Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!uunet!hayes!tnixon From: tnixon@hayes.uucp Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems Subject: Re: High-speed modems for overseas file transfer Message-ID: <3799.27c53ab3@hayes.uucp> Date: 22 Feb 91 15:37:23 GMT References: <997@nih-csl.nih.gov> Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA Lines: 81 In article <997@nih-csl.nih.gov>, bert@helix.nih.gov (Bert Tyler) writes: > a British economic forecasting firm. This is the British firm's > first subsidiary, and they just realized that they now have to transfer > about 5MB's worth of information across the ocean each month (after > ZIPping it), and their usual method of file transfer, tossing a few > floppies across the room, isn't going to work. To transmit 5Mb of ZIPped data, even on a V.32bis modem (1700cps throughput on clean lines), will take about 49 minutes; 75 minutes on a V.32 modem. The rates are roughly as follows (this is based on Atlanta to London on AT&T): First Add'l Cost Cost Time Minute Minutes V.32 V.32bis 7a-1p 1.34 .94 $70.90 $46.46 Plus Tax 1p-6p 1.15 .71 $53.69 $35.23 Plus Tax 6p-7a .98 .50 $37.98 $24.98 Plus Tax and remember that it costs more if that call is placed FROM the UK TO the USA, because of less competition. A Federal Express overnight package from the USA to London costs $25 if you walk in off the street, less if you have a negotiated rate; some other services (DHL, Airborne, Postal Service) may charge even less. You must also consider that it is very unlikely that a V.32bis modem will actually operate at 14,400bps through the 40 kilobit ADPCM digitial circuit multiplying equipment used for international calls; you'd be more likely to get 12,000, or even 9600. Thus, the costs associated with V.32 are a more realistic estimate of the actual phone charges. Anyway, my first point is that if you're transferring this much data, especially if it is only once per month and not extremely time critical, that you may want to consider just sending the disks in the mail or by air express rather than buying modems. And I work for a modem manufacturer! Sheesh... > here - Unix is not an option. Their plan is to purchase two modems > here in the states next month when one of the home office staff drops > by for a visit and stuffing one into his luggage for the return trip > because "everything is cheaper in the States". That may be so, but they must also remember that US modems don't have UK power or phone connectors, don't have 240v supplies, and aren't BABT approved for use on the UK phone system. But if they're willing to put up with the need to buy adapters and transformers and take the risk of getting nabbed for using unapproved equipment (penalty: disconnection of phone service)... > I recommended V.32 modems because I believe in standards, and suggested > that under the circumstances they think real hard about V.32bis modems. > In terms of price/performance, I told them I had heard good things about > the Intel V.32 modems (mail-order priced at $500-550) and Practical > Peripheral V.32 modems (mail-order priced at $450-500) at the low end > and the Hayes Ultra (mail-order priced at about $800) at the high end. > I gave them mail-order estimates for the USRobotics V.32bis modems > (not the Dual-standards) of about $700. All of these modems include error control, which you would certainly want on an international connection. I can't say whether the Intel or PPI modems will work well on transatlantic calls. I use my Ultra 96 at least once a week for a call to Geneva, Switzerland, to check my email at CCITT headquarters, and it seems to connect reliably and give good throughput (not many retransmission). But I have no idea what kind of modem they're using on their end. > 3) What didn't I think of that I should have thought of? Using the mail. -- Toby Nixon, Principal Engineer | Voice +1-404-840-9200 Telex 151243420 Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. | Fax +1-404-447-0178 CIS 70271,404 P.O. Box 105203 | UUCP uunet!hayes!tnixon AT&T !tnixon Atlanta, Georgia 30348 USA | Internet hayes!tnixon@uunet.uu.net