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From: fg041@unocss.unomaha.edu (fg041)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Intel 9600ex
Message-ID: <3186@unocss.unomaha.edu>
Date: 12 Feb 91 15:49:39 GMT
References: <4028@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>
Reply-To: fg041@unocss.UUCP (Jack Winslade)
Organization: Univ. of Nebraska at Omaha - Computer Science
Lines: 41

In article <4028@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu> sob@tmc.edu (Stan Barber) writes:
>I just got a couple of these and am quite impressed with them.
>
>I tested against Telebit T2500s as well and they will connect to them
>fine in V.32 mode.

I was impressed with mine at first, but now I am rather disappointed.
Sure, it works like a champ when talking to the newest and greatest HS
modems, but it has failed miserably against the installed user base of
older modems.  I actually had to take the 9600ex off of the BBS due to
user complaints of inability to access it.

For some reason, Intel has chosen only to present the Bell 103 answer tone
for three seconds.  Many modems, including the Racal 3451 here at work, will
not respond within that period.  Of course, most dumb 300 baud modems will
not work either.  (Yes, some people actually use them.)  

I did report it to Intel, and they admitted they knew of the problem but
could not/would not say when a fix was due.  (Real Soon Now ;-)  The guy
I spoke to would not speculate on the reason the 103 answer tone is so
short.  (Any ideas out there in netland ??)

>Does anyone know if Intel will have V.32bis support as a prom upgrade or
>will it be a new product?

Right now I could care less about v.32bis for the thing.  I just want it to
operate properly with the standard modems that have been around for the past
several years.  (And no, I don't consider telling the affected users to get
newer modems an appropriate solution.)

It's too bad that when a product such as the 9600ex came out, it was so
thoroughly tested against the Robotics and Telebit macho modems, when it
is so glaringly obvious that they failed to verify the performance with
the older ones.  I could possibly see one or two models having difficulty,
but this is with several types of modems from several different vendors.
 
I just hope they get this fixed soon.
 
Good Day!        JSW

(winslade@zeus.unomaha.edu)