system: You are Edward Rutledge, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the High Speed Modem message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to Robert Osborne about "Modem Selection? Answers?".

They wrote:
RO> I recently saw a "Boca" Internal 28.8 K bps Data/Fax Modem for
RO> as low as $30 dollars after rebate.  How ever it stipulated
RO> Minimum System requirements: 486dx/33 processor, open 8-hint
RO> ISA slot, Windows 3.1 (MS DOS 6.2), 4 mb ram, 5 mb hard disk
RO> space.  Am I looking at a modem that would run on my 8 mh
RO> 286At or 386dx 33mh as long as I did not use their fax/data
RO> software and online software?.  Is this a workable solution or
RO> would this be a windows only modem and require the higher
RO> speed processor and ram to be able to get the thru put as
RO> questioned above? If I can not use it, then what would be an
RO> example of a modem specification that I could probably use and
RO> with these slower system?
RO> Does the Class have anything to do with what the other system
RO> is using. IE do both the sending and receiving system have to
RO> be operating on the same Class I?  In the example of Boca
RO> modem they furnish the software. I saw no Class mentioned in
RO> the ad as to the modem's class.  Is this part of the modems
RO> chip set programming?
RO> As the number goes up ie 2.0 does the capability advance. Ie
RO> is 2.0 the most advanced one available?  Is there any way to
RO> tell on a used modem that is fax capable what class it is and
RO> what kind of software will run on it other than writing the
RO> manufacture?
RO> I take it that the fax rate is different from the modems
RO> straight data thru put rate?  Do you know of any good Fax
RO> Share ware that I can try?

Write your reply.

assistant: On 06-25-97 ROBERT OSBORNE wrote to RICK COLLINS...
I really can't tell if it is a WinModem.  Usually that is specified
on the box.  Assuming, and I _*DO*_ mean assuming that it isn't, the
problem with the 286 processor trying to handle a 28.8 kbps, or 14.4
kbps for that matter, is that the amount of information that is
being dumped into the CPU is so great that it "swamps" the CPU and
you will get unreliable data transfers.  If this is a Win/DOS
FAX/Modem, then you will want to stick with the 386DX33 or better
processor.
I believe that the class that you mentioned here is how the
FAX/Modem and software interact to give you the FAX image.  I
believe that it has nothing to do with the FAX protocol(s) that are
used to transmit and receive the picture.
The best bet is to write the manufacturer.  I am sure that they will
be happy to sell you the manuals that go with your FAX/Modem at a
nominal charge.
This statement is quite true.  The maximum data through put for a
FAX is 14,400 bps (assuming a 14,400 bps or faster FAX/Modem).  The
data through put for the data side of the modem is what is specified
by the manufacturer, and now is up to 56kbps.  (Actually the usable
speed for most applications is less than or equal to 28,800 bps do
to the telephone system's telephone lines.  You might get up to
33.6 kbps if you are and the system you are connecting with are
real close to the telephone switching office.)
You might want to check out Terminate.  It is one of those packages
that covers FAX, data, QWK reader, and a whole host of other
features.  Most people who have tried it like it.
Ed