Article 3128 of comp.sys.amiga.hardware: Path: leela!orstcs!ogicse!uwm.edu!rpi!usc!sdd.hp.com!mips!apple!portal!cup.portal.com!DBQ From: DBQ@cup.portal.com (DONN FREDRICK DUBUQUE) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: Supra Fax Modem, The Company And Their Services Message-ID: <64193@cup.portal.com> Date: 17 Aug 92 23:51:00 GMT Article-I.D.: cup.64193 References: Organization: The Portal System (TM) Lines: 35 I thought you might be interested in some 'real world' tests of three of the more popular modem types: USR HST/DS(14.4k), SupraFax 14.4K, and the ZyXel U-1496e Faxmodem. Both the USR and ZyXel were far more tolerant of line noise and distortion than the Supra. The USR and ZyXel used the proper V.32/v.32b train sequence. 50% of all connect attempts between the USR and Supra resulted in a 'lost' call, another 25% were downsped to 12K. Out of over 100 calls, the ZyXel failed to connect with the USR once. The outcome? For the sysop buyer, the ZyXel at $299 is only slightly more than the SupraFax, and Zero One (the US distributor) gaurentees 2 week delievery for Sysop orders. If you waited only 2 months for the Supra, be glad of that, as the average wait time for USR Sysops is growing from an average of 10 weeks to over 12 at the moment. Some have reported waiting as long as 4 months this year (I myself was just shy of 5 months/20 weeks last year waiting for mine). Current sysop price of $449 for the newest HST/DS/v.small Faxmodem is fairly high but nesseary if you need to support HST (those in Fidonet may need to, I do as my 'hub' has a 16.8HST non-DS, and transferring 2 megs of mail a day at 2400 doesn't cut it. I'd go with a ZyXel the next time out, but for now I'll be selling my older HST/DS for more money than I will spend on the new 'v.fast' faxmodem model, so my investment has been made secure. However, the ZyXel is upgradable to v.fast also, and in fact the v.32b/extende 16.8K will be released within the next few weeks. Designed like Supras, that rely upon a non-programmable DSP chipset won't be able to upgrade without extensive modification. BTW, I've also owned 3 older Supras, two 2400's and one 2400+/v.42b, and all of them have had various lockup problems now and again. In over 16 months of continuous operation the USR has never had a problem. Over 10 months of operation and neither has the ZyXel.