From: ctt31684@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Ching Tai)
Subject: Some comments on the Dallas FAX 14.4k modem
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 22:34:56 GMT

Hi,	I've seem a few requests on the net from people asking for comments on
the Dallas FAX 14.4k external modems.  I assume that the requests were 
generated due to the fact that someone was selling them for $230, new, etc.

	Well, after using a 300, then a 1200, then a 2400, and finally a 2400
MNP.  I had no idea of how much I was missing until I borrowed a 
9600 Intel modem for a few month.  As soon as I saw that ad ($230) I returned
the 9600 and jumped on the deal, and here's my experience.

	I guess I'll start off w/ some of the less-than-desirable things I
encountered.

	1) The deal came through.  Although it took about a month for me get
	my modem from the guy, I'm still happy (it was a good deal).

	2) The modem looked really cheap, i.e. packaging is plastic instead of
	metal, and the modem I got had NO brandname, FCC cert., etc. on the
	case, it was just a black plastic case w/ some numbers written under
	it, it was WRITTEN by hand w/ a marker.  (I assume that's the serial #)

	3) The LEDs don't flash correctly, and there's only about 6 or so.
	Also, they aren't housed separately, i.e. they are just in a row on the
	PCB w/ a corresponding row of "windows" in the plastic sticker that
	covered them.  This is bad for people who like to read the stat's from
	them since each light will also light up the adjacent windows.

	4) The doc is very small compared to the Intel's, and it didn't look
	professional.

	5) You need to send in a stupid card to get the life time warranty, and
	since I bought it on the net, some of the questions were very difficult
	to answer.  (I wanted to just write, "bought it new from a netter." But
	I figure they won't understand it.)

	Fortunately, of all the above, only #5 really meant anything to me. All
the others were just what I think might affect someone else.  Personally, I
can careless if my external modem has the leds or what0nut (I mean, I only paid
$230! so I wasn't expecting a whole lot).  I don't really care if it looks 
so ugly that you can't even take a picture of it w/o breaking the camera (yes!
it does look that bad), since I usually put the modem under my desk where my
feet are and never bother to look at them anyway.
	Poor doc's didn't affect me since I never read them anyway.  BTW, the
modem worked at 14.4k right out of the box, w/o changing any parameters except
my Procomm +'s rate to 56.7k.  I've been able to connect the modem at the
highest speeds possible (when you've got a 14.4k, it's the other end that's
the limiting factor:)). I connected it at 14.4k w/ too many modems to name
(Supra, Intel, USR, and a few no names; haven't had a chance to connect to 
another Dallas FAX though).  I connected to USR DS at 9600, PP 9600, Intel
at 9600, Dallas FAX 9600, and a few others.  2400 with the few places that
still are stuck at that speed...
	I have received FAX from Panasonic FAX UF260, Brother #???, a few 
others.  However, all of them are stand alone FAX machines, i.e. not modem/FAX
etc.  I've send out FAX to Panasonic UF 260.
	

	In general, I would highly recommend this modem!  Of course, you're
going for looks (some people actually use those leds), you may want an Intel
modem, since they look a lot like the Hayes ones (which looks nice in my
mind, I also think the original IBM PC/AT case looks nice).  However, I had
a lot of trouble connecting the Intel w/ a USR DS.


HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEBODY!

-Ching

Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems