From: dawson@willard.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Supra flame
Date: Fri, 06 Nov 92 01:29:37 EST
Organization: Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- +1 (404) 664 8814

I started to respond via email simply because I felt that my response was
too petty for public consumption, but then I came to my senses.  I realize
you were probably addressing the general population, and not me personally,
but I felt that some of your statements deserved a follow-up...  I could
be wrong in that assessment.  I'm sure some friendly type will tell me so.

randy@rls.UUCP (randall l. smith) writes:

> paul@hsh.com writes:
> > In article <NJikTB2w165w@willard.UUCP>, dawson@willard.UUCP writes:
> >> I've been using a SupraFAXModem v.32bis (V1.200-C TR14-Jxxx-001 032) modem
> >> for about a month.  
> > [stuff deleted]
> >> I've been in line for the free H-ROM upgrade for over two weeks.  Supra's
> >> tech rep assured me I'd have it by the end of the first week.  Why should
> >> they make promises they damn well know they have no intentions of honoring
> >
> > Where do people get the idea that all of their orders will be in their 
> > mailbox with tomorrow's mail?  Have some patience, for God's sake.  Yes,
> > some delays are unavoidable -- but they REALLY don't do it DELIBERATELY to
> > p*ss you off.  Really.  Honest.
> 
> Amen!  I didn't get my request *form* from Supra until several weeks
> after many netters reported getting their new ROMS.  Two days later I
> sent it back and didn't get my ROMS until one month later.  No big deal. 

Not a big deal to you.  Is a big deal to me.  I expect better, and demand it.
If the company cannot provide the service I've come to anticipate, that they
themselves have PROMISED, then I go searching for another company (as you
yourself advocate).  Part of that search involves the sharing of experience.
By Gemini, that's what I was doing!

> As before, my Supra modem works fine.  No heat, no crashes, no problems. 

I'm glad you've had such good experiences.  Do you leave your modem online
for dial-up access?  (Maybe you've posted that you have, and I simply have
missed it...)  You'll ferret out a few more problems if you do, I'll warrant.
I know I've seen quite a few problems crop up.  Howsabout this one:  modem
locked-up, OFF-HOOK.  That give you any ideas?  God (and Ma Bell) knows how
long, and whether it was an outgoing long distance call...  I've also seen
numerous slow resets (I mean REALLY slow), and sometimes the modem simply
does not reset.  By this I mean, DCD doesn't trigger anything.  Sometimes
ATDTnumber returns ERROR!  That's f*cking incredible!

You see, my system has CRON jobs that call out to other sites, and it
takes such calls from other systems.  For that to work reliably, every
little piece has to be somewhat robust.  Right now, comparing the SFM
to other modems in my own personal experience, which includes T'bit,
Microcom, HST, Hayes, Digitan, Motorola Codex/UDS (both), PPI, Penril,
and others, I'd say the Supra comes in dead last in the reliability
spectrum, and certainly, it's the weakest link in my current system setup.

> I have been able to crash the modem by putting it into bizzarre modes,
> where it really shouldn't crash.  That doesn't bother me because I just
> don't normally use the modem in that way.

Must be nice to be so representative of the modem-buying public.

> There are certain things my car should do but doesn't.  Do I flame the
> manufacturer all to hell.  No.  I just quietly consider buying another car.
> It's not my loss, it's theirs. 

And, your silence dooms others to potentially buying the wrong device for
the wrong task.  I'm sure that they all would love to personally shake your
hand.  Silence is good for no one.  If what I say is true (and every word
is factual) then what good reason can you give me for not sharing it with
the net?

> BTW, those that *do* use the modem in miscellaneous ways are probably
> ticked off.  Some people have purchased Supras as well as other brands
> and do nothing buy flame the manufacturer month after month.  I simply
> suggest buying another modem and shut up. 

Dammit, that was my first (and could have been my last) post on the subject.
I KNOW you must not be responding to me personally, but I'll be damned if
I'm gonna shut up.

> 
> - randy
> 
> uucp: randy@rls.uucp
> bang: <backbone>!osu-cis!rls!randy
> inet: rls!randy@cis.ohio-state.edu
> The bold print giveth and the fine print taketh away.

-- 
dawson@willard.UUCP (Willard Dawson)
     I've quit ^^^^ using the registered US domain .waffle.atl.ga.us
     as my mail forwarder has gone to visit Elvis!
Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- +1 (404) 664 8814
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems