conrad@lasspvax.UUCP (Conrad Cady) (05/27/85)
Here are some more responses to an article I posted about Prometheus
ProModems.
I'd like to thank the people who sent these to me, and I look forward to any
other reports on modems. I will collect them together and re-post them to
the net, in net.dcom. Thanks again.
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[David seems to like the ProModem]
From: David Kozinn <David-Kozinn%LADC@CISL-SERVICE-MULTICS.ARPA>
I've had an external Promodem 1200 for quite some time now, and I have
had no trouble with it at all. It is as close to being 100%
"Hayes-compatible" as anything I've seen, and the enhancements that it
has are very nice indeed. I'd recommend this modem to anyone. Oh yes,
about the manual, at some point I discovered that a couple of pages were
missing from the manual, so I called Prometheus and they sent me a
new one. This one was a revision of the previous, and though I don't
recall if the switch settings in particular were revised, some of the
other technical information was.
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[Bob seems to think the ProModems are OK]
From ihnp4!islenet!bob@cornell.UUCP Tue May 14 16:57:20 1985
About six people around the Institute here have bought ProModems, and have
had consistently good results using them daily in originate mode without
trying anything fancy.
Two were upgraded with the number memory feature, one didn't work with
the extra board, was sent back to the factory and returned working as
advertised about 4 weeks later.
The Prometheus enhancements, and the lack of some registers make them
not completely Hayes-compatible, but no one using them around here seems
to mind.
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[Mark has no comment on ProModems, but dislikes Qubie modems]
From: decvax!sunybcs!ugmarkj@cornell.UUCP (Mark D. Johnson)
Well, I don't have any info on the Promodems, but a story of my adventures
in buying a modem may help:
I bought a Leading Edge PC and needed a 1200 baud modem. I got a Qubie brand
modem. BIG MISTAKE. Line noise all the time -- so bad that I couldn't
get any work done. It wasn't just my problem either. A friend of mine
bought an identical system and had the same problems. Solution? We
returned the Qubies and plunked down $100 more and got Hayes 1200b modems.
Instant cure to the line noise. Put the extra money in now and buy a
quality modem, and you will thank yourself later.
The board type modems are generally less expensive since they don't have
to build the case for them. It is nice to have the impressive flashing
lights of the stand-alone types, but I get along just fine with my board
modem.
BTW, consider mail order to buy any modem. I got my Hayes for $390 as
opposed to >$600 at Sears computer stores!
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[Joe thinks Hayes is best, ProModems are okay and Password modems are bad]
From augenbra@UDel-Louie.ARPA Sun May 19 12:44:56 1985
I have borrowed from work three different modems for extended periods
of time ( > 3 months): Hayes 1200, Prometheus, and the Password.
As far as performance as a 1200 baud modem, the Hayes is undoubtedly
the best of the three. What I mean by this is that it performed flawlessly
(immunity to line noise, etc.) as a 1200 baud modem. The command set does
exactly what its suppossed to, etc. I didn't buy one because they are too
expensive.
The Prometheus worked perfectly OK as a 1200 baud modem is concerned,
but is definitely more sensitive to line noise than the Hayes. By todays
standards, though, the functionality is fine. As far as Hayes compatibility,
I have had no problems using communications software, but there is at least
one bug in the firmware. The ATO command causes the modem to hang up the
phone about half the time. There is no other way to go back online after
"+++", so this is really annoying. I have a *very* early one, though, so
this bug may have been fixed by now. After the modem loses carrier, it prints
10 or so characters of garbage before printing "NO CARRIER". This is
annoying, but has caused no problems with communications software for me
yet. THESE ARE THE ONLY PROBLEMS I'VE FOUND WITH THE THING AFTER USING
IT FOR > 1 YEAR (I think; I've used it since it first came out anyway).
I have found the machine to be real reliable, and we had two or three at
work without any problems. I liked it so much that I bought the one that
I brought home from work. I would highly reccommend it. Incidentally,
the standard extended functions (time, etc) are all really useless. Don't
make these a consideration in your choice.
I *despise* the Password. The "speaker" is really loud and obnoxious
and has no volume control. The modem seems to work, but you have to cover
your ears every time you dial out.
I just reread the Prometheus paragraph, and I just want to make clear that
I really like the thing, and am warning you about every problem that I know
of, but that I don't really think that the problems are serious at all.
Joe
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My own comments - I've been using a Password, and have had NO trouble with
it. I can make it quite quiet with the 'M0' command. I also like the
fact that I can hear what is going on, it gives me some feeling of control
over what I am doing.
--
Conrad Cady, 513 Clark Hall LASSP, Cornell U., Ithaca, NY 14853 (607)256-3963
{ihnp4,decvax,allegra,vax135}!cornell!lasspvax!conrad conrad@lasspvax.arpa8332479@elecvax.OZ (Bevan Ting) (06/05/85)
I bought a Prometheus Versacard for my Apple ][+ more than a year ago. I then sent for the Graphitti ROM so that it can do graphics dump on my printer. Unfortunately, the one I received doesn't work. So I sent it back along with sample printouts explaining my problems. So far I have sent 4 letters regarding this transaction, and I still haven't got my chip. Prometheus Products, Inc. produces good products, but the support, sorry, I'll have to give it a thumbs down. So if anyone out there is thinking of getting something from Prometheus by mail order, think twice before you order. Regards, Bevan Ting (8332479:elecvax)