Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!aero!faigin From: faigin@aerospace.aero.org (Daniel P. Faigin) Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops Subject: Re: Toshiba 1000SE/Megahertz modem power Message-ID: Date: 4 Jan 91 16:11:27 GMT References: <61850@bbn.BBN.COM> Sender: news@aerospace.aero.org Distribution: na Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, Computer Security Department, El Segundo CA Lines: 48 In-reply-to: sher@bbn.com's message of 3 Jan 91 17:27:13 GMT In article <61850@bbn.BBN.COM> sher@bbn.com (Lawrence D. Sher) writes: > I have a Megahertz modem in a Toshiba 1000SE. The modem draws its full > power regardless of the "MODEM POWER: ON OFF" settings in the Toshiba's > little pop-up menu or the configuration settings accessed via the SETUP10 > utility. From the rate of battery discharge when the computer is off, it > seems to me that it may also be drawing power then! (I realize that holding > "hardram" draws power.) I've just done a little bit more exploration of this problem, both in relation to this posting and the battery life of my Toshiba 1600/40. I've called both Toshiba and Megahertz, and poured over the manuals, and here's what I've found out. 1. There are two types of batteries: one is rated at 1700 mAh, the other at 2000 mAh (I'm not sure which one I have). Estimated lifetime on these batteries, for a bare system (no modem, no extra RAM) is 1h for the 2000, 50m for the 1700. Extra memories and modems would reduce this life by 15-20%. 2. Only the Toshiba modem and the modem of one other manufacturer (not Megahertz) pay attention to the modem power register setting defined by the pop-up window. 3. The Megahertz 2400 modem draws 750 milliwatts when it is enabled, and 10 microwatts when it is disabled (the 1200 draws 250 milliwatts when operating, 100 milliwatts on standby, and 150 microwatts when disabled). Newer releases of the modem (at least the 2400, which I asked about) are always, according to Megahertz, in disabled mode except when they are in active use. This is why it ignores the pop-up window: it is normally disabled. Older verisions of the modem, apparently, didn't do this. Hence, Lawrence's receiving the question from Megahertz: > They mumbled something about "how long have you had the modem?" implying > that some of their modems draw power even when the computer is off. I > got no definitive answer to this latter question. So far, I think the culprit in my case is the 5M of RAM, combined with (I theorize here) 1700 mAh batteries. I'm going to do some more testing to see if both batteries have equal lifetimes. I'm also going to look into purchasing some additional battery packs: according to Toshiba, the 1700 lists for ~$40, the 2000 for ~70 (and I'm sure I can find them for less). Daniel -- [W]:The Aerospace Corp. M1/055 * POB 92957 * LA, CA 90009-2957 * 213/336-8228 [Email]:faigin@aerospace.aero.org [Vmail]:213/336-5454 Box#3149 "A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually" -- Abba Eban