Re: GS Fax software and modem deal

[lurch@eskimo.com (Erik Kloeppel)]

ag471@yfn.ysu.edu (Eric S. Ford) writes:
<>
<>huh?  I sincerely doubt compatibility is a problem.. these days a faxmodem is pretty much a faxmodem.  What I WOULD consider is the overall quality of the
<>modem.  How much is it? what modem is it a clone of?  how sensitive is it?
<>what is it's receive threshold?  If the modem costs less than $150 (list)
<>(and I'm assuming it's a v.32bis modem) I wouldn't bother.

<Since the whole package, modem and faxware, is selling for $149 and the 
<faxware alone is $49, I'd say the modem is going for $100.  The only technical
<info offered by the sales person I talked to was that the modem uses the
<Rockwell chipset.  She gave me the number for their technical support folks
<but I didn't feel inclined to pay for a toll call when I'm not that technically
<informed to begin with.  I have had problems in the past with Proterm
<(admittedly one of the earliest versions) not recognizing the modem.  For
<even so seemingly a paltry sum as $100 I would like to know I'm not just
<buying more frustration.

<BTW, why do you say "I wouldn't bother" for a v.32bis modem?  I thought I
<read recently that due to speed problems with the GS serial port that was
<a preferred item anyway.

I've been unofficially tracking modem problems, and have found that while
most "low end" modems - I include Supra and Practical, etc here too, all
use the same chpset (Rockwell), there is a pronounced difference in modems
anyway.

After talking to a telephone company rep, I've found that cheaper modems
tend to have more connection problems (dropping carrier, not connecting, etc)
than modems with higher list prices.  The reason behind this is that, while
all the modem chipsets cost the same, modem manufacturers cut costs in
other areas of the modem - like the amplifiers and filters.  As a result,
these cheaper modems can't handle poor lines nearly as well as more expensive
modems.

I admit the $150 cut-off is arbitrary, but I dont' think it's totally
out of whack.  And, of course, that's LIST price.. Iv'e seen some good
v.32 modems priced allthe way down nar $100.

Lurch