'software' or 'hardware' modem?

[Walt]

Much thanks for taking the time to post a reply.

I had forgotten about USR when I was checking all other modem
maker's websites.

And, yes, it seems that USR does make a full hardware PCI modem.
They even point out, as their top most bullet item, that their
board contains a controller.

I did find an interesting way to tell if a PCI modem is a hardware
modem or not. By price. The USR 5610B goes for about $70.

 

[JT]

_________________________________________________________

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

Not so. Have seen many controlerless modems that also do fax. Haven't seen
a modem in a couple years that won't do fax, winmodem or not.

JT

 

[Gary Tait]

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.

Tell that to my modem surge protectors. I have two gone. (the one in
my power strip, and a standalone one).

 

[Gary Tait]

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?

Just the Generic Lucent/Agere Venus chipset (on my modem anyway).

 

[w_tom]

A surge protector damaged by a transient was undersized.
And yet the telco provided protector suffered no damage (or
has your phone service been upgraded since maybe 1985?)?

Second, where did the 'surge protector' destroying transient
come from? On phone line that had effective 'whole house'
protector, or via AC electric that typically has no 'whole
house' protector? AC electric wire (not phone line) is
highest on pole and most often struck. Most destructive
transients (such as those that damage modems) enter via AC
electric. Incoming on AC electric. Outgoing on phone line to
earth ground. That complete circuit from cloud to ground must
exist; else no damage. So what was the circuit that damaged
those grossly undersized, modem surge protectors? What was
the incoming transient path?

 

[Gary Tait]

A surge protector damaged by a transient was undersized.
And yet the telco provided protector suffered no damage (or
has your phone service been upgraded since maybe 1985?)?

Still have the same NID from the 1960s.

Second, where did the 'surge protector' destroying transient
come from? On phone line that had effective 'whole house'

Lightning storm.

protector, or via AC electric that typically has no 'whole
house' protector? AC electric wire (not phone line) is
highest on pole and most often struck. Most destructive
transients (such as those that damage modems) enter via AC
electric. Incoming on AC electric. Outgoing on phone line to
earth ground. That complete circuit from cloud to ground must
exist; else no damage. So what was the circuit that damaged
those grossly undersized, modem surge protectors? What was
the incoming transient path?

I don't know, but I'll tell you this, my 33.6 modem broke a few times
from nearby lightning hits (fortunately repairable). I'm not about to
let that happen to my 56K modem (although I paid significantly less
for it)

 

[Phisherman]

I really like my hardware modem. I can tell at a glance what's going
on--those flashy lights do help. Recently, I completed a course in
internet security and one of the (many) recommendations was a external
modem with indicator lights. Hackers prefer internal modems.

 

[Gary Tait]

I really like my hardware modem. I can tell at a glance what's going
on--those flashy lights do help. Recently, I completed a course in
internet security and one of the (many) recommendations was a external
modem with indicator lights. Hackers prefer internal modems.

Hardware modems need not be external. All of my modems are hardware
modems, ony one of them (of useable vintage), is external.

 

[w_tom]

A typical 1960 NID looks something like this:
http://www.inwap.com/inwap/chez/Phoneline.jpg
It contains carbon type protectors that connect to earth
ground via that beige wire. Unfortunately, that beige wire is
typically too far to earth ground - and often no longer
connected to earth. Therein lies no effective protection for
transistors. It was sufficient for homes without
transistors. But times have changed. This is not an
acceptable NID for transistor protection.

One reason why thise 1960 protectors were not effective -
that connection to earth (the beige wire) was typically many
times longer than 10 feet.

But and again, if a 'whole house' protector is not properly
earthed at AC electric service entrance, then all modems
remain at risk. Take a multimeter. One AC electric wire
makes a direct connection to some modem IC pins. Try
measuring that same connection from phone line to those IC
pins. Easiest connection for a surge incoming into modem is
AC electric. Modem protection requires a 'whole house'
protectors on the incoming AC electric.

If your phone line protector (NID) is this vintage, then
effective phone line protection does not exist- with or
without a plug-in protector on that phone line. Time to
upgrade AC electric to post 1990 NEC earthing requirements.
Then get phone NID upgraded so that the telco provided surge
protector is earthed, less than 10 feet, to that same, newly
installed, central earth ground. We do these so that no modem
is ever damaged by lightning storms.

 

[bogustxtburnetga]

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

look into a 3com # 2977 or 2976
both oem, cheap, and good

Greg B.

 

[R. Asby Dragon]

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.

And what telco is that ??? God??

This is total bullshit .... take it from a telecomm tech for a public power
utility. I'd love to see any copper pair survive a 26KV surge from a carpole
accident or a lightning strike...