Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!netcom!gandrews From: gandrews@netcom.COM (Greg Andrews) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems Subject: Modems with non-RS232 interface (was Re: V.32bis questions) Summary: Sure it could be done Message-ID: <1991Apr22.032122.4425@netcom.COM> Date: 22 Apr 91 03:21:22 GMT References: <6465@husc6.harvard.edu> <1991Apr21.032236.21724@netcom.COM> Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services UNIX System {408 241-9760 guest} Lines: 38 In article cs352a41@cs.iastate.edu (Adam Goldberg) writes: >gandrews@netcom.COM (Greg Andrews) writes: > >Since it is (theoretically) possible for an effective data transfer rate of >57,600, but it would take 'exotic, costly processors', it struck me: Hmmm, >is it possible (or has anyone attempted) to: > > o Construct such a very, very fast modem. > o Design it as an internal card with DMA--ie, it would take a very strange > RS232 port to support such high speeds, and the processor would be > completely taken over by it, so wouldn't it make sense to have the modem > work like a disk drive and deposit data directly to memory? Clearly if > a HST modem has a 68k inside of it... > >Anyone know of such a beast (that is, know of anyone ever considering building >such a beast--I'm pretty sure it hasn't ever been commercially available)? > Of course it's possible, and may even be desirable. There may even be modem manufacturers working on models with interfaces like the one in your second item. One caveat is that the modem would be completely incompatible with all of the tty drivers and other comm software that already exist for the computer the hypothetical modem is installed into. The modem manufacturer would in effect move into a similar market position as a multi-port board manufacturer, and have to provide drivers for the modem. So far, most modem makers haven't wanted to tackle that last requirement because their expertise is mostly in hardware design rather than systems software design. Doesn't mean it can't be done though. -- .------------------------------------------------------------------------. | Greg Andrews | UUCP: {apple,amdahl,claris}!netcom!gandrews | | | Internet: gandrews@netcom.COM | `------------------------------------------------------------------------'