From: uri@watson.ibm.com (Uri Blumenthal,35-016,8621267,)
Subject: Re: Saga of a ZyXel U-1496E modem
Originator: uri@aixproj.watson.ibm.com
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 19:55:16 GMT
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

From article <1993Jan22.100038.26484@zia.aoc.nrao.edu>, by crucci@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Chuck Rucci):
> It all started about two weeks ago when I started getting the line
> dropped at random times during my connection to our Unix computer.

Well, I also have very bad quality phone line. In fact, this caused
Microcom, which I used, to hangup on me (or even worse - to freeze,
so that *I* have to hangup to untie the line) at least once in 30
minutes. Microcom TechSupport was NO help at all. 

So I switched to ZyXEL. And I found - they're willing to help, and
they do ship free upgrades... Every darn modem firmware has bugs.
Period. But not every manufacturer/distributor is willing to
acknowledge this and send free upgrades! 

> ................................. At this point I figured that the
> phone company was to blame and put in for a service call. The phone
> company checked the lines and told me that they would charge me if
> they had to check the house wiring. So at this point I called Zyxel
> and talked to Brent in tech support and he called me and said that  I
> had a high S/N on my line. 

Some numbers at this point might help. My ZyXEL (with LCD) *tells* me
the S/N ratio... And the experience shows: when S/N drops to 21, or
below - the modem drops from 12Kbps to 9.6Kbps... Sometimes, when
lines get real noisy, it gets worse...

> He suggested that I call the phone company
> and have them check the line noise. I did that today and they called
> me back trying to sell me a " data quality phone line". My connection
> is only at 2400 baud!!!!!! (sad I know) I would think that the line
> could handle the 3 mile distance at a measly 2400 baud with MNP-5.

Here you're certainly right. I wonder, what numbers they got on
your line, though...

> .....because he was confident that the modem was not at fault,and he kept
> telling me that if I sent in my modem and they tested it and found
> nothing wrong with it that they'd just send it back to be and I'd be
> without my modem for about two weeks. 

Well, it's certainly an unpleasant experience, but what would you
expect him to do? 

> ................ I hope that ZyXel is now happy that the thing finally
> died and fell into the grave so that they can replace it now. 

Of course! It's much better, when a piece of equipment dies clearly,
than when it just drops a thing or two on you once in a while, and
normal tests reveal nothing!

> It is
> very unfortunate that this is what it takes since everyone raved about
> these modems on the internet. (that's why I bought it in the first place)

I bought ZyXEL, expecting it to be a good modem, with bugs and
potentials, and with TechSupport willing to help, fix those 
bugs and ship the upgrades/fixes free. I found that. I'd
buy another ZyXEL. Probably I will, since my other
modems (old trash Microcoms) work as good as
your ols ZyXEL, even worse (:-).
-- 
Regards,
Uri.		uri@watson.ibm.com
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