keithl@vice.UUCP (Keith Lofstrom) (01/07/87)
Here are some collected mail messages and postings regarding inexpensive
1200 baud Hayes-Compatible modems (DAK ADC, Avantek, Avatex, Cermetek,
Smart Team). Some disagreements on capabilities. To anyone I misquoted,
misinterpreted, or otherwise embarrassed, I humbly apologize and hope to
be corrected before the issue of further versions. To any manufacturers
who feel their products have been ignored or slighted, feel free to send
me samples for evaluation :-).
Please Email any further data regarding 1200 baud external, Hayes Compatible
modems used in the Unix environment, and I will add that to this message and
re-issue it periodically. I would ask someone else to collect and post
data on modems for PCs, Apples, and other worthy but different environments,
as I am too lazy and ignorant to do so.
______________________________________________________________________
DAK ADC:
from: Elwin Loomis ritcv!ell2948 Sun, 16 Nov 86 04:40:09 EST
An old roomate of mine bought a hayes compatible ADC modem from DAK.
This modem was a gem, it is 100% Hayes compatible, it has a built in
clock, it will redial within 30 secs of a busy signal and keep redialing
forever if you want, it has two set of dip switches on the bottom so you can
set any parameters semi-permanently. It also has all the features
that you wanted.
<tip, uucp, dialin and out; Ed.>
It has the built in monitor speaker as expected. And
the best part is the price.. $149.99 (he bought it when it was $169.00)
This modem is really fantastic, I used it for a while and I found it could
detect a busy signal or CD faster than my US-Robotics modem. You can order
the modem from DAK 1-800-325-0800 order number 4353 for $149.90 +$6.00 (PH)
this info was taken from DAK's Winter 1987 catalog.
-----
From: berger@clio.Uiuc.ARPA Wed Dec 3 14:05:00 1986
I think the modems don't support the Hayes S-registers, and are
thus incompatible in that respect. We have one here. They're
by no means commercial grade, but may be adequate for home type
use.
-----
From ref0070@ritcv.UUCP (Robert E. Fortin) Tue Dec 9 12:08:35 1986
... I bought the ADC 1200 from DAK, and it is
100% Hayes compatible (yes, it has S-registers). It also has a feature that
will redial a number every 30 seconds if it is busy. So far I have been
happy with the modem, it has a full panel of leds, and an adjustable
speaker. The +++ mentioned above works fine, as do all of the Hayes
commands, including auto answer.
I think it is a good buy, especially with the $25 Compuserve kit.
-----
From: Bob Lewis !reed!tessi!bobl soon: !reed!tessi!rodan!bobl
(...general happiness expressed... Ed.)
...Should you acquire one of these beasties, here are the switch settings
I'm using now (the factory settings aren't quite what you want) when
you say you've got a "hayes" in /etc/remote:
switch setting
------ -------
1 on
2 on
3 off
4 on
5 on
6 on
7 off
8 on
9 on
10 off
----------------------------------------------------------------
Avantek 1200baud external:
From: hoptoad!hugh (Hugh Daniel)
... right now I am using Avantek modems. Real cheap and
they have been working as callin on the Well just fine. I also
have three smartteams, but they do seem to have problems with
some phone lines and die off now and then.
Avantek modems are about $90, they dont look like you can
dial in with them, I really had to think and read the manual. Then
I just installed it and they do fine.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Cermetek 1200baud external:
From: vice!keithl (Keith Lofstrom, yrs truly)
I bought one of these for $139 (from a store three blocks from home) to
replace a funky Smart Team. It WORKS! It dials in or out, tips, uucps,
uploads, downloads, and probably reloads. Speaker, loads of switches and
straps (some must be changed), plus front panel buttons to force originate
or answer. Detects carrier quickly. No Off-Hook light (misfeature). I
have not tried the family of *MODEM protocols, so I don't know if these work.
I have performed some 12 hour file transfers without hitches (and some
with hitches, GTE!). It's manufactured domestically for those who care.
______________________________________________________________
AVATEX 1200 baud external:
From: Keith Petersen W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.arpa Tue Jul 29 08:37:57 PDT 1986
Here is a review recently posted on the subject of the Avatex 1200 bps
modem. The price quoted was $87.
AVATEX 300/1200 MODEM -- $87.00
Standalone RS-232C config with 8 front panel LEDs
Auto-answer, auto-dial
300/1200 baud modem matches the design specs for Bell 212A,
feature by feature. Hayes compatible except for 'S' registers.
IBM Communication software included on diskette.
The Wholesale Outlet
1 Interstate Ave, Dept CS
Albany, NY 12205
1-800-344-4387
(price quoted in July 1986 Computer Shopper)
addt'l notes by Steve Sanders
I now own one of the AVATEX 300/1200 modems and it works perfectly
with MEX 1.14 and the Smartmodem overlay. The AVATEX responds to
the normal "ATDT" or "ATDP" dialing commands used by the Hayes 300
and 1200 Smartmodems.
The AVATEX worked the first time with MEX114KP.COM which is the
combination of MEX114.COM + MXO-SM13.ASM + MXO-KP42.ASM
The AVATEX has front panel LED indicators for:
* Power ON/OFF
* TR (Terminal Ready)
* SD (Send Data)
* RD (Receive Data)
* HS (High Speed - 1200 baud)
* MC (Modem Clear [ready])
* TM (Test Mode - Analog Loopback)
* RI (Ring Indicator [for auto-answer])
The AVATEX does NOT have a speaker for monitoring the phone line
but does have another modular telephone jack in the back in which
you can plug an ordinary phone to "listen in" if desired.
The AVATEX for $87 is a better deal for the first-time 1200 baud
modem buyer than the SmartTeam or other $179 and up modems that
claim to also be "Hayes compatible."
For IBM-PC and clone owners, the AVATEX works right out of the box
with the PROCOMM, QMODEM, and PC-TALK modem programs plus any
commercial program requiring a Hayes compatible auto-dial modem.
<anyone care to evaluate these in a unix environment? Ed.>
----------------------------------------------------------------
Smart Team 1200baud external:
From: vice!keithl (Keith Lofstrom, yrs truly)
These work OK as a terminal modem, but get hung up during uploads
to the other end. I recently had the ROM updated from version A1.10
to the latest A1.14, and this made no difference. You should probably
avoid these, or be ready to figure out some subtle problems.
*********************************************************************
Good luck and happy squealing!
--
Keith Lofstrom
MS 59-316, Tektronix, PO 500, Beaverton OR 97077 (503)-627-4052