Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!pyramid!cbmvax!grr
From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Need 9600 for severe noise environment
Message-ID: <3680@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: 22 Apr 88 08:14:31 GMT
References: <872@pilchuck.Data-IO.COM>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 46

In article <872@pilchuck.Data-IO.COM> del@Data-IO.COM (Erik Lindberg) writes:
> I am in the position of having to come up with a recommendation for a modem
> to Taiwan, R.O.C., and would like to use a 9600 baud modem if possible.

>     I had previously thought to recommend a Trailblazer, which (theoretically)
> would fall back in 100 baud increments to get the maximum throughput on the
> line. I read in the recent PC Rag review, however, that their TB modem gave
> up entirely at -27db signal/noise ratio.

It's not clear that the testing done by PC magazine bears any relation
to the kind of line conditions experienced in the real world.  I'd suggest
you call Telebit and tell them that you're intestested in evaluating their
modems for use under some "difficult" conditions and see if you can
negotiate a loan of a pair of modems or at least "return if they don't
do what you need".

Telebit users have reported success in just this kind of situation.  Beware
though of foriegn laws that may make it illegal to attach a piece of
non-approved telecomm equipment to that countries phone system.  Have the
people on the far end evaluate concerns in this respect.

>                                        That is fine for Taiwan since they
> can just switch modems, but not for me since I must support a dial up line
> and cannot justify a dedicated line just for the one caller.

This might be a false economy.  Around here the monthly charges for a
business phone line used only for incoming calls are still quite cheap
and would be tiny compared to the international long distance charges
this party would accumulate calling you, especially if conditions are
sub-optimal, resulting in wasted and prolonged calls.

The alternative is, of course, an X.25 packet switched connection.  In
countries where the PTT pushes packet switched newworks, the cost of
a local connection may be considerably cheaper than what you'd expect
from US vendors.  Use of something like Tymenet's "Asynchronous Outdial"
service on this end may be cheaper than the traditional leased line to
the PAD or local PAD approach for low volume connections.  Throughput
might not be so hot, but reliability would probably be much better than
a typically lousy international connection.  

Obviously, much depends on why you are talking to Taiwan, and who is
picking up the bills on either end....

-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {uunet|ihnp4|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: cbmvax!grr@uunet.uu.net
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)