session@uncw.UUCP (Zack C. Sessions) (03/08/91)
There have been numerous requests for me to re-post a recent article of mine which I discussed the Damark 2400 modem. That article was not a reall full review, but really some comments, instead of re-posting that article, I'll post this full review of what I think of the Damark 2400 modem. The modem is not manufactured by Damark, Damark is merely a catalog marketing house who gets things at volume discounts and then puts them intheir catalog. Sort of like DAK, but the lines of merchandise are much more varied than DAK. The brand on my modem is "COM-CALL TM-2400". The guarentee card lists TT Systems Corp. in Yonkers, NY. The don't specifically claim to be the manufacturer, though. Cost for the modem from Damark was $69.95 for the 2400 bps version and $49.95 (I think) for the 1200 bps version. Since $70 is a decent price for ANY 2400 bps modem, I opted for it. Tech Specs state that it supports 2400, 1200 and 0-300 bps. AT compatable command set with a 40 character buffer. Size is listed as W 2.2" x H 3" x D .80". As you may imagine, it is rather small, about the size of a DB25 to DB25 gender changer (just a little thicker). Weight is 4 oz, and power is obtained from the telephone line. (VERY convenient!!) OK, now that I have quoted the manual enough, let me express some original comments. So far, I like it. I can see that in the future, it will continue to display it's usefullness in various situations. Example, you are travelling. You take along the laptop and the COM-CALL TM-2400. With access to any modular phone jack, you can instantly communicate. If your laptop is charged up, no power connection at all would be requiried at all since the TM-2400 gets its power from the phone line. There are a few things which I don't like. First of all is the physical design. While the modem is advertised as being "perfect for a laptop", it has a DB25 connector on it! It is my impression that most laptops would have a DB9 connector for COM1 (like my Tandy 1100FD does). Secondly, I am having problems conecting with some modems at 2400 bps. While I call at 2400, when the carrier is detected, the connection will come up at 1200 bps. Very annoying, but I only call a finite number of modems and I have identified which ones do not appear to work with the TM-2400 at 2400 bps. (It is a minority, most do answer just fine at 2400.) As far as software goes, I have used the TM-2400 with both MS-Kermit and the shareware version of Pro-Comm. So bottom line, I recommend the COM-CALL TM-2400 modem if you have a laptop and it doesn't have a built in modem. Also, if you need a very portable modem for any PC, the TM-2400 shines there as well. Happy communicating! Zack Sessions session@uncw.UUCP
session@uncw.UUCP (Zack C. Sessions) (03/10/91)
I forgot to mention how to contact Damark if you're interested. Damark Internation, Inc. 7101 Winnetka Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55428 (612) 531-0082 (800) 729-9000 Zack Sessions
session@uncw.UUCP (Zack C. Sessions) (03/20/91)
session@uncw.UUCP (Zack C. Sessions) writes: >Cost for the modem from Damark was $69.95 for the 2400 bps version >and $49.95 (I think) for the 1200 bps version. Since $70 is a decent >price for ANY 2400 bps modem, I opted for it. This information was out of date, slightly. The latest catalog shows the 1200 bps modem for $29.95. A real decent price for ANY 1200 bps modem!! Zack Sessions session@uncw.UUCP
droms@sol (Ralph E. Droms) (03/24/91)
I ordered a Damark 2400 bps modem and it seems to work OK. I don't
have call waiting, so I can't comment on the effect of call waiting on
the modem. I've used the modem for both local and long distnace
calls, without noticing any noise problems. It's certainly a
minimalist modem, and the lack of any external status indicators can
be annoying, but it's fine for use with my T1000.
--
- Ralph Droms Computer Science Department
droms@bucknell.edu 323 Dana Engineering
Bucknell University
(717) 524-1145 Lewisburg, PA 17837rrd@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Ray Depew) (05/14/91)
Hello Zack, After I read your article about Damark's 2400 bps modem, I started coveting one instantly. (I want to replace my vintage "real" Hayes 1200.) When I called Damark, they didn't seem to know what I was talking about. I ordered a catalog anyway; it should be here in 2 weeks. I'm gonna use it with my HP95LX -- what a combination! Can you post the catalog number for the modem? Many thanks. -- Regards Ray Depew HP ICBD -- IC's By Dictatorship rrd@hpfitst1.hp.com P.S. Anbody wanna buy a vintage "real" Hayes 1200?
xiaoy@bullet.ecf.toronto.edu (XIAO Yan) (05/15/91)
>called Damark, they didn't seem to know what I was talking about. I ordered >a catalog anyway; it should be here in 2 weeks. I'm gonna use it with my >HP95LX -- what a combination! > >Can you post the catalog number for the modem? Here you go: B-2566-162408 (those dump operators only want to be database lookup programmes) Xiao
graff@mlpvm2.vnet.ibm.com (Michael Graff) (05/15/91)
Be careful about selecting a pocket modem for a palmtop computer. I've heard that the battery-less models don't work because the power isn't available from the serial port. ...Michael
crmeyer@nobbs.physics.ucsb.edu (05/17/91)
I purchased one of the Damark 2400 baud modems and promptly sent it back.
It was unable to connect to anything at 2400 baud (though it would work
at 1200 baud). It also does not have a speaker to give you any feedback.
Damark was also selling a 1200 Baud version for $29.00 (probably worth it).
+-----------------------------------+
| Charles R. Meyer |
| |
| Internet: crmeyer@voodoo.ucsb.edu |
| Bitnet: crmeyer@voodoo |
| HEPnet: voodoo::crmeyer |
+-----------------------------------+ xiaoy@bullet.ecf.toronto.edu (XIAO Yan) (05/17/91)
In article <11328@hub.ucsb.edu> crmeyer@nobbs.physics.ucsb.edu writes: >I purchased one of the Damark 2400 baud modems and promptly sent it back. >It was unable to connect to anything at 2400 baud (though it would work >at 1200 baud). It also does not have a speaker to give you any feedback. >Damark was also selling a 1200 Baud version for $29.00 (probably worth it). > Oh God! I already order one which is on the road!!! (When you return the product in case you don't like it, what credit you'll get back from Damark?) Xiao
fledley@condor.mbir.bcm.tmc.edu (Fred Ledley) (05/20/91)
In article <9105142341.AA28570@grape.ecs.clarkson.edu>, graff@mlpvm2.vnet.ibm.com (Michael Graff) writes: |> Be careful about selecting a pocket modem for a palmtop computer. |> I've heard that the battery-less models don't work because the power |> isn't available from the serial port. |> |> ...Michael Well- in the case of my palmtop (a Portfolio) the Damark $39 1200 baud line-powered modem works fine. It seems to support all the AT commands that I use without any trouble. It is small, light and cheap- I reccomend it as an easy way to turn a palmtop into a small terminal. ------------------------+----------------------------+------------------------- ___ | R. Mark Adams | On cars: "...if such a / / | Baylor College of Medicine |thing did exist, it would / /_____ ______ | Department of Cell Biology |certainly be called an / __ / / __ / | |'isomobile' or an / / / / / /_/ / | fledley@mbir.bcm.tmc.edu |'autokinesin'. Never mix /__/ /__/ / ___/ | |Greek and Latin." / / | "Molecular Biologist in | /__/ | Training..." | -Goethe ------------------------+----------------------------+-------------------------
anthony@convex.csd.uwm.edu (Anthony J Stieber) (05/20/91)
In article <9105142341.AA28570@grape.ecs.clarkson.edu> graff@mlpvm2.vnet.ibm.com writes: >Be careful about selecting a pocket modem for a palmtop computer. >I've heard that the battery-less models don't work because the power >isn't available from the serial port. It depends on the modem. Older battery-less modems leached their power from the serial port, such as the Novation Parrot 1200. The only way I can get mine to work with my Psion handheld is to hook up a 9v battery to the modem. More recent battery-less modems leach power from the phone line. This is harder to do as apparently the voltage on phone lines is much higher, varies quite a bit, and doesn't have much power behind it. -- <-:(= Anthony Stieber anthony@csd4.csd.uwm.edu uwm!uwmcsd4!anthony Psion Mailing List subscriber submissions psion ----------\ the (human) moderator psion-owner -------+--@csd4.csd.uwm.edu subscriptions and file requests psion-request ----/
KPURCELL@LIVERPOOL.AC.UK (05/21/91)
In article <9105142341.AA28570@grape.ecs.clarkson.edu>, graff@mlpvm2.vnet.ibm.com (Michael Graff) says: > >Be careful about selecting a pocket modem for a palmtop computer. >I've heard that the battery-less models don't work because the power >isn't available from the serial port. > >...Michael To extend this thread a little I'm interested in line (or internal battery) powered portable modems with MNP 5 that are cheap (just think of this as an SQL request!). We have heard a bit about the Danmark modem but it has no MNP. I have heard mentioned that the Practical Periperals Pocket Modem has MNP 5 and cost $99 (is this right?). Are there any others? What modems do people recommend for laptop/palmtop use? E-mail or post replies. Thanks Kevin Kevin Purcell | kpurcell@liverpool.ac.uk Surface Science Centre | Liverpool University | The journey is the reward.
session@seq.uncwil.edu (Zack C. Sessions) (05/22/91)
rrd@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Ray Depew) writes: >Hello Zack, >After I read your article about Damark's 2400 bps modem, I started coveting >one instantly. (I want to replace my vintage "real" Hayes 1200.) When I >called Damark, they didn't seem to know what I was talking about. I ordered >a catalog anyway; it should be here in 2 weeks. I'm gonna use it with my >HP95LX -- what a combination! >Can you post the catalog number for the modem? It appears that Damark may have sold out of the 2400 baud variety of the miniature modems. The last several catalogs (I seem to get a new one every few weeks or so) have the 2400 baud conspicuously absent in the advert. The 1200 baud is still there, a real bargain at $29.95. In case you may be interested in the 1200 baud, it's catalog number is B-471-162401, S&H $6.00. This is out of the June 1991 catalog. (page 31). Zack Sessions session@seq.uncwil.edu
session@seq.uncwil.edu (Zack C. Sessions) (05/22/91)
graff@mlpvm2.vnet.ibm.com (Michael Graff) writes: >Be careful about selecting a pocket modem for a palmtop computer. >I've heard that the battery-less models don't work because the power >isn't available from the serial port. This may be true, I am not discounting it, but the instruction "manual" (read, a folded up piece of paper!) for my COM CALL 2400 which I got from Damark states that it is "Truly line powered: no batteries or A.C. required". This leads me to believe that it gets the power from the Phone line, not from the serial port. Of course, I am no expert. Zack Sessions session@seq.uncwil.edu
chaplin@keinstr.uucp (chaplin) (05/23/91)
In article <9105142341.AA28570@grape.ecs.clarkson.edu> graff@mlpvm2.vnet.ibm.com writes: >Be careful about selecting a pocket modem for a palmtop computer. >I've heard that the battery-less models don't work because the power >isn't available from the serial port. > >...Michael I have the 1200 baud modem from Damark. It's powered from the phone line. I would be surprised if the 2400 baud is not. -- Roger Chaplin / Instruments Division Engineering | "There are two types of chaplin@keinstr.uucp / CI$: 76307,3506 | people: those who divide #include <disclaimer.h> | people into two types, and #include "disclaimer.h" /* cover all bases */ | those who don't." - Barth