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Path: utzoo!aesat!bmw
From: bmw@aesat.UUCP (Bruce Walker)
Newsgroups: net.micro,net.micro.pc
Subject: InfoMate modem reviewed (long)
Message-ID: <358@aesat.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Mar-85 14:47:47 EST
Article-I.D.: aesat.358
Posted: Wed Mar 13 14:47:47 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Mar-85 15:16:38 EST
Organization: AES Data Inc., Mississauga Ont., Canada
Lines: 93
Summary: Good Deal!

[Articles are packed by weight; contents may settle during shipping]

Just received my "Info-Mate 212PC" from Cermetek yesterday and I thought you
net.types who are in the market for a PC(lone) plug-in modem might like to
hear a little about it.

The 212PC is being sold by Cermetek until the end of March '85 for $149 US
(see advert in February 1985 Byte, page 179).
It features:

- 1200/300/110 baud async (has an INS8250 on-board) which is Bell 212A and
  103 compatible.

- call progress monitoring; it can detect "ringback", "busy", "dialtone" and
  "voice".  This is a neat feature, but no existing modem programs support
  it directly.  The codes are echoed to the screen if you are in "terminal
  mode" while the modem is dialling.

- DTMF (tone) or rotary dial pulse dialling selectable to either "manual" or
  "automatically adjust to your exchange" (by trying to tone-dial the first
  digit, then listening for the dialtone to cease).

- 8 diagnostic test modes:
  - analog loop (originate or answer)
  - analog loop self-test (originate or answer)
  - digital loop
  - remote digital loop
  - remote digital loop selftest
  - self-test, end to end

- strappable to 0x3f8 (COM1), 0x2f8 (COM2), 0x3e8 or 0x2e8 for bus addressing.
  (There are four more addresses *physically* selectable, but I haven't reverse
  engineered that yet and the manual doesn't allude to it anywhere (it may turn
  out that these phantom addresses overlap predefined ones).)

- hardware or software selectable RS232C (male DB25 connector) on card which
  can be used when the modem isn't.

- two modular phone jacks - one goes to the phone line (6 foot cord provided),
  one goes to your (optional) phone.

- intelligent; has an Intel i8031 (romless i8051 (almost as good as a Zilog Z8,
  only the 8051/31 has the usual Intel accumulator bottleneck)) which supports
  auto-baud rate detection for the command mode.

- very powerful and complete command set.  There are commands to answer, dial,
  "unlisten", test, set options, hang-up etc, etc.  The command set is not Hayes
  compatible, but hey, so what!  Any modem program worth its salt can be set
  up to handle it.  It's true that Sidekick won't talk to it, but I figure that
  it (SK) should be patchable with little trouble.

- comes with a PC disk with "Modem-Mate" on it.  Modem-Mate is a public domain
  modem program by Cermetek which, if you have nothing else, will get you up
  and running.  Basic source and a compiled (.EXE) version are supplied.

- Crosstalk can be purchased along with the 212PC for $95 US ($100 less than
  retail).  A credit voucher for $100 comes with the modem if you choose not
  to buy Crosstalk right away.  I recommend it, by the way; Crosstalk is a
  very capable program.

- lots of docs:  user manual, quick-op-guide, two app-notes on setting up for
  Crosstalk or Modem-Mate and some vouchers for time on Dow-Jones and some
  "airline sched & reduced plane-fare" BBoard. (One nasty bug in the user
  manual though; while there is an index, there are no page numbers given!
  Ooops! :-)

I have had no problems installing, setting-up or using this card. Of
course, I have not had it long enough to evaluate the long-term reliability
and line-noise sensitivity, but the indications are good so far.

To summarize: the Cermetek Modem-Mate 212PC is one *heck* of a good deal.

BTW, there is a standalone version also available for $199.  Similar specs
given, but I have not seen/tested it.  I would assume similar quality to the PC
card version.

So, if you're interested, the price is valid 'till March 31st (so you'll have
to be pretty quick).  The address is:

	Cermetek Microelectronics,
	1308 Borregas Ave.,
	Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3565
	(800)862-6271 (In CA call 408/752-5000)

Note for Canadian Usenetters:  with the $US/$CAN exchange and roughly 10% duty
(communication device), it worked out to about $225 total.  The cheapest 1200
baud modem in Toronto is about $400 and hasn't all the features.

[I shouldn't have to mention that I am in no way affiliated with Cermetek and
 that these comments are my own.]

Bruce Walker     {allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!aesat!bmw