US Robotics
33.6/56.6 WinModem
Reviewed by D!ck
Item : Internal, software-based ISA modem card.
Price: 94.00 inc VAT, no delivery.
From : Output Computers, Grimsby.
(01472 311777)
Warr : 5-yr USR Warranty
Everyone knows US Robotics, they are second only to Hayes when it comes
to modems of quality, and if you've had anything to do with modems just
recently then you'll have heard of x2 technology, a protocol being
pushed by USR to facilitate internet downloading at 56.6 kilobaud, twice
the speed of 28.8 modems in common use today.
Four of the USR models can be upgraded to x2, but only two of these can
be done via software, the Sportster Flash and the Sportster Winmodem. I
visited Output Computer Repairs in Grimsby with the intention of getting
some info on the AMD K6 processor - another story - and noticed a
WinModem sat on the shelf. A few enquiries to the price and it turned
out that I could get it for much the same price as mail order would cost
with Delivery on top.
A detailed technical discussion followed regarding CPU drain and
upgradability, the WinModem differs from the Sportster Flash and all
other external modems because the sending and compression is not done by
chips on the card, but by software, which means your processor will have
extra work to do. The general concensus was that my P133 would have no
trouble at all, certainly Output have sold several and never had a
complaint yet.
I parted with my wad of cash and took the modem home, a squint into the
box while on the bus revealed a pile of literature, several CDs and -
phew! - a modem-to-phone cable, not all manufacturers include these
with their modems, I was feeling down, as one does when large sums of
money have just passed away, and so was in no mood to spend another two
quid on a cable.
I got home and emptied the box, and found that a lot of the stuff was
CDs and junk mail for internet services, so I could ignore them, though
people looking to join up could do a lot worse than use the Virgin
Internet Trial CD included with the modem.
How d'you fit it then?
First of all, uninstall any other modems you might have, remove all
settings and software and physically remove the modem and pack it away.
I got shut of Sacko's Psion Surfer - hurrah! - pile of poo that it is.
As it's an internal modem it's going to take up an interrupt, so I
disabled COM2, where my old modem was, and used that for the modem,
you'll find the software sets itself up quite nicely so there's no need
to panic, but I turned off COM2 in my BIOS before proceeding.
Next, unplug everything and open up your PC, it's a good idea to have it
plugged into the mains (but switched OFF at the socket) to prevent
electrostatic discharges building up. Find a vacant ISA slot and remove
the cover from the back of the machine.
Here's where your first problem might arise: The modem card is very
long and overran the end of my ISA slots by a good half inch or so. On
the first slot I tried it in this meant that the end of the card
wouldn't go in because the CPU fan was in the way - doh! I then tried
the next slot down, and found that the CD-Audio connector on my
soundcard protruded out too far towards the neighbouring slot, and
pushed hard against the modem card - double doh!!
In the end I simply bent the CD-Audio connector out of the way, this
meant it jutted out less and while it still touches the modem card, I
can at least get the card in and it's only touching the big plastic
housing on the modem anyway.
If you've disabled COM2 you might like to pysically remove the port from
your machine like it did. You won't be using it for anything else
anyway, not even null-modem games (get a network card!).
Right, it's in (phew!), plug everything back in (but leave the cover off
just in case) and switch it all on. The machine boots up as per usual,
only now the Plus & Pray BIOS detects *two* cards, network and - hurrah
- US Robotics 33,600 Winmodem! So far so good! Windows 95 detects new
hardware and automatically starts searching for the drivers for it, all
standard stuff, and less than 10 minutes after switching it on I've got
it set up and working, the installation is just superb.
And?
So what's it like? My mail program is none-standard and so the old
Psion didn't like it AT ALL, but the USR just whips my mail off the
server like there's no tomorrow, this thing is fast!
I tried it on the internet, and again, it rips the code down that phone
line, twice out of four attempts I got on at full 33,600. At my old
place, and using a normal Sportster, we'd never got on above 28,800
before, the WinModem is *much* faster.
As for the CPU worries, there are none, nothing has happened to make me
wonder if getting a software modem was a wise decision, it has all
performed perfectly, even calls to the local BBS connect at 33,600 with
no hassles, it's all working as you'd expect from a company such as US
Robotics. I'm in the habit of running two or three browsers at once,
plus Notepad, and I've had no trouble whatsoever.
The x2 Upgrade
At the time of writing the x2 upgrade is not available for this modem, I
keep visiting the UK site (you need the version for the UK phone system
you see) at www.usr.co.uk but so far the patch is not there, just a nice
picture of my modem card and the text "upgrade coming soon". Both
Phil!97 and Video have upgraded the Sportster Flash to x2 and tell me
the procedure is relatively painless, and I see no reason why upgrading
this one should be any different.
Half the time though, you will not get on at 55,600 anyway. When we
tried the Sportster Flash at my house the fastest we got on at was
around 45,000 but this is still much faster than your normal 33,600.
Pictures and thumbnails appear much quicker, pages come down a lot
quicker, everything is much better all round.
Note that x2 is only a one-way system, you can still only send at 33,600
but you download at the faster rate. This is because the modem is not
equipped to send at these speeds, to do so you must be connected
directly to the digital phone network. This is what is happening at
your ISP's switching station. Pipex, who we tested the modem with, have
set up a dedicated x2 number for you to dial: 0645 336576, just change
your dial-up connection and that's it.
All in all then...
What a modem, it's great, and when he x2 upgrade becomes available it
promises to be even better. You can get it mail order for much the same
price as I did, I simply bought it from Output because I was there, and
they've always helped with problems, they're just down the road too.
Value: 9/10 - Good price for what you get, 33,600 modems
still cost around this amount and they're
not all upgradable.
Installation: 8/10 - The card is a bit long and you might
have to choose your slot with care.
Ease of use: 10/10 - Just like any other modem, piece of
cake really!
Speed: 10/10 - Or rather, it will be when it's upgraded!
Features: 10/10 - Does everything, voicemail, fax, data,
you even get a dinky little microphone
for the voice software, it's so cool.
Support: 10/10 - BBS and web support, E-Mail, plenty of
free internet offers, 5-yr warranty, can
you think of anything else you'd need?
Overall 10/10
I really cannot see any reason why you should buy any other modem!
D!ck
.-------------------------------------------------.
| E-Mail: Dick@emarkt.com / UIN (ICQ): 1809384 |
|-------------------------------------------------|
| Visit D!ck's webpages, the D!crosoft Dimension, |
| http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Bay/2020 |
| and Bodyshop Central: http://www.qcs.co.uk/bsc/ |
|-------------------------------------------------|
| P133, 40Mb, 1Gb, 512vx, Nec4x4, 33.6 (@^@) |
`---------------------------------------oOO(_)OOo-'
[I'd like to hear from anyone with x2 modems about how it is performing
on downloads. With the current state of the UK's analogue connections
it is not possible to get anywhere near 56k/s on download unless you
have a dedicated ISDN/T1/T2/T3 line to your house. You are looking at
46.6k at the most or 53k if a fibre optic connnection. At present I get
107k/s but only at uni. I'll have access to the above lines in my new
job so expect some performance tests from me in future issues of The
Word. Kei]
end
|