sid@linus.UUCP (Sid Stuart) (02/06/85)
Subject: Microcom modem Newsgroups: net.dcom,net.unix-wizards I just got a flyer from Glasgal Communications (talk to Jeff at 617-449-7470) about a 300-1200-2400 Bits/Sec Autodial modem with error correction. It is made by a company called Microcom. Price is about $900. The claim is that this modem does completely error free transmissions over a dialup line. I don't have the details, but I think the mechanism is to do error checking and retransmission of garbled packets. Several other companies (Concord Data and Micom) have similar equipment, but not in this price range.($700 for an add on box, $1500 for modem with error correction, these are approximate figures.) It all sounds a little too good to be true. Are there any experts out there that can expound on this subject with more intellegence than I can? Has anyone every dealt with Microcom? If this equipment works, we could most likely junk the G protocol for uucp and do straight data transfers. This would speed transfers up a tad and lower the overhead on my overloaded computer. The following is an abridged list of specs on the modem. SX2400 features Full synchronous or asynchronous capability Fallback to 1200 or 300 bps 100% error free communications between Microcom modems and MNP-supported devices Storage of 9 36 diget phone numbers Auto-dial/Auto-answer/auto-redial Half or full duplex tone or pulse dialing Configuration selectable via switches or menu Audio speaker with volume control Kitchen sink 4k CMOS RAM with 30-day NiCad backup of phone numbers and menu settings Specifications CCITT V.22 bis compatible at 2400 BPS V.22 A and V.22 B at 1200 BPS Bell 103 compatible at 110-300 BPS and 212A compatible at 1200 BPS Line requirements Voiceband, 2 wire general switched telephone network Protocol Features Microcom Networking Protocol (MNP) when communicating with other Microcom modems or MNP supported devices provides: error-free transmission between modems. Error detection by cyclic redundancy check (CRC-16), Byte oriented framing and transparency (asyncronous mode) Interfaces EIA RS-232C, CCITT V.24/V.28 interfaces for local device up to 9600 bps, bi-directional XON/XOFF or hardware flow control Two rj11C connectors for telephone and telephone lines. Note, all of the above information does not constitute an endorsment of this product by myself or the MITRE Corp. and is probably filled with mistakes dues to the clumsiness of my tired little fingers. sid at linus (imagine a cute message here)