basin@svax.cs.cornell.edu (David Basin) (10/01/86)
This is a summary followup posting to my query a while back about
cheap modems. I am posting (unedited) the responses I received. These
responses were quite helpful; thanks net people for all your advice.
-david basin
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From seismo!mnetor!utzoo!utcsri!erlebach@rochester.UUCP Thu Sep 4 06:10:32 1986
I bought a SmarTEAM 103/212A modem last March for $300 Canadian. I would expect
it would be under $200 in the U.S. It is supposed to be 100% Hayes compatible.
I also bought one for a client who uses Hayes Smartcom II software. Neither of
us has had any trouble with either modem.
From akgua!meccts!ahby@seismo.css.gov Thu Sep 4 05:05:43 1986
One of the other progra\mers here recently purchased an Avatex modem
for $99. It works really well, and is pretty much hayes compatible.
Although it doesn't have a speaker or s registers, it works very well,
and you certainly can't beat the price!
We found it in the back of byte. I can't finid any issues of it
around here right now, but if you look in tha back, you should stumble
across it. It was from some big California mail order house.
From jsloan%wright.csnet@RELAY.CS.NET Fri Sep 5 14:46:39 1986
When our university central stores begain selling the AVATEK 300/1200 baud
modem for (!!!) $75, we (the CS dept.) were all taken by suprise. I
immediately bought 6 and distributed them to needy users (mostly grad
students) saying "Try it out. Let me know."
Well, it works. It is not 100% hayes compatible no matter what the literature
says. The command set is very similar, but picky about the order in which
switches on the AT command appear. Thus, some hayes-specific software works,
and some doesn't. Another bad point is that they have no speaker, so you can't
tell when they dial a wrong number, or the line is busy. You merely wait for
the modem to timeout waiting for Carrier Detect.
On the upside, I deployed them 6 months ago and they all still work reliably.
So far I've just deployed them to terminal users (mostly from home or
offices), but as soon as I get a couple more phone lines installed, I'm going
to put them on some of the smaller (non-ethernet) UNIX machines to try UUCP.
I like them pretty well. My attitude is that even if they last only a year,
at $75 bucks they're disposable.
From seismo!iuvax!access@rochester.UUCP Sun Sep 7 16:12:59 1986
Racal-Vadic provides an educational pricing on its line of Maxwell modems
to Universities. The only problem is that it requires ordering 6 at a time.
300/1200 Maxwell 1200V (ext.) or 1200PC (int) are $175 each. The 2400 line
is $375 each. You can call Racal Vadic for more info. Its a good Hayes
compatible modem. The 1200 series doesn't have a speaker, only 1 LED, and
doesn't have the RI. Other than that it is great.
From cramer@sun.com Sun Sep 7 19:34:49 1986
I bought an ADC modem from DAK (they are a catalog electronic goodie dealer in
LA). It cost $169. It seems to be basically Hayes compatible. I have had
problems with one 2400 baud modem operating in 1200 baud mode; I'm sorry but
I've forgotten the name of the 2400 baud modem manufacturer. I do recall that
they are not one of the major players in that arena. I like my ADC modem; in
general it has worked fine for me.
You may want to try out the Avatex modem. ComputerWare, a Palo Alto computer
dealer, is selling them for < $100. They are fairly Hayes compatable, although
they do not support the set register commands. ComputerWare has an 800 number
if you want more details.
From cornell!rochester!seismo!nbires!hao!hplabs!hpcea!hpisla!hplvla!hplvle!drick Tue Sep 9 22:23:59 EDT 1986
Best buy is the Avatex 1200 baud modem, $87 from The Wholesale Outlet,
Albany, NY; (800) 344-4387. This is an external auto-answer auto-dial
with indicator lights. It uses the Hayes command set, but leaves out
(ignores) the S-register commands. This means that if you don't like the
defaults for delays, number of rings, etc., you're out of luck. Most
people won't care. Works fine with most communications packages supporting
Hayes. PFS-Talk reputedly won't work, but who cares? Comes with PC-Talk III.
From bullwinkle!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!shuksan!saturn!grv@cu-arpa.cs.cornell.edu Thu Sep 11 18:56:23 1986
I have an Avatex 1200 modem which I purchased from a co-op here in the
Seattle area for $99 (also mail order from Megatronics for $109). It is
300/1200, auto-dial/auto-answer, mostly Hayes compatible (no internal
registers, no auto-redial) and has worked quite well for about three months
now. There have been a lot of comments about on the net in this group and
net.periphs with no complaints that I remember. For the price, it should
be considered.
From bullwinkle!rochester!seismo!vrdxhq!BMS-AT!stuart@cu-arpa.cs.cornell.edu Sat Sep 13 06:10:48 1986
We buy all our modems from Anchor Automation.
Anchor Automation, Inc.
6624 Valjean Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Telephone: (818)997-6493
We bought 1200/300 bps for $180 last year. This year we are buying
2400/1200/300 for $300. They come with 5 year warrantee. I loved the
Volksmodem 12 (1200/300) for its simplicity: only two switches to set!
The Lightning 24 (2400/1200/300) is more akin to the Hayes counterpart
with 8 DIP switches and lots of parameters stored in non-volatile memory.
The Lightning 24 handles synchronous equipment. All are Hayes compatible
and are rock solid reliable. (I have found them more reliable than Hayes.
This is somewhat subjective.)
When we first purchased the 24, the factory had installed the wrong ROM's
and we could not originate calls at 2400 bps. After sending them in for
warrantee repairs, they came back a week later all fixed and work
wonderfully.
There is an early version of the 24 that you don't want:
it doesn't have switches or non-volatile memory. This means you can't
set to remain in auto-answer mode through a power failure. You can tell
this model by the 'SQ' label on one of its status lights.
P.S. I recently saw the Volksmodem 12 advertised for $170. I just
sold mine (used) for $99.
From cornell!rochester!seismo!brl-adm!brl-smoke!smoke!W8SDZ@SIMTEL20.arpa Wed Sep 17 20:57:57 EDT 1986
I just received the following file from Steve Sanders on my RCP/M:
--cut here--2400$299.MDM--cut here--
Best Deal Yet for 2400 Baud
Basic Time 2400 baud modems ------------>>> $ 2 9 9 . 0 0
Auto-Dial Auto-Answer
Either internal (IBM-PC) or external standalone type modems, fully Hayes
dial compatible and 2400/1200/600/300/110 bps capable conforming to the
CCITT V.22/V.22 bis and Bell 212A standards. Automatic adaptive equal-
ization which adjusts to telephone lines and decreases error rate.
Internal modem uses only a 1/2 slot on the IBM-PC and gives you an
external RS-232C port. Comes with PC-Talk III software on disk.
External version has 8 LED indicators and a snap hatch front for easy
access to DIP switches. External version is also asynch or synchronous
capable. Tough plastic case. Modem cable req'd for external modems.
Both modems are supplied with modular phone cords.
>>> Full 30-day money-back guarantee if not satisfied <<<
QUBIE
570 Calle San Pablo
Camarillo, Calif 93010
1-800-821-4479 Visa/ Master Card
+++++++++++++++++++
Addt'l comments 08/08/86
I now have one of the Basic Time 2400 modems, I placed an order
for it on a Monday and rec'd the modem on Thursday ($5 extra for
UPS Blue Label service.) As you know, I already have 2 Courier
2400 modems and have been 100% satisfied with them, but I wanted
to try one of the BT modems - the price looked to good to be true.
The BT2400E (external RS-232C version) is housed in a slimline
plastic enclosure with 8 LEDs on the front and NO hardware DIP
switches - all configuration is done via software. I was a little
bothered by the lack of the familiar DIP switches until I found
out how easy the modem is to software program - now I don't
miss the DIP switches at all! The BT2400E modem has more features
than the Couriers (did I say that!) and at a savings of around
$75 - latest mail order price on Courier is $375.00
I have been giving the BT2400E a real work-out the last 3 or
4 days and am happy to report that it works fine at 1200 or 2400
baud to all the systems I have called. The modem appears to have
good filtering as I have not experienced any more line noise than
I do with the Couriers. I am using the modem with PibTerm and
ProComm modem programs for the IBM-PC and it's a perfect match.
The only thing you need do is issue an intialization string when
the modem is first brought online. The default settings have
the DTR and DCD lines ALWAYS HIGH - so for normal modem mode
you need to issue the following string:
AT &D2 &S1 &C1 &W <return>
This command tells the modem to respond normally to the flow
control on the DTR line and DCD line and then stores this data
internally in its non-volatile memory. Configuring a modem via
software is much simpler than changing DIP switches which usually
entails pulling off a faceplate to access the switches.
All in all, I give the BT2400E modem 5 stars out of a possible
5 stars. The price is great, the delivery is quick, the modem
performs 100% and seems to be very compatible with most other
2400 baud modems, and the supplier (QUBIE) stands behind the
product with a 30-day money back guarantee of satisfaction.
How could you lose on a deal like this - you have 30 days to
try it and see if it meets your needs.
--
David Basin, Cornell University, Computer Science Dept, Ithaca N.Y.,14853
UUCP: {uw-beaver,allegra,ihnp4,decvax,vax135}!cornell!basin
ARPAnet: basin@Cornell.ARPA; BITNET: basin@CRNLCS; Office: (607) 255-5578