From: dmkasten@redorc.chi.il.us (Bowie Poag)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Intel SatisFAXtion vs. USR 14.4 Sportster
Date: 7 Jan 93 20:13:51 CST
Organization: Red Oracle Bbs/Network

In article <98qowB1w164w@admiral.uucp>, spyder@admiral.uucp (Eric) writes:
>Disregarding price (I can get these both for the same price + or - $3)
>Which is a better modem, the Intel 14.4 SatisFAXtion or the USR 14.4
>Sportster?.......does anyone out there have any problems regarding 
>connections to other types of modems?..I already know that the USR
>14.4 Sportster will pretty much connect to everything, and the only
>drawback is that the modem is not upgradable to 28.8, and it doesn't
>have ASL....how about the Intel?....does it connect everywhere for 
>everyone?, regardless of line noise?......is it going to be upgradable?..
>does it fall-back, and fall-forwards during connections?
>Please leave me information....thanks..
>
>--

The Sportster is a peppy little thing.. I usually max out at around 1650 CPS
moving compressed files around. Has a theorhetical max of 57,600 BPS when
moving stuff like text files, and I believe it.. highest transfer rate Ive
achieved on mine is about 3150 CPS (plain ascii text documents)


My only gripe is that I wish it was a dual standard. :) When attempting to call
a straight vanilla Courier HST modem, I can connect no higher than
2400/ARQ/LAPM/V.42BIS .. Which gives me a CPS rate of about 290. as opposed to
normal 2400 baud connection running about 230 CPS on a good day. This isnt so
much the fault of the Sportster, but rather the HST on the other end that
dosent conform to the standard industry-wide specifications.. Thats what Dual
Standards are for, to both handle HST and "normal" modems.


And the rumors ARE true about the Sportster being able to connect to anything,
regardless. The Sportster has an automatic fall-forward/fall-back sequence for
determining the absolute highest speed connection possible.. Regardless of
wether its a 300 baud cheezy-modem or a 16.8K Locked Rate Zyxel... I get
excellent results without having to flip through a manual.. I just set my term
at 19.2 (or higher, it reccoments for the absolute BEST throughput) and dial
out.. the modem does the rest.


Might I also mention USR's awesome technical support. Back when I originally
ordered by Sportster, I ordered it from some shit-shack software house in New
Jersey called "Disk-Count Software"..I ordered from such an obscure place in
hopes I could get an older Sportster (Read:4.1 rom set so I could use the 16.8K
factory code) ... They shipped me a defective modem. I later found out that
Disk-Count Software lies about their return policy--their ads specifically
state that all defective merchandise is *exchanged*, which is a total lie.. One
of the operators who I complained to made a side remark about how long it would
take for them to send it back to the original manufacturer for repairs! What a
bunch of liars.. But anyways, What I ended up doing is taking my dead Sportster
to USRobotics HQ in Skokie, IL (about a 45 minute drive) and hand delivered it
to one of the Tech Support people, who were VERY helpful---SO helpful that they
put my modem on a priority-repair shelf, and the problem was corrected, tested,
and ready for shipping back to my home the next morning...I dropped it off at
around Noon, and recieved it back via UPS Same Day (FREE of charge!) the
following morning, on my doorstep.

I cant reccomend USR, and the Sportster 14.4K enough, when it comes down to it.




        +-----------------------------------------------------------+
        |o|              I think, therefore I Amiga.              |=|
        +-----------------------------------------------------------+
        | Douglas Michael Kasten (DMK) | Amiga 2000HD/5 with a tiny |
        |  dmkasten@redorc.chi.il.us   | little 21" Toshiba monitor.|
        +------------------------------+----------------------------+
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems