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From: bmh@cunixd.cc.columbia.edu (Brian M Hoffman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: a 9600 modem question
Summary: Never heard of USR? gimme a break
Message-ID: <2903@cunixc.cc.columbia.edu>
Date: 13 Feb 90 06:56:22 GMT
References: <1990Feb2.010154.27704@uunet!unhd> <25c97292:1677.1comp.sys.ibm.pc;1@nstar.UUCP> <25D72B20.567@paris.ics.uci.edu>
Sender: news@cunixc.cc.columbia.edu
Reply-To: bmh@cunixd.cc.columbia.edu (Brian M Hoffman)
Organization: Columbia University
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In article <25D72B20.567@paris.ics.uci.edu> roy@ics.uci.edu (John M.A. Roy) writes:

>I too need to know about 9600 bps modems.  I'm going to be using DOS
>machines and PS/2 machines.  I would very much like to have the modems
>be internal.  Also, reliability over cost - this is a business which
>cannot afford poor transmissions.  Phone numbers of companies or
>places to find them would also be helpful (I've never heard of a USR
>HST :-(.
>
>John M.A. Roy (714) 856-5039
>ICS Dept., Univ. Calif., Irvine CA 92717
>Internet: roy@ics.uci.edu 

Never heard of USR HST's?  Well, considering that USR makes the de facto
standard 9600 modem for the entire PC BBS world, I'd say you have quite a
bit of research to do.  Let me help you.

In the PC world,( I don't care about mainframes) there are essentially two
types of 9600 modems, Hayes and US Robotics.  Hayes modems tend to be 
fantastically expensive, so most average Joe's went with the USRs, which
are also costly, but not as much.  In this way, USR came to dominate the
PC BBS scene.  I should point out that these modems are not compatible with
each other...

Recently, USR has come out with new models referred to as the 1440's.  I am
told that these modemsacheive 14,000bps (or baud, whatever).  These modems are
the cutting edge.  In addition, USR makes a 'Dual Standard 1440' that will
communicate with the Hayes at 9600.  USR also makes a plain 1440 that will not
talk the the Hayes.  Both of these modems are expensive, but boy are they fast.

I'm not sure if you can get an internal version from USR.  Most people I know
have externals.  The quality of the modems is excellent, though I'm not so
sure about the tech support.  I do know that they send out ROM 
upgrades when they are needed.

If you are calling other PC's with your PC's, go with USR.

Brian


Disclaimer:	I'll say what I feel like, so there.