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From: chau@caen.engin.umich.edu (Hin Fai Chau)
Newsgroups: comp.misc,comp.periphs,comp.sys.misc
Subject: ** Help Needed on Modem Selection **
Message-ID: <1991Jan21.204216.27162@engin.umich.edu>
Date: 21 Jan 91 20:42:16 GMT
Sender: news@engin.umich.edu (CAEN Netnews)
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor
Lines: 23

I have seen an ad in the January issue of Computer Shopper about the V.42bis
external modem by Zoom for a price of $189.  It claims that it can achieve
9600 bd compressed through-put with a 2400 bd data-pump; fully V.42 COMPLIANT,
100% Hayes and MNP-5 compatible.

My questions are:
(1) How does it compare to the real 9600 baud modems in terms of performance
    and usage?
(2) Does it require a special kind of software to operate?
(2) What do V.42, V.42bis, Hayes and MNP-5 mean?
(3) I have seen that some modems can be addressable with COM1, COM2, COM3 and
    COM4.  What are they?
(4) What is the limit of ordinary phone lines?  Can it handle 9600 baud data
    transmission?
(5) I assume some of you know X.  I have a 386/33 IBM PC-compatible system at
    home.  What do you think the minimum baud rate necessary of a modem if I
    want to run jobs "remotely" on DECs say, and display graphics "locally"
    and efficiently on my PC screen via X window?

Please use my email address in your response if possible.  Your help will be
greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

-- H. Chau