Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!ncar!gatech!mcdchg!ddsw1!karl From: karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Karl Denninger) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems Subject: Re: Courier HST rebuttal Summary: ReRebuttal: A few facts you didn't mention about HST/ix and HST's Keywords: HST BLAZER Message-ID: <3004@ddsw1.MCS.COM> Date: 23 Feb 89 00:25:05 GMT References: <415@studsys.mu.edu> Reply-To: karl@ddsw1.UUCP (Karl Denninger) Organization: Macro Computer Solutions, Inc., Mundelein, IL Lines: 102 In article <415@studsys.mu.edu> kowals@studsys.mu.edu (kowalski) writes: > >I am posting the following letter for my employer SST Data. Any replys >will be given to them and they will reply thru this account : Good! I'm sure they'll like this. :-) >The U.S. Robotics Courier HST/ix modem/software package for UNIX systems >has been the subject of recent controversy on USENET. > >.......The modem uses V.32-style >trellis coded modulation at 9600 bps, which, combined with a very >efficient compression scheme in the bundled datacom software package, >results in error-free throughput up to 30,000 bps. But it is not V.32 if I remember correctly (or is the modem truly V.32 capable?). This means you're not compatible with V.32, or the Telebit PEP installed base. For Unix use, the fact that every Bow-wow BBS (Fido) has one is 100% irrelavent when making a purchase decision. (advertisement and complaint/argument with Mike Ballard @ Telebit deleted) >With a retail price of $1,295, the Courier HST/ix modem/software >package delivers the best price-performance ratio available to users of >UNIX systems. Not from what I can see. Note also that the software, from what I see in the configuration info, will talk nicely to a Telebit as well! (note: Telebits run 14kbaud max uncompressed data rate, HSTs run 9.6kbaud uncompressed.... guess which modem should do better with the HST/ix software?) I can buy two Telebits as an Internet site for the cost of ONE of your Courier HST/ix's. Earlier as a Usenet site I could do the same thing. The cost of the HST/ix solution is effectively twice the price of the Telebit way. Guess how many Telebits are out there? Nearly EVERYONE we talk to has at least one; they're nearly universal in the Usenet world! HST/ix is up against the same thing here (actually worse, you need the special software too) in the Usenet universe that Telebit is in the Fidonet universe. HST/ix may do wonderful things. We have it here and were a beta site; it does work. 30kbaud is a dream though for anyone running News -- news batches are already compressed. I'd believe 30kbaud if the file is all zeros or something similar 1/2 :-). Another IMPORTANT point: the software we got was COPY PROTECTED (seriously -- on a Unix system!!!!!); I have no idea if the production version is. It's currently offline on tape; if someone wants to try it over long distance I'll reload it providing it still runs once it's "restored". In any event I would certainly ask USR or whoever about that COPY PROTECTION before ordering the product! From what I can see HST/ix (the kit) has two potentially-crippling problems: o The HST modems give some 2400 baud non-MNP capable units, and all AT&T 3b1's, fits. They simply won't connect with them AT ALL if you have high-speed enabled (that is, not &M0). Thus you are immediately incompatible with about 50% of the installed base with a Unix system if it's your only modem, unless you want to poll out only. In addition, there are some things about the HST's functionality that I would have to consider bugs, such as no 9600 baud if you disable MNP mode -- there is no "disable MNP on slow calls only". The Telebit has this, and it's a lifesaver when you need to be 100% compatible with the "slow people". For this reason alone HST/ix is not a "sole solution". o There aren't many out there, and it's expensive. $1295 is a heck of a lot of money for a special-use product; it had better do something REALLY nice. The Telebit modems are 100% compatible with the non-MNP units, no hassles there, and they talk PEP as well (for high speed). Finally, 30kbaud over HST/ix isn't even close to reality in my experience, although I'd be happy to let someone try to prove me wrong there. A note: o We only tested it locally (in-building) between two Xenix systems on two local phone lines. I have no idea how well (or if) it copes with long-distance telephone lines and/or overseas connections. USR didn't feel like giving out names of other sites across the country for us to poll..... nor did they tell anyone else to try polling us (although I did tell them we'd be more than happy to have them give our name & number out). If anyone really does have this package, and feels like beating it up to hell and back (once again, providing I can reload it!) give me a yell email or voice. Perhaps we can inject a little reality into all this marketing hype that our "friend from a not disinterested company" posted. I am specifically NOT interested in talking to anyone from SST, USR, or any other person selling these products about this. I want a few garden-variety users so we can insure the data and methodology is unbiased. We'll post some TRUE transfer rates with Usenet batches or other compressed files, hang up a few times (and see if it picks up where it left off), see how it interfaces with normal Unix(tm) software (usenet, uucp mail, our AKCS conferencing system) etc. I have no affiliation with either USR or Telebit except as a normal paying customer of both firms. We own both Telebit and HST modems. -- Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, ddsw1!karl) Data: [+1 312 566-8912], Voice: [+1 312 566-8910] Macro Computer Solutions, Inc. "Quality solutions at a fair price"