HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: st1r8@elroy.uh.edu (Guillot, Burt J.)
Subject: Re: Why is Supra able to sell?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Houston
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 19:23:00 GMT

In article <17375@mindlink.bc.ca>, David_Hunter@mindlink.bc.ca (David Hunter) writes...
>positive things about Supras in the computer mags as if they work just super?
>Compuserve's most recent monthly issue comments on the Supra v.32bis as if
>there is no question as to its performance....and you will notice Supra has
>been buying the whole back cover of the mag for months.  You cannot trust the
>magazine reviews.  The net is a much more direct and honest exchange of views
>on what works and what doesn't.  My Supra seems to be working now, but it has
>taken a bunch of fiddling and tweeking and whenever I dial a new system I
>cross my fingers until I am connected!!

I've had a Supra v.32bis for probably about the same period of time.  I
have had mixed feelings about it as well.  I still have some problems
with it that I am unable to resolve, and since I run a BBS off the Supra,
it makes Supra modems look really bad.

What are the problems?  I have another sysop that tries to call my BBS
with a Dual Stanard, but he cannot login to the system no matter what.
The modems try talking but eventually hangup.

Another sysop with a Dual Standard can't get in very easily.  He usually
has to make more than one call (since the first one gets dropped) and
when he does get in, it'll be 2400 one day, 9600, 12000, or 14400.  He
can never come in with the same BPS rate.

I do not consider the Supra modem to be qualified to run as a BBS off of.
However, when I call other BBSs with my Supra, I usually get through
fine (EXCEPT the Supra BBS itself).  I called the Supra BBS last week
and got in at 14400 (I usually had to call in at 2400 before since I
couldn't go any higher without it kicking me off).  They said they have
installed T1 lines, and, it looks like that might have fixed their
problem.

I will probably have to buy another modem for my BBS since the Supra
is unreliable.  The Dual Stanards cost too much and USR is getting
much too much money than their worth.  If USR would sell the Dual
at a resonable price, they might sell a whole lot more!  (They should
bring their list price for the Dual down to the sysop price, and the
sysop price half of what it is now).

My next modem will probably be a Zyxel, since I like what I'm seeing from
them lately.
From: eoph12@castle.ed.ac.uk (I F Gow)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Silent Answer for Supra
Date: 13 Nov 92 15:43:04 GMT
Organization: Edinburgh University


I'm sure I've seen this on here already, but is it possible to implement
the silent answer in the SFM with 1.2H ROM when using DosFax or WinFax? 
 I vaguely remember it being somthing along the lines of sending
AT+F????? as a string, and also it was important which order you
connected the phone+modem+ansaphone.   Any help gratefull received,

regards,



Iain
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
From: R3DRS@VM1.CC.UAKRON.EDU
Subject: Re: Intel SatisFAXtion 400
Organization: The University of Akron
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 15:46:56 GMT

In article <9211092047.AA11019@milo.UUCP>
sswiss@milo.NoDak.EDU (Steve Swiss) writes:
                     { ... stuff deleted}
>                                                I have been debating
>very seriously on the Intel SatisFAXtion 400. I run a BBS and this
>modem would be running on it at Com 3, IRQ 5. I just want to know
>peoples opinion of thing before I buy it.
>
>My questions are:
>1) How does this 'jumperless' installation work, software defined or
>   autosensing or what?
>2) Is the internal buffering as good as a NS16550A UART?
>3) Does its quick connect option really "quick connect"?
>4) What about "soft" updates for the ROM, how does it work?
>5) Does it really require a 286 or higher machine?
>6) Is the manual complete and understandable for someone who is
>   somewhat technical?
>
7) how about general, overall quality?
8) are there any limitations in its fax capability?
9) are there any differences in features (such as those mentioned above)
   between the internal and external models?
 
I too have been considering this modem.  Although the original poster asked for
email, i think that there would be sufficient interest to warrant an open
discussion.... the intel is one of the lower priced contenders.
 
Dave Snyder
From: rhoward@matd.gatech.edu (Robert L. Howard)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: ZyXEL: Fall Forward?  Yes or No?
Summary: I've heard conflicting information
Date: 6 Nov 92 17:09:00 GMT
Organization: Georgia Tech Research Institute

I had someone tell me that the ZyXEL modems (the 1496E specifically)
did not support fall-forward if the line conditions improved.

I have datasheet the implies that the modem has both fall-back and
fall-forward.  Is this a relatively new addition or was this person
misinformed?  (I am assuming the data sheet is correct.)

Robert
--
| Robert L. Howard              |   Georgia Tech Research Institute     |
| robert.howard@matd.gatech.edu |   MATD Laboratory                     |
| (404) 528-7165                |   Atlanta, Georgia  30332             |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
| "See, when the GOVERNMENT spends money, it creates jobs; whereas when |
| the money is left in the hands of TAXPAYERS, God only knows what they |
| do with it.  Bake it into pies, probably.  Anything to avoid creating |
| jobs." -- Dave Barry                                                  |
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
From: davis@chem.canterbury.ac.nz (John Davis)
Subject: Re: Supra v.32bis Power Supply
Reply-To: davis@chem.canterbury.ac.nz
Organization: Chem Dept, Uni of Canty, Chch, New Zealand
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 02:43:20 GMT

Stefan Hartmann (leo@zelator.in-berlin.de) wrote:

> Hi, it is a 9Volt AC type ! I just happen to know it, cause my Supra
> power supply smoked up !!! (blew up)
..
> What would have happened if the power supply had caused a house burn
> ??? Would Supra have been charged for delivering faulty power supplies
> ???

you'll find most cheap plug packs run hot - due to using a large transformer
is a case with little or no air flow. They'll get warm but I've never seen
one being used correctly (i.e. not beyond it's rated load) get dangerously
hot. A larger box for the psu with some flow thru cooling would help, but of
course bigger boxes cost money , plus people seem to want everything as
small as possible nowdays 
  
> So watch out people, the Supra power supplies are very dangerous, due
> to overheating. They have delivered a production model without the
> right power delivery, so the transformators are heating extremly up
> and could be destroyed by heat as it happened to mine !

the 240V supplies I've seen on supras are actually over-rated - the sfm
wants 600mA, the supplies are good for 1000mA. I've seen three die now (all
went open circuit on the primary) but I put that mainly down to cheap
componentry or poor construction than any inherent design flaws (since they
were under warranty and the supplier wanted them back I didn't get a chance
to dissect the dead one's to find what actually died - could be something as
simple as an internal fuse).

To say they're 'dangerous' is just plain over-reaction/ignorance.

--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| o  John Davis         davis@chem.canterbury.ac.nz      phone NZ+3642-421 o |
| o  (Depart)mental Programmer,Chem Dept, Univ of Canterbury, Chch, NZ     o |
| o   "I do not fear computers, I fear the lack of them" - Isaac Asimov    o |
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
From: BMSLIB@mitvma.mit.edu
Subject: Re: Nothing Wrong with BOCA Modems
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 13:54:30 GMT

Thanks for BOCA review.  Sounds convincing
According to CLARINET, best price on 14.4 internal or external is
Tri State Computer 800-433-5199 (internal is $200 plus $8.95 ship/hand.)
I've called them and confirmed the price.  A database search on Dialog
indicates reason for low price is lower cost chip set they are using.
From: zeta%tcscs@idss.nwa.com (Gregory Youngblood)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Practical Peripherals
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 12:28:44 CST
Reply-To: srcsip!tcscs!zeta
Organization: TCS Consulting Services

If anyone has the tech support number for PPI would they please email it to
me?  I would appreciate it.  I need to ask them  a few questions.

Also.  Does anyone know how to turn OFF v.42bis?  I don't have my manual or
quick reference card.

Thanks
Greg


.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.
.   TCS Consulting Services   P.O. Box 600008   St. Paul, MN  55106-0008    .
.   ..!srcsip!tcscs!zeta                 ..!src.honeywell.com!tcscs!zeta    .
.   zeta%tcscs@idss.nwa.com                      tcscs!zeta@idss.nwa.com    .
.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.-=-.
From: bhoughto@sedona.intel.com (Blair P. Houghton)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: S S C
Date: 8 Nov 92 17:26:11 GMT
Organization: Intel Corp., Chandler, Arizona
NNTP-Posting-Host: alfalfa.intel.com

In article <507@thunder.LakeheadU.Ca> dnwangus@flash.LakeheadU.Ca (Dave Angus) writes:
>I still think SSC stands for Super Serial Card

Semi-capitalized Super-Canard.

				--Blair
				  "Sub-Sonic Chuckle."
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
From: rdippold@qualcom.qualcomm.com (Ron Dippold)
Subject: Re: Can you put 2 modems on the same computer?
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1992 19:02:31 GMT

mem28103@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Marc E. Munoz-"Ren" ) writes:
>I was wondering if one could put 2 modems on one computer.  Would there be many
>conflicts among the two in terms of CPU time or interrupts?

No problem.  Simply make one of your modems COM3, the other COM4, and
your original serial card is still COM1 and COM2.   If you want to use
Windows or OS/2 you have to make sure that there aren't any interrupt
conflicts - COM3 and COM4 are normally at the same interrupts as COM1
and COM2 respectively, and you'll have to move them to unused
interrupts.  For best performance, make sure the modems (if it's
internal) or the serial card you're hooking them to (if they're
external) use a 16550A UART rather than the 16450 or 8250.  If your
serial card is socketed they're easy to replace.

What else... hmmm, without the 16550A don't expect any reasonable
performance from Windows, and even with it's pretty bad.  There are
replacement communications managers for Windows.

It _can_ be done!  I'm running a Dual Standard and ZyXEL att the same
time off a 386/33 running OS/2 with almost no system performance hit
at all (using OS/2 software).
-- 
Old MacDonald had an agricultural real estate tax abatement.
From: rouellet@gel.ulaval.ca (Real Ouellet)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: US Robotics are Jokers!
Date: 5 Nov 92 04:43:50 GMT
Organization: Universite Laval


Hello World!

Before I really turn my flamethrower wide open on USR, please try to
explain to me the following: (someone, anyone, please?):

1)  Modem used:   USR Sportster faxmodem, ROM 4.2, internal (my friend's)

2)  Yes, the modem is properly setup. Except that S34=6, because the modem
    refuses to set S34=0. I believe this is the core of the problem.

3)  Test:  Connection with a Courier HST Dual Standard. After connection,
    the Courier's ATI6 (diagnostics) function report "Fallback DISABLED" !
    Yet, this Courier is properly setup, too, because Fallback IS ENABLED
    automatically when I call with a Sportster ROM 4.1 with S34=0.

4)  Conclusion:  The Sportster with ROM 4.2 DOES NOT HAVE FALLBACK! That
    means this modem's implementation of v32bis IS NOT COMPLETE!

5)  Please, tell me I am wrong, and show me what register I should setup
    to enable the Fallback on my friend's Sportster with ROM 4.2...

ALSO:

In page B-12 of the manual of the Sportster, USR say:
" ... The call's actual rate can be viewed on the ATI6 screen." .  Now
listen hard, USR:  YOU tell me I should use the ATI6 function in my
Sportster, BUT IT DOES NOT WORK, of course. Should I unleash my lawyer?

Of course, I suppose this was just a typo in the manual... But this is
quite annoying, don't you think? Does YOU, USR, saying I should use the ATI6
function AUTOMATICALLY grant me the right to use it? A kind of license ...

Flame Off.

Real Ouellet
rouellet@gel.ulaval.ca
From: dvasconc@sw.stratus.com (D Vasconcelos)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Why is Supra able to sell?
Date: 12 Nov 92 21:46:57 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: spot.sw.stratus.com

In article <12NOV199213230345@elroy.uh.edu>, st1r8@elroy.uh.edu (Guillot, Burt J.) writes:

> I will probably have to buy another modem for my BBS since the Supra
> is unreliable.  The Dual Stanards cost too much and USR is getting
> much too much money than their worth.  If USR would sell the Dual
> at a resonable price, they might sell a whole lot more!  (They should
> bring their list price for the Dual down to the sysop price, and the
> sysop price half of what it is now).
>
> My next modem will probably be a Zyxel, since I like what I'm seeing from
> them lately.

	I am surprised you compare the Zyxel and the Courier Dual Standard.
	The DS supports two connect protocols, and has various other features
	(ie. ASL, modular upgrades) not present in Zyxel.

	It WOULD be fair to compare Zyxel w/ a USR Sportster .. in price and
	features these modems have a lot more in common.  I would strongly
	recommend you look at the Sportster .. from what I have seen it is
	a solid modem.

Good Luck!
-- 
David Vasconcelos			EMAIL:
Mailstop M32BKW				dvasconc@sw.stratus.com
Stratus Computer
55 Fairbanks Blvd
Marlboro, MA  01752
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
From: kotsines@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (KOTSINES  THOMAS ANT)
Subject: Re: Supra vs Zoom v32bis FaxModems
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 19:52:45 GMT

>I was just wondering if anybody had any general opinions on the differences
>between the SupraFAX Modem v32bis and the Zoom Fax/Modem v32bis items..?

I have a ZoomFax VFP V32bis, and there were some problems with it at the
beginning.  However, I updated the ROMS (which they provide free), and havent
had a problem since.  They got a bad rep from the initial problems, but
they're good with the customer support, and have a 7 year warranty, too.

(plus it's cheap!)

[/]
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
From: gert@greenie.gold.sub.org (Gert Doering)
Subject: Re: Why is Supra able to sell?
Organization: GreeniE
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 14:00:30 GMT

dvasconc@sw.stratus.com (D Vasconcelos) writes:

>	I am surprised you compare the Zyxel and the Courier Dual Standard.
>	The DS supports two connect protocols, and has various other features
>	(ie. ASL, modular upgrades) not present in Zyxel.

Well... the ZyXEL has, in fact, two protocols that the HST DS does _not_
support:

	FAX
	ZyXEL 16800 mode

The ZyXEL 16800 mode is an extension of v32bis, it is fullduplex and thus
a lot more flexible than HST 16800. (Ever tried to do a uucp-g or -i
transfer over HST?).

Further, the ZyXEL has pretty useful features like called id detection,
distinctive ring (sp?) detection, etc.

What has the USR HST DS? Nothing except a proprietary half duplex HST
standard (mind: ZyXEL is _encouraging_ other vendors to implement ZyX 168),
wide-spread rumours about a Fax upgrade (I did not hear about anybody that
has it yet...), and a not fully implemented v32bis (remember the
discussion about the DS not properly terminating a session???).

Ah, yes, I forgot. The USR HST DS costs a lot more than the ZyXEL. It
_has_ to be better.

>	It WOULD be fair to compare Zyxel w/ a USR Sportster .. in price and
>	features these modems have a lot more in common.  I would strongly
>	recommend you look at the Sportster .. from what I have seen it is
>	a solid modem.

Well... they both have v32bis, that's right. And they both cost about the
same. But what about all the other features that the ZyXEL has??? One
shouldn't compare it to the Sportster - it wouldn't be fair, the USR would
LOSE!

gert
-- 
Gert Doering | SubNet  : gert@greenie.gold.sub.org      | mailbox / uucp:
Munich / FRG | InterNet: gdoering@physik.tu-muenchen.de | call (089)3243328
(089)3243228 | FidoNet : gert.doering@2:246/55.4        | login bbs / nuucp
From: wilken@plains.NoDak.edu (Scott Wilken)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: external vs internal on 14.4k
Date: 5 Nov 92 15:54:06 GMT
Article-I.D.: ns1.Bx92u6.K8s
Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computing Network

In article <3975@randvax.rand.org> edhall@rand.org (Ed Hall) writes:
>In article <1992Nov5.040133.23832@tigger.jvnc.net> johnson@tigger.jvnc.net (Steven L. Johnson) writes:
>
>>So much for theory.  Some implementations can cause significantly
>>increased latency when V.42bis is turned on.
>
>Why don't you enlighten us as to the brand and model of modem you are
>using?  I've seen no such effect with USR Couriers, for example, so I

Gotta go with Ed on this one.  When this stuff about V.42bis not living up
to people's expectations (IE when people were first saying the it could
slow a compressed transfer), I tried sending a 1.5M .ARJed file from my
machine (with a USR Courier V.32bis) to my friends (with a USR Courier
Dual Standard).

The transfer rates came out the same by my terminal program's estimate.  I
think either one of the following:

1)	Someone told you that V.42bis didnt work as expected, and you just
	took that word as true.

2)	What Ed says about latency and modem's CPU power being the culprit
	is true (no opinion on this one as im not informed on the subject).

Scott
-- 
Go FAST!            |  Internet:  wilken@plains.nodak.edu   |     AMA #587126 
Take Chances!       |     UUCP: ..!uunet!plains!wilken      |     DoD #0087 
VF700F Interceptor  |        Bitnet:  WILKEN@PLAINS         |   
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
From: garion@selway.umt.edu (Jason Curnow)
Subject: Re: Final cut of 14.4k Ext Modems...Information on them
Organization: University of Montana
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 03:31:42 GMT

In article <44930@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> raphe@euler.Berkeley.EDU (Raphe Berry III) writes:
>
>Ok, I have received alot of information about 14.4k modems from alot
>of people, now I have limited my choice to these:
>
>	Supra, Boca, Zyxel, and Scout +
>
>Now I would like to know about some of the options each has:  Upgrading
>options (ROM), and led displays to tell me what is going on
>with the line and the modem.

I went through the same process, and finally ended up deciding on a 
USR Sportster.  USR has been in the business for a long time and has
always made good stuff.  People tell me that it connects very well to
almost all modems and that it does well over marginal lines.  Plus, it's
about the middle of your price range, at $300.  

- Jason




-- 
- Jason Curnow                       University of Montana
  garion@selway.umt.edu              CIS Consulting
  con_jpc@lewis.umt.edu              (406) 243-2975, LA 40
From: belle@hardy.u.washington.edu (E Bell)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: 14.4Kbps Modems and Procomm+
Date: 9 Nov 92 17:28:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov9.172831.25673
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

>>>husc10.harvard.edu!jiu1@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU writes:
>>>>I just "discovered" that my copy of procomm plus does not support
>>>>14.4K bps communication speed.  After 2,400 come 4,800, 9,600,
>>>>192,000 etc.  Does this mean one can't use 14.4K modems?  How about
>>>>the Windows version?

[DELETED] Various responses about setting communication rates

If I'm not mistaken, this question is motivated by a misunderstanding
of the relationship between the computer-modem communication rate and the 
modem-modem communication rate under v42bis compression.  Definitely FAQ 
material.

The 14.4K bps rate refers to the rate between the modems.  Since this *may*
be compressed data, the data rate between the computer and the modem has to
be higher in order to realize the higher throughput offered by compression.
Since the compression is not constant, one cannot compute a-priori the 
proper rate between the computer and the modem.  In addition, the modems may
need to retransmit packets in order to correct errors caused in the phone
line.  Both of these problems require some sort of flow-control between
the computer and the modem.  

Flow-control, which was previously unnecessary because the computer-modem
rate was set equal to the modem-modem rate, is now performed using the 
hardware hand-shaking signals offered by RS-232.  This allows the throughput
between the computer and the modem to fluctuate to accomodate the modems'
ability to transmit to each other over the phone line.

PEDAGOGIC NOTE:
  When someone asks a question, I first try to determine if the question
  itself is motivated by a deeper misunderstanding.  If it is, answering
  the question itself serves little purpose.  What good does it do this
  fellow to be hunting all over the place for a package that will offer
  a 14.4K bps serial rate when he doesn't need it and in fact it would
  be undesirable?  Or, I misunderstood his original question :-(
From: billmcc@seanews.akita.com (Bill McCormick)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: WARNING: USR vs ADB
Date: 6 Nov 92 07:20:53 GMT
Article-I.D.: seanews.1992Nov6.072053.16288
Organization: SEANEWS - Seattle Public Access News & Mail

In article <Bx7330.Dy9@nic.umass.edu> mrunkel@titan.ucc.umass.edu (Marc A. Runkel) writes:
>searsk@med.ge.com (Kevin D. Sears) writes:
>>However, it seems to be a poor choice on USR's part to pick a connector for
>>power which has been a standard in the computer industry since 1987 for a
>>data bus. At InterOp, I brought this situation to USR's attention. I hope
>>they make better choices on their up and coming products. 
>
>Oh right, and GE shouldn't make blender blades from materials that have been
>known to slice off fingers.

What an incredibly useless response.

The parallel is that GE shouldn't make power plugs for blenders that look
like RJ11 plugs.

>And since when does Apple set standards for connectors. I've seen power
>supplys with ADB type connectors since the early 80's.

Since
	A) There are two major PC standards in the U.S.
	B) Apple now sells more Macs than IBM sells PC's

the answer is "yes."  Apple does set standards for connectors, which
every company that makes peripherals to attach to a Mac should be
aware of.

People have used DIN plugs exactly the same as an AT keyboard DIN plug
to power peripherals for some time -- but it would be really, really
stupid to use one to supply power to a device intended to attach to
a PC.

Being aware of the standards of your market is a basic business and
technological requirement.

USR screwed up.  Instead of making it hard to make a basic error
(plugging power into a data line), they made it quite simple.  This
was a mistake.  Period. 

Bill (Who's a PC/Windows kinda guy)

-- 
SEANEWS  []  Seattle News + Mail  []  Public Access  []  +1 206 747 NEWS
E-mail for PGP key.   MD5 (no sigs) is: 8e253e95133365a292261c7d0da58bcb
From: rick@cs.sunysb.edu (Richard Spanbauer)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: V.42/V.42bis questions
Date: 9 Nov 92 15:54:37 GMT
Organization: State University of New York, Stony Brook

Does anyone have a brief (eg executive summary type thing) description of
the v.42 error correction and compression protocols?  Any pointers to
a more detailed specification would be useful too. Thanks - Rick Spanbauer