>= 9600 Baud Modems

Mar 22 14:53 UTC 1992

I'm thinking of buying a 9600 baud or faster modem.  Anyone have
any suggestions?

I just received a catalog from Computer Discount Warehouse advertising
a Hayes Optima 96/V.32 for $350.  The description says it does MNP 5
error control and V.42 error control.  It sounds like a good deal as
others that do this seem to cost around $500.

response 2 of 46:

Mar 22 21:13 UTC 1992

I probably could get you something close to that price from US Robotics.

response 4 of 46:

Mar 23 03:52 UTC 1992

this probably isn't much help, dan, because i don't know that they'll sell
to folks who don't own a system. but gateway makes a 14.4k baud modem with
v3.2bis and fax capabilities. it comes with crosstalk and winfax. it's 
$195. i believe there's also a free trial membership to compuserve. 

response 6 of 46:

Mar 23 09:14 UTC 1992

(I think that was Northgate, not Gateway.)

response 8 of 46:

Mar 23 23:51 UTC 1992

It's definitely Northgate, but Gateway just had a bunch of top-level
executives leave the company.

Anyone know anything else about modems?

response 10 of 46:

Mar 24 04:45 UTC 1992

I am planning to get a 9600 myself, probably with mnp1-5 and v42bis.

Looks like US Robotics Sportster for about $405.- to me.

response 12 of 46:

Mar 24 12:06 UTC 1992

I called the Hayes BBS last night, and downloaded this information.
Like I said earlier, Computer DiscountWarehouse sells this model for
only $349.

Hayes Smartmodem OPTIMA 9600
 
The Hayes Smartmodem OPTIMA 9600 is the affordable choice for every
high-speed personal communications application including access to
information systems, bulletin boards and corporate host computers.  OPTIMA
96 includes a complete set of the most advanced CCITT standards and
supports the most frequently-used modem industry technologies.  OPTIMA 96
provides standard CCITT V.32 connectivity for 9600 bps line speeds and
CCITT V.42bis for up to 38,400 bps throughput on the public switched
telephone network.
 
MODULATION
 
CCITT V.32 - Adopted by the CCITT in October 1984, this standard is now
becoming the mainstream business standard for high speed modems,
overtaking CCITT V.22bis.  CCITT V.32 provides high-speed 9600 and 4800
bps communications.  Supports V.32 Automode procedure and EIA/TIA IS-63
for fallback to lower speeds.
 
International Data Transmission Standards - In addition to CCITT V.32
(9600 and 4800 bps) compliance, OPTIMA 96 also supports V.22bis (2400
bps), V.22 (1200bps).
 
Data Transmission Compatibility - OPTIMA 96 also supports communication
with 103 (300 bps) and 212A (1200 bps) modems.
 
ERROR CONTROL
 
CCITT V.42 - Supports standardized, point-to-point error-control
communications using the CCITT V.42 LAPM (Link Access Procedure for
Modems) protocol.  CCITT V.42's alternative protocol provides backward
compatibility with modems using MNP 2-4.
 
DATA COMPRESSION
 
CCITT V.42bis - CCITT V.42bis international data compression standard for
use by modems incorporating the V.42 LAPM error-control standard provides
compression capabilities to 4:1 enabling OPTIMA 96 to achieve throughput
to 38.4 Kbps.
 
MNP 5 - OPTIMA 96 provides a migration path to V.42bis data compression
by supporting backward compatibility with modems using MNP 5 for up to 2:1
compression.
 
TELEPHONE LINE INTERFACE
 
Dial-up Line - Provides pulse or tone dialing out and auto answering for
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) operation.
 
PABX and Business Line Support - OPTIMA 96 operates in a variety of PABX
environments and has selectable features for operation with business
telephone lines.
 
MODEM CONTROL AND OPERATION
 
Hayes Standard AT Command Set - Full support for this industry standard
enables OPTIMA 96 to operate with the large installed worldwide base of
communications software.
 
Hayes Escape Sequence with Guard Time - Allows the modem to reliably
escape from the on-line mode of operation (receiving/transmitting data) to
the command mode (interpreting the Hayes Standard AT Command Set) without
being accidentally triggered by transmitted data.  U.S. Patent 4,549,302
was granted to Hayes on October 22, 1985.
 
Automatic Feature Negotiation -  OPTIMA 96 automatically negotiates with
other modems to analyze all features available (modulation, error-control,
data compression, etc.) to establish the most efficient communications
session.  This powerful capability is implemented transparently, making
OPTIMA 96 exceptionally easy to use even though its feature set offers a
wide range of capabilities and communications options.
 
Automode - Procedures defined in an appendix to CCITT Recommendation V.32
that allow modems with both V.32 and V.22bis modulation to reliably
interwork with other modems which have either or both of these
modulations, at the highest speed in common between the modems.
 
Automatic Speed Buffering -  This enables the modem to communicate at
varying speeds with other modems while communicating at a fixed interface
speed if required by its attached DTE (mainframe, mini-computer, or PC).
 
Flow Control - Works with systems equipped with flow control to manage
the interface between the modem and the system to control buffers and
preserve data integrity, preventing inadvertent data loss between the
modem and the system.
 
TRANSMISSION MODES
 
Asynchronous Hardware Mode - Supports standard asynchronous
communications for dial-up communications with value added networks,
on-line services, and personal computers.
 
Synchronous Hardware Mode - The modem supports SDLC, HDLC and Bisync
synchronous transmission for connections to mainframes and mini-computers.
 A PC using a synchronous adapter card is also supported.
 
Hayes AutoSync -  OPTIMA 96 can use the system's standard asynchronous
communications port for synchronous communications, eliminating the
additional expense of a synchronous adapter card for
SDLC or Bisync.  This convenient feature brings both asynchronous and
synchronous data transfer capability to your system in one communications
device.
 
SERVICE AND SUPPORT
 
Technical Support -- Technical support for OPTIMA 96 is available through
Hayes Customer Service in the U.S. at 404/441-1617 and in Canada at
416/283-2627.
 
Electronic Support -- Unlimited, free technical assistance is available
electronically through Hayes Bulletin Board System at 404/HI MODEM or
800/US HAYES, as well as Hayes Forums on CompuServe and GEnie information
services.
 
Product Warranty -- OPTIMA 96 holds a two year limited performance
warranty.  If the product does not perform as stated in the manual, Hayes
will repair or replace the product at no cost.  Hayes also offers an
extended two year warranty for US$100 and CN$120.

response 14 of 46:

Mar 25 12:56 UTC 1992

It does sound like a good deal, doesn't it?  Almost too good to be true.

response 16 of 46:

Mar 25 19:29 UTC 1992

That happened to me once...

response 18 of 46:

Mar 26 00:01 UTC 1992

Supra seems not to ship.  I heard some people having trouble with fax
modems, they say it gets confused when talking to modems that go up to
9600, and do all the fancy protocolls.  It results in no connect.
I don't know if it is only for a particular model, or if it is a problem
with the system.

response 20 of 46:

Apr 1 04:55 UTC 1992

I always wondered what made them that expensive, especially for the high-end
modems.

response 22 of 46:

Apr 3 06:38 UTC 1992

But they had price differences of 100% or even more sometimes with the lower
baud modems.  I think their strategy makes more dollars per modem and
producing not too many, they canmanage things much better.  Since the
corporate clients and government sites probably would not buy Supra
(I always spotted Hayes or some other long known brand name)
they probably covered most of that market, price seemed not to make a
big difference there, since it has to be really reliable.

response 24 of 46:

Apr 25 16:21 UTC 1992

Wow... this sounds pretty good.