Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!optilink!digi!kgallagh
From: kgallagh@digi.lonestar.org (Kevin Gallagher)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Penril Alliance V32 and Zoom Modem problem
Message-ID: <1991Feb23.061537.14028@digi.lonestar.org>
Date: 23 Feb 91 06:15:37 GMT
References: <5975@oasys.dt.navy.mil> <3789.27c251f8@hayes.uucp>
Organization: DSC Communications Corp, Plano, TX
Lines: 43

In article <3789.27c251f8@hayes.uucp> tnixon@hayes.uucp writes:
>[stuff deleted]
>If I were in your situation, I would call Penril Technical Support 
>and ask these questions.  It's possible that Penril has a parameter, 
>as do Hayes modems, to extend the USB1 transmission time from 3 
>seconds to a larger value, in case your Zoom modems need more time 
>(but they shouldn't; the standard says they should respond after 
>only about 600 msec of USB1).  Unfortunately, Zoom is not known for 
>quality.
You don't say if this observation about Zoom modem quality is from
personal experience or from hearsay.

I purchased a Zoom modem several years ago, the model PC 2400 XL.  It was
their super delux internal modem, which they later discontinued.  It is fully
Hayes compatible with lots of additional features.  Very early on I
experienced a problem uploading at 2400 baud.  Unfortunately, the problem did
not consistently manifest itself.  Zoom's hot line provided me with a list of
things to try before deciding to ship it back to them for service.  After
trying them all, they failed to help.  So I sent it in for service.  Zoom kept
it for a week and were unable to reproduce the problem.  But while they had
it, they went and upgraded the ROM chip to the most recent version
free-of-charge.

Well, I still had the 2400 baud upload problem, so the technican speculated
that a particular chip might have an intermittent problem.  To minimize my
loss of use time, he asked if I could, or knew someone who could, replace
the chip on the modem.  I did, so rather then having to ship it back, they
shipped me the chip.  I was impressed.  Unfortunately, the new chip did not
fix the problem.  So I sent the modem back a second time.  Seven days later, a
brand new modem arrived, shipped next day air.  I have been happy ever since!

I cannot, however, speak to the quality of the new line of inexpensive Zoom
modems that have appeared in the past year.  I can only attest that after
getting the replacement modem, I have been pleased with its reliability.  I
do know that the new line of inexpensive Zoom modems comes with a 7-year
warranty.  This suggests to me that Zoom must have some degree of confidence
in the quality of its product.  How long is the warranty on Hayes modems?

-- 
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Kevin Gallagher        kgallagh@digi.lonestar.org OR ...!uunet!digi!kgallagh
DSC Communications Corporation   Addr: MS 152, 1000 Coit Rd, Plano, TX 75075
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