'software' or 'hardware' modem?

[Jin]

Hi;
I live in a very rural area, and can only connect
to the internet via modem.
The connection here rarely ever goes over 28,800
(I have no other noise on the lines).

Can anyone tell me what kind of modem is better:
a ISA or a PCI?

And, does anyone know how to tell if a modem is a
'software' or 'harware' modem?

Thanks, for any advice!
Jin

 

[)-()-(]

Hi;
I live in a very rural area, and can only connect
to the internet via modem.
The connection here rarely ever goes over 28,800
(I have no other noise on the lines).

Can anyone tell me what kind of modem is better:
a ISA or a PCI?

And, does anyone know how to tell if a modem is a
'software' or 'harware' modem?

Thanks, for any advice!
Jin

Unless you're using the modem for playing online games,
then 'software' or 'hardware' modem don't really matter,
as well as ISA or PCI don't really matter as far as I know.

For online gaming, hardware is better unless you have a
very powerful CPU, then it doesn't matter.

Certainly an external modem is a hardware modem,
like my 'Call Waiting Actiontec' External modem that
will allow calls through while surfing if you have call waiting
service. Very handy if you're online alot.

 

[stacey]

Unless you're using the modem for playing online games,
then 'software' or 'hardware' modem don't really matter,
as well as ISA or PCI don't really matter as far as I know.

If you have nice clean lines it doesn't matter but in a rural area or if
you have dirty lines it can make a HUGE difference. At my house I've never
got ANY software modem (I've builts hundreds of systems and test them all)
to get over 31,200, most conect at 28,800. A PCI 3com performance pro
(hardware) connects at 44,000 everytime and an old ISA "V.everything"
(obviously hardware as all ISA modems are) conects at 48,000+. Not all ISA
modems are good though. I also get slightly better throughput with linux
than windows using either on dialup on the box conected to the net. The
difference in download times is substantial. Plus a "V.everything"
continuosly monitors the line conditions and adjusts to keep the line
conected. Software modems will drop you if you are at a high speed
conection and -anything- gets wierd.

Like you said (but only =IF+ you have clean lines and can get a good
connection with a software modem) the type doesn't make much difference but
they can make the difference in being stuck at 28,800 and getting a40,000+
conection.

 

[ToolPackinMama]

Hi;
I live in a very rural area, and can only connect
to the internet via modem.
The connection here rarely ever goes over 28,800
(I have no other noise on the lines).

Can anyone tell me what kind of modem is better:
a ISA or a PCI?

And, does anyone know how to tell if a modem is a
'software' or 'harware' modem?

Get an external modem that is a hardware modem (CompUSA offers a good
generic one). That would be best. You can't improve the quality of
your phone line, but you can control how much your system is taxed by
your modem. A software modem doesn't have its own controller like a
hardware modem does.

http://www.cit.cornell.edu/helpdesk/win/modem/mddiff.html

Hardware modems are especially necessary for people who are using more
than one OS. A hardware modem can be used with DOS, with Linux, with
any version of Windows.

 

[Conor]

Get an external modem that is a hardware modem (CompUSA offers a good
generic one). That would be best. You can't improve the quality of
your phone line, but you can control how much your system is taxed by
your modem. A software modem doesn't have its own controller like a
hardware modem does.

Just to add...

The Diamond SupraExpress 56e Pro is the best external modem for use on
noisy phone lines.

 

[stacey]

Just to add...

The Diamond SupraExpress 56e Pro is the best external modem for use on
noisy phone lines.

Good to know. I know 3coms external V.everything sucked on my noisy line
while their internal PCI hardware "performance pro" or their internal ISA
V.everything rock.

 

[Spajky]

Just to add...

The Diamond SupraExpress 56e Pro is the best external modem for use on
noisy phone lines.

all Supras are, mine SupraExpress 56i Pro Vcc too, internal PCI "soft"
but with DSP chip built in (better even than my ex-hardware ISA one
SupraExpress 56i Pro ! (believe it or not, Dos support & newly Linux
driver also); when you get a good modem, a surge protector is a must,
it savs my machine/modem once a year!

-- Regards, SPAJKY
& visit site - http://www.spajky.vze.com
Celly-III OC-ed,"Tualatin on BX-Slot1-MoBo!"
E-mail AntiSpam: remove ##

 

[Walt]

It appears that Diamond isn't in the modem business anymore.

Can anyone suggest a "best in class" 56K modem that is still in
production and therefore, can still be purchased new, somewhere
here in the USA?

I have a very noisy phone line, and can never connect over 28.8.
I would certainly be willing to try another modem if it there
is any hope of increased speeds.

 

[Conor]

all Supras are, mine SupraExpress 56i Pro Vcc too, internal PCI "soft"
but with DSP chip built in (better even than my ex-hardware ISA one
SupraExpress 56i Pro ! (believe it or not, Dos support & newly Linux
driver also); when you get a good modem, a surge protector is a must,
it savs my machine/modem once a year!

Amen to that. I purchased a Belkin one for £30 a while ago and there's
an unlimited hardware claim should anything get damaged due to its
failure to protect.

 

[Gary Tait]

It appears that Diamond isn't in the modem business anymore.

Can anyone suggest a "best in class" 56K modem that is still in
production and therefore, can still be purchased new, somewhere
here in the USA?

Try Actiontec. I have a modem that uses the same chipset (and is
recognised by Windows as an Actiontech), that works well (44-46K),
compared to my 33.6 GVC, which rarely connected above 26.4, and the
Lectron 56K ISA that did no more than 28.8.

 

[jeffc]

Hi;
I live in a very rural area, and can only connect
to the internet via modem.
The connection here rarely ever goes over 28,800
(I have no other noise on the lines).

Can anyone tell me what kind of modem is better:
a ISA or a PCI?
Neither.

And, does anyone know how to tell if a modem is a
'software' or 'harware' modem?

It should say in the description. You want a hardware modem. If it doesn't
say so, you might assume it's software.

 

[hawk]

If you have nice clean lines it doesn't matter but in a rural area or if
you have dirty lines it can make a HUGE difference. At my house I've
never
got ANY software modem (I've builts hundreds of systems and test them
all)
to get over 31,200, most conect at 28,800. A PCI 3com performance pro
(hardware) connects at 44,000 everytime and an old ISA "V.everything"
(obviously hardware as all ISA modems are) conects at 48,000+. Not all
ISA
modems are good though. I also get slightly better throughput with linux
than windows using either on dialup on the box conected to the net. The
difference in download times is substantial. Plus a "V.everything"
continuosly monitors the line conditions and adjusts to keep the line
conected. Software modems will drop you if you are at a high speed
conection and -anything- gets wierd.

Like you said (but only =IF+ you have clean lines and can get a good
connection with a software modem) the type doesn't make much difference
but
they can make the difference in being stuck at 28,800 and getting
a40,000+
conection.

A question I have regarding modems for noisy lines. I don't recognize any
models mentioned except the 3com. One modem site I saw recommended only
USR or Zoom modems. And aren't there only a very few chip makers? Don't
most modems use the same few chip sets? Ant other advice on modems for
noisy lines?

Thanks and regards, hawk

 

[w_tom]

And since the phone company provides an effective surge
protector for free, then the owner need purchase nothing.
That plug-in protector provides nothing since the free and
telco provided surge protector has already eliminated surges
from the phone line.

 

[Jon Danniken]

And since the phone company provides an effective surge
protector for free, then the owner need purchase nothing.
That plug-in protector provides nothing since the free and
telco provided surge protector has already eliminated surges
from the phone line.

Sorry, but if lightning strikes the pole or drop wire coming to the house, the
"telco provided surge protector" (whatever that is) won't help.

Jon

 

[w_tom]

If lightning strikes the pole just outside the telco's
$multi-million switching computer, that same protectors also
will not protect that computer. Phone service is often shut
down for three days so that the computer can be replaced. Or
- maybe Jon has posted without first learning facts so well
proven since the 1930? It has long been proven - before even
WWII that direct lightning strikes need not damage
electronics. 25 direct strikes every year to TV and FM radio
equipment on the Empire State Building - without damage.

What has changed? Since 1970, we now require that same
protection in homes - due to the transistor. And yet still so
many have not even learned what was defacto knowledge 50+
years ago. The technology is so well proven that lightning
damage is directly traceable to a human failure - not to
lightning.

For those willing to learn, principles of effective
protection (not found in retail store plug-in devices) is
introduced in a discussion in the newsgroup
alt.certification.a-plus entitled "Opinions on Surge
Protectors?" on 7 Jul 2003 or
http://tinyurl.com/l3m9
Detailed discussion including effective protector models is:
"Power Surge" on 29 Sept 2003 in the newsgroup
alt.comp.hardware or
http://tinyurl.com/p1rk

It has been long since well proven. A concept routinely
violated by plug-in surge protectors: a surge protector is
only as effective as its earth ground. No earth ground means
no effective surge protection.

Does Jon Danniken know differently? Jon did not even know
the telco installs a 'whole house' protector on your phone
line - for free. Protection that is dependent on central earth
ground that you must provide. Ineffective plug-in protector
manufacturers prefer to have people, like Jon, not even know
that the protector exists. They prefer to avoid public
knowledge of critically important earth ground. No earth
ground means no effective protection - as well proven in the
1930s and demonstrated by 1752 Ben Franklin.

Did we mention all those churches that burned down also
because nothing can protect from a direct lightning strike?
Or maybe Franklin did demonstrate effective protection from
direct lightning strikes. Effective is what 'whole house'
protectors do. Earth a surge before it can enter the
building. Only myth purveyors would cry, "Woe is me. Nothing
can protect from lightning." Those who live in reality have
been doing protection for well over 60 years.

 

[Walt]

Actually, I have found no PCI modem description which actually
says the words "winmodem". I guess their marketing folks just
will not permit the use of the bad word.

I have found modems described as "software modem". Others as
"DSP modem". I guess a "software modem" is a full winmodem. A
"DSP modem" is a 1/2 winmodem and 1/2 hardware modem being it
does some signal processing in on-board hardware, but still lacks
a controller.

BTW, are there _any_ PCI slot modems which are true, full, hardware
modems anymore?

 

[Walt]

I checked their website and it appears that their chipset is
simply the "generic" Lucent/Agere modem chip set used by many,
many modem other card manufacturers.

Is that right? Or is there a modem card model made by Actiontec
which uses a different, possibly proprietary, chip set?

 

[mcheu]

Actually, I have found no PCI modem description which actually
says the words "winmodem". I guess their marketing folks just
will not permit the use of the bad word.

It's a trademark of USRobotics, so it's not a marketing issue. It's a
legal thing. Only USR/3COM can legally get away with marketting the
winmodem brand. Just as it's technically wrong to be "Xeroxing" from
a Canon copier, and blowing your nose into a "Kleenex" made by Scott
paper.

The proper generic terms for a winmodem are:

- controllerless modem
- soft-modem
- hosted modem

You'll find that some manufacturers do use these terms, but others do
not. Besides, at this point, the term "win modem" is somewhat
outdated, as not everybody uses windows these days, and some
manufacturers have included drivers for many *NIX flavours, and a few
even supply drivers for MAC OSX.

I have found modems described as "software modem". Others as
"DSP modem". I guess a "software modem" is a full winmodem. A
"DSP modem" is a 1/2 winmodem and 1/2 hardware modem being it
does some signal processing in on-board hardware, but still lacks
a controller.

Nope. Both are full soft modems. If there is no controller, it's a
hosted modem. A full hardware modem will have a controller and
onboard memory for caching. A hybrid or what you call a "1/2 and
1/2" is a modem that has a controller, but does caching in system
memory (sort of like some of the crappy 3D video chipsets from
Trident). I'm kind of surprised this site is still there, but it has
a section that details the whole win/hard modem thing.

BTW, are there _any_ PCI slot modems which are true, full, hardware
modems anymore?

I'm not sure, as the waters were muddied long ago. Once upon a time,
Actiontec and USR both produced full hardware PCI modems. Most of the
others will either be hybrids or fully hosted.

AOPEN used to produce hybrids, but it looks like they've gone all soft
(er... take that however you want).

 

[Bill Turner]

I live in a very rural area, and can only connect
to the internet via modem.
The connection here rarely ever goes over 28,800
(I have no other noise on the lines).

_________________________________________________________

I'm not a modem expert, but I can tell you what has worked and not
worked for me. I live in the desert, about four miles from the central
phone switching office, so modems must perform well here to work at all.

Over the years, I've had at least a dozen modems, both internal and
external. The best by far has been a generic PCI modem I bought on
ebay. It was advertised as a "hardware" modem, which I believe it is,
and also V.92 (the latest) and most important, I suspect, having an
Intel chipset. Get those three features and you should have good luck.

The other modems all suffered random disconnects and dropouts, but the
current modem is solid as a rock. Sorry I can't tell you what brand it
is since it is unmarked except for the Intel brand on the chips.

 

[Bill Turner]

BTW, are there _any_ PCI slot modems which are true, full, hardware
modems anymore?

_________________________________________________________

I have heard that any modem advertised as a "fax modem" is a true
hardware modem. Can anyone corroborate this?