SECRIST%OAK.SAINET.MFENET@LLL-MFE.arpa (07/25/86)
From: <SECRIST%OAK.SAINET.MFENET@LLL-MFE.Arpa> (Richard C. Secrist) Date: Fri, 25-JUL-1986 11:20 EST To: INFO-MICRO@BRL-VGR.ARPA Message-ID: <[OAK.SAINET.MFENET].8D544680.008F2719.SECRIST> Header-Disclaimer: I don't like my headers either. Quote: "May your future be limited only by your dreams." -- Christa McAuliffe Organization: Science Applications Int'l. Corp., Oak Ridge, Tenn., USA CompuServe-ID: [71636,52] X-VMS-Mail-To: MICRO > From: Dave Johnson <dbj@rice.EDU> > Subject: US Robotics Courier 2400 problems? > Date: 24 Jul 86 02:41:26 GMT > > I just bought a US Robotics Courier 2400 baud modem, and I'm having > some problems with it that surprise me in light of some of the glowing > reviews of it I've read on the net. I haven't been able to try it at > 2400 baud yet (nobody to talk to yet), but I get MUCH worse performance > at 1200 baud than I'm used to. I've tried many modems on this phone > ... > So, my question is does anybody else have this kind of trouble with the > Courier 2400, or is it just mine? I remember something about the early > ... > > Dave Johnson Our company used to buy US Robotics Password modems, which is a 300/1200 baud model, and like HALF of them couldn't do descent 1200 baud in any way. So every other one would go back for warranty repair, and without gripes we usually got a new modem back in a reasonable amount of time that worked forever after. Based on this experience, I'd say their quality control isn't very effective, but that once you get one that works, it'll give you nice service. r c s
chiu@princeton.UUCP (Kenneth Chiu) (07/26/86)
Our system administrator says that the Courier 2400 has a reputation for being sensitive to heat. Perhaps that is the cause of some of these problems. I find it difficult to believe that the company "repaired" a unit and then sent it back without any testing. BTW, I have a Courier 2400, and it works fine at 300/1200/2400. -- Kenneth Chiu UUCP: princeton!chiu Princeton University Computer Science Department BITNET: 6031801@PUCC
lwall@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Larry Wall) (07/29/86)
Another thing to bear in mind: some phone lines are more equal than others. Larry Wall sdcrdcf!lwall
GMS@PSUVM.BITNET (08/04/86)
We recently bought 2 US Robotics 2400 baud modems and have had no
problems at 2400 baud or 1200 baud. I have, however, had some difficulty
with 2400 baud over long-distance lines. These were likely tracable to
bad phone lines (although it was ATT), otherwise they and other USR
products have worked fine for us. Perhaps we've just been lucky?
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bdale@winfree.UUCP (Bdale Garbee) (08/07/86)
In article <6838GMS@PSUVM> GMS@PSUVM.BITNET writes: >We recently bought 2 US Robotics 2400 baud modems and have had no >problems at 2400 baud or 1200 baud. > ... >Perhaps we've just been lucky? Unfortunately, I think you have. The company I used to work for bought 3 Courier's about a year ago on my recommendation. One of them was a little flaky, but all worked well enough. Then about 6 months ago they bought another 3. 2 DOA, one fixed in one trip back, the other took two trips to the factory and about 5 weeks. Then, about 3 months ago I bought a Courier for myself, and one for a friend who is legally blind and totally deaf. Both of us run Fido BBS's, and we got them at the Sysop price direct from USR. Both were DOA. Mine went back to the factory, and returned in about 10 days working fine, with a note saying they had found 'organic flux' on the board in the demod section. Guess it didn't get washed well enough after wave-soldering. The one for my friend was about 3 weeks getting back, with no change. Went in again, came back again after about 2 weeks with no change. They offered to send a new circuit board, which didn't show up for over a month. That finally fixed it, but in the meantime I moved from Pittsburgh to Colorado, taking the modem I'd loaned my friend in the interim. He was therefore down for a while. Due to his handicaps, modem usage is his PRIMARY form of communication. I made USR VERY aware of this every time we talked on the phone. They seemed sympathetic and always promised to rush things. You can see the results. I can't help but wonder how they expect to get more customers if they treat sysops this badly? I sure as hell won't buy another USR product if I can help it!!! I'm under the impression that once the Courier became established, that the level of Q/C at the factory went way down. Maybe because of increased volume, maybe because they don't care. Overall, once you get a working Courier, they behave beautifully in my experience. My unix box uses one to do UUCP/News, with nary a dropped bit except on one link that I KNOW has a cruddy phone company connection. Therefore, if cash is a big issue, buy one... but be prepared to have it yo-yo back and forth to the factory a couple times until it works the way it should. On the other hand, if you are willing to part with a few buck, buy the Vadic 2400 entry. Two friends have gotten them, they adhere to the spec better, and they both worked right out of the box the first time. Vadic is also a "real" modem manufacturer, supplying lots of modems to people who have big bucks and scream when things don't work right. Therefore I imagine the Q/C will be MUCH better overall... -- Bdale Garbee, N3EUA uucp: {bellcore, crash, hp-lsd, hpcsma, pitt, symmetric, vixie}!winfree!bdale arpa: bdale@g.cs.cmu.edu phone: 303/593-9828 h, 303/590-2868 w fido: sysop of 128/18 packet: n3eua @ wb0blv, Colorado Springs