Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!snorkelwacker!bloom-beacon!world!boris
From: boris@world.std.com (Boris Levitin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: FAX Modems
Message-ID: <1990Aug30.142804.6645@world.std.com>
Date: 30 Aug 90 14:28:04 GMT
References: <1990Aug30.080649.3959@clark.edu>
Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die
Lines: 28

gsnow@pro-freedom.cts.com (Gary Snow) writes:

>Can anyone recommend a GOOD FAX modem (2400baud Modem/9600baud FAX), and
>REALLY GOOD FAX modem software......I have heard that the InterFAX FAX modem
>and the BackFAX software are pretty good......which out of them all is the
>best to get?

First, it's 2,400 and 9,600 bps, not baud.  Baud means one bit of the transmi-
ssion, bps refers to one bit of the data being sent.  High-speed modems (2,400
bps and, I believe, even 1,200 bps) compress more than one bit of the data 
being sent into a bit actually sent across the serial port; the 1,200/2,400
rating refers to how much source data they can send, i.e. bits per second 
(bps).  Now:

BackFax comes with most faxmodems out there (except for Prometheus ones), and
I don't really see much reason to treat them other than as commodities: 
features vs. price.  Consider, though, the ProModem 9600M from Prometheus (that
comes with its own background-faxing [networkable] and communications [Mackno-
wledge] software packages): 9,600 bps fax AND 9,600 bps (effective throughput
up to 19,200) MNP-5 data modem, $1,000 or cheaper at certain mail-order places.

Boris Levitin
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WGBH Public Broadcasting, Boston                         boris@world.std.com
Audience & Marketing Research              wgbx!boris_levitin@athena.mit.edu
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(The opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily coincide 
with those of my employer or anyone else.  The WGBH tag is for ID only.)