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From: berger@clio.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: more on 2400 baud modems
Message-ID: <18600008@clio>
Date: Mon, 16-Feb-87 13:50:00 EST
Article-I.D.: clio.18600008
Posted: Mon Feb 16 13:50:00 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Feb-87 22:01:09 EST
References: <189@forbrk.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:forbrk.UUCP:189:clio:18600008:000:2097
Nf-From: clio.Uiuc.ARPA!berger    Feb 16 12:50:00 1987


I sympathize, and I don't like Hayes type modems for the reasons you
mentioned, among others.

I had a problem a while back with a new machine that had a design flaw,
which resulted in a 1.7% baud rate error at 1200 baud.  Western
Electric 212A specs allow a maximum error of -2.4% to +1%.  Our high
quality commercial grade modems didn't work properly, but the cheap
plastic hobby modems worked better.  I really prefer to know when the
hardware is out of spec, since I have to support many types of
equipment working together.  Wider error specs aren't necessarily
better.

I order NEC modems for several reasons:
	* educational institutional discount prices are excellent
	* extraordinarily high quality
	* constant improvement and new features, while prices
	  decrease
	* outstanding factory support
	* 100% Western Electric standard compatibility
	  (plug into same rack, meet specs precisely.  The newer
	   NEC modems have a switch for WE specs or sloppy specs,
	   so you can have it both ways).
	* Substantially better specifications
	  (filters are 10 dB better than Hayes and others)

I prefer the menu-driven proprietary NEC auto dialing system to the
more obscure Hayes AT-command system, though both are available.
I don't like funny messages, and I definitely don't want the modem
to hang up just because my error-free file transfer program sent
some combination of ascii bytes over the data line.  I need all
the rs232 handshaking signals.  Many of the cheap plastic modems
just tie them high (and ignore the incoming lines)

Limiting is adjustable by internal switches, and the modem's
dialing directory and parameter memory is backed up by a lithium
battery.  The built-in autodial feature means that your modem
dials the same way (and contains one copy of your directory)
completely independent of which communications software package
you use.  This is a great benefit to people who aren't sophisticated
computer users.

Finally, NEC offers a 5 year warranty.  

		Mike Berger
		Center for Advanced Study
		University of Illinois
		{ihnp4|convex|pur-ee}!uiucuxc!clio!berger