accumulate responses and forward them on to interested parties, if any) -- Jay Elvove jay@umd5.umd.edu c/o Academic Software Comp. Sci. Center, Univ. of Md., College Park
spolsky-joel@CS.YALE.EDU (Joel Spolsky) (10/18/89)
In article <5481@umd5.umd.edu> jay@umd5.umd.edu (Jay Elvove) writes: >I'm interested in information on cheap but reliable 2400 baud modems. >Are there any that are particular good? Are there those that one should >stay away from at all costs? I am interested in external modems only. I just bought a super cheapo 2400 baud modem from Jade computer. It was $88 for the internal version, plus $5 shipping. Yes, there's an external version for a few bucks more. It seems to be an orphan; Jade says it is a "Cardinal" modem but the package and the documentation is completely anonymous (!) It comes with a 2 year warrantee which is interesting because it says "manufacturer will replace..." without specifying exactly who the manufacturer is :-) I bought it because (a) Jade is very reputable; I trust that I will not have problems with them; also (b) by buying it with American Express I get a _three_ year warrantee plus some added security. ANYWAY, the modem is, believe it or not, excellent! For a no-frills modem it works much, much better than a 47 st. photo (MAXUM) modem I used to have (that broke 1 week after the warrantee expired). There is virtually nil line noise, and I know that I've been using noisy lines. Hayes compatibility is the usual superset; COM1-4 are supported, internal speaker, modem can be used as autodialer (I just wrote a kermit script to dial up my bank and transfer money. The speaker is good enough to hear my balance clearly!). Despite the suspiciousness of the lack of a real, named manufacturer with an address, I would recommend this modem. But buy it with a credit card! +----------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | Joel Spolsky | bitnet: spolsky@yalecs.bitnet uucp: ...!yale!spolsky | | | internet: spolsky@cs.yale.edu voicenet: 203-436-1538 | +----------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ #include <disclaimer.h>
dougm@palomar.SanDiego.NCR.COM (Doug Marshall) (10/19/89)
In article <5481@umd5.umd.edu> jay@umd5.umd.edu (Jay Elvove) writes: >I'm interested in information on cheap but reliable 2400 baud modems. >Are there any that are particular good? Are there those that one should >stay away from at all costs? I am interested in external modems only. I have a modem made by Zoom Telephonics. I mail ordered it from them. They're in Boston, MA. It cost me $129. It came with a licensed version of ProComm version 2.4.2. It has a 7 year warranty. I don't know if the price I paid is considered 'cheap', but it sure isn't expensive when compared to others such as Hayes or US Robotics. The way I see it is that they took the internal version of the board, mounted it sideways, added a power connection, added LEDs, put it in a plastic (cheaper I guess) box, and voila! It works just fine. ---- Doug Marshall <Doug.Marshall@SanDiego.NCR.COM> +1 619 485 3494 <...!ncr-sd!palomar!dougm> "All of us is smarter than each of us!"
jlg0805@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (10/20/89)
I just bought one from On_Line Store $82 ($69+ shipping and handling, etc).
I have not had any trouble yet, (I only use it to log in mainfram on campus
though). It is a generic modem w/o specifying manufacturor. But if you
mention Byte magazine Sept. issue you can get 5 years warranty (Otherwise
it will be 2yrs). Phone number is 1-805/650-0188. Hope it helps.
J.Liang
------------An authentic People's China will be born sooncopp@wind.bellcore.com (David H Copp) (10/21/89)
I bought a Cardinal 300-600-1200-2400 internal modem for my XT-clone. It comes with FLASHlink software that among other things simulates MNP through level 5 (optionally). Very happy with both hardware and software. Paid $82 at a computer fair. David H. Copp (201) 829-4337 copp@bellcore.com WS2I