Best modem (especially for OCing)

[Garfield]

I need to put a modem in my computer and start Folding with it. But, what is the best modem? Internal or external? What handles a good overclock? Thanks...

[Jon]

I'd say you would have better luck going for a good external modem. You're overclocking the serial bus just the same but it doesn't seem to be quite as sensitive as the PCI bus can with modems often times.

I've found good external modems to have more reliable dialup connections than most current modems too.

[Mr. Chambers]

Originally posted by Jon

I've found good external modems to have more reliable dialup connections than most current modems too.

listen to this mans WISE words!! a GOOD external modem will cost you anywhere from 50-80 dollars.. but my god man, it is worth it.. if you're stuck on dial-up hell, get an external you'll be glad you did.. heck there was a time before i got cable where i was on dial up with my trusty US Robotics and remember d/l at 7-8kps... never kicked off... its the only way to go

[kevin_bouchard]

I second that, i used to have a pci pctel modem and it was horrible, and then i got a courier usr external modem and i dont have any problems with it, no kick offs, my moms pc has a crappy modem and she gets kicked off no word of a lie at least every 10mins, and i havent got kicked off since i got the modem. We also dont disable call waiting so that might be the reason why she always get kicked off. If you do decide to get a pci modem, get a hardware based one, no winmodem they suck, and i would stick with a good company like usr.

[Garfield]

Okay, external it will be...


Now, which one (specifically) should I get?

[Penguin4x4]

US Robotics (http://www.usr.com/products/home/home-product.asp?sku=USR5686D)

[jajmon]

I've had very good performance from USR or Creative Labs - external all the way.

[Garfield]

Do any of these external modems have an "option" to disconnect if there's an incoming call (I only have one phone line)...

[Jon]

Yep, they'll function and have options just as any other good hardware modem. Usually they are capable of even more since the external location allows them to add more goodies.

[su root]

with external modems, manufacturers are forced to put everything in them... with internal modems, manufacturers can "skim" and put cheap parts on them, relying on windows to do the rest, they're called "winmodems"... avoid them like the plague.

Do any of these external modems have an "option" to disconnect if there's an incoming call (I only have one phone line)..

I havn't heard of any, but there are some services that will do this for you. (ie: for a small monthly rate, these services will call-forward your phone number to them, so while you are on the internet, you run their program, and if anyone calls you, it'll pop up & tell you who's calling, and give you the option of disconnecting & taking their call or not taking their call.)

[ZeroAquaduct]

Originally posted by Garfield
Do any of these external modems have an "option" to disconnect if there's an incoming call (I only have one phone line)...

I don't think modems can do this -- you have to order it from your telephone company. I'm using Internet Call Director from Telus (Canada) and it works great, especially automatic answer. It costs CA$5/month for me.

As for modems, are internals really that bad? I've been using internal modems since I got my first 14.4k (and I remember paying CA$200 for it) and I've never had a problem. Right now I'm using a 56k modem made by ESS Tech and it's working well (but I don't o/c, so maybe that's why).

[Garfield]

Originally posted by Jon
Yep, they'll function and have options just as any other good hardware modem. Usually they are capable of even more since the external location allows them to add more goodies.

Do you know which external modems specifically have this option? This would be perfect! Exactly what I need, especially for Folding... :D

[Jon]

Actually, I was sort of intending what others have mentioned already with call-waiting. Without it, the line's going to be busy if you're using it to anyone that calls.

If you do have call-waiting, most externals support hold-on-call and I've even seen a device that lets you use the phone while using the modem simultaneously but it costs more than the modem will. Also, if you don't disable call-waiting before going online, an incoming call will normally kick you off anyway (at least it always did me).

[Garfield]

I do have call-waiting! So, it will work? I won't have to miss calls!? That's great!...

[Garfield]

Originally posted by Penguin4x4
US Robotics (http://www.usr.com/products/home/home-product.asp?sku=USR5686D)

When it says "56K* V.92 External Faxmodem", what is the "fax" mean in faxmodem?

Also, where it says

"V.90 or V.92 ITU standard capable service provider"

How would I find if my service provider (AT&T) is capable of this?

[Penguin4x4]

You can use it to fax. Call and ask AT&T.

[Garfield]

I don't think I would need to fax stuff, so would this be a waste to get this one? Is there another one just like this one, without the faxing ability?

[Penguin4x4]

Most v.92's are Fax modems. Zoom Technoligies and Creative Labs (http://www.americas.creative.com/products/product.asp?product=172&category=7&maincategory=7) are the only external v.92 modems I can find

[Garfield]

So that link you gave me, it's the same one but just not the "fax" part?

[Penguin4x4]

ALL v.92's seem to have Fax built in. Most external are v.90's, most internal are v.92's. :mad: www.v92.com. I would go with an external 3com v.90 for your price range.

[toastedzergling]

If you think you are within 5 miles of your local phone company switch, get a WINMODEM, It's dirty cheap like $10 or so. My pci modem works just fine. Nowadays CPU is fast enough to do all the trick for modems.

[Garfield]

Wait, so the one I'm looking at (the external one) is a V.90 or V.92?

[Ratinfested]

i used a diamond supra max for years. tried a few other but non compared

[Garfield]

Okay, AT&T doesn't support it, here's the conversation with them:
07/04/2002 01:36:49PM Message Sent CSR "How may I help
you?"
07/04/2002 01:37:28PM Message Sent CUS "Does my AT&T ISP
support the 56K v.92 modem?"
07/04/2002 01:37:56PM Message Sent CSR "as of right now no
...but you will be notified on when we will"
07/04/2002 01:37:59PM Message Sent CSR "I apologize for
the inconvenience."
07/04/2002 01:38:17PM Message Sent CUS "When will it
support it?"
07/04/2002 01:38:24PM Message Sent CUS "In the next, say,
week?"
07/04/2002 01:38:39PM Message Sent CSR "there are no time
frames available yet"
07/04/2002 01:39:04PM Message Sent CUS "How about an
educated guess?"
07/04/2002 01:39:34PM Message Sent CSR "unfortunately i
can not really say i have little information on the feature right now"
07/04/2002 01:39:48PM Message Sent CSR "but i can assure
you that you will be notified"
07/04/2002 01:40:00PM Message Sent CUS "How will I be
notified?"
07/04/2002 01:40:11PM Message Sent CSR "by email or when
you go to the att home page"
07/04/2002 01:40:30PM Message Sent CUS "Okay, thanks for
the information..."
07/04/2002 01:40:32PM Leave Session CSR (Victorino M.)
07/04/2002 01:40:32PM Leave Session CUS
07/04/2002 01:40:32PM Session Ended
:( What should I do? Wait for them to support it?

[Penguin4x4]

You could. I waited 3 months for DSL.:D Most ISP's don't support v.92, which is different from v.90 in the fact that you can stop surfing and answer the phone, and then get back to surfing without dialing up. That's about it.

[Garfield]

So the v.92 allows for stop surfing and answer the phone and the v.90 doesn't? Or do I have it backwards?

[Garfield]

So?

[Garfield]

I don't know, maybe I should just get a cheap modem (internal) and then when AT&T supports the v.92 I'll nix the cheap one and get the v.92...

[kevin_bouchard]

personally if i were you i wouldnt buy a cheapy modem, what i would do is buy the v.92 supporting modem, unless you dont have the money now and need a modem now. That way when AT&T supports v.92 you will already have the modem and wont have to dishout more money to buy another modem, killing two birds with one stone:D
Oh and if your computer is stationary go with an external modem but if you absolutly want internal make sure its not a software modem or winmodem, hardware modems are the only way to go, also I think all external modems are hardware based and thats why they are better:D

[Garfield]

Originally posted by kevin_bouchard
personally if i were you i wouldnt buy a cheapy modem, what i would do is buy the v.92 supporting modem, unless you dont have the money now and need a modem now. That way when AT&T supports v.92 you will already have the modem and wont have to dishout more money to buy another modem, killing two birds with one stone:D
Oh and if your computer is stationary go with an external modem but if you absolutly want internal make sure its not a software modem or winmodem, hardware modems are the only way to go, also I think all external modems are hardware based and thats why they are better:D

"what i would do is buy the v.92 supporting modem"

What do you mean, "the v.92 supporting modem"? Does AT&T support some of the v.92s or something? I thought it didn't support any v.92. How does that work? Thanks...

[Jon]

V.92 is backwards compatible with V.90.

Just get the V.92 and whenever your ISP supports it, you will already have the compatible modem.

[Garfield]

So you're telling me to buy this v.92 (the US Robotics one that the link points to) now and I can use it as a v.90 and then when AT&T supports the v.92 it'll then be used as a v.92? But, until then the v.92 will just act as a v.90, which is already supported by AT&T? :confused:

[Jon]

Yes.

[Garfield]

Alright! Sounds great! But, is there a way with this v.92 to set the option to act as a v.90 until AT&T supports v.92? What exactly is the difference between the v.90 and v.92 (it'll be the v.92 ext modem but will act as the v.90)? Will I still be able to not miss calls when the v.92 acts as the v.90?

[Penguin4x4]

v.92 works like USB 2.0. It is compatible with both v90 and v92.

For offical details, goto www.v92.com

[Garfield]

Okay, I think I'm going to go with it. I don't know when I'll get around to ordering it. The only thing I'm not too crazy about is the fax part. Oh well, it's not a problem or anything. Thanks, fellas! :D

[Voodoo_fx]

lol, all modems can do fax, I bet the one your on now can do fax, fax machines run off modem, hence you can use your computer for it, don't worry about the fax part, if you don't install the software, it'll never bother you.. :)

[Garfield]

Okay, I guess I'm going to go with that modem then. Looking forward to it!!! :D

[MEMex]

That U.S. Robotics 56k v.92 modem look just like my 14.4 external Commodore 64 modem... hahahha

I'm going to buy it, thats sweet, i only have analog connection out here and i used to use AOHell, what a joke! As soon as i pushed enter to go to a site, i got disconnected :rolleyes:

Thx for the site, i didn't know they made external 56k's anymore lol, v.92 rocks!!!

[Garfield]

Originally posted by Memex
That U.S. Robotics 56k v.92 modem look just like my 14.4 external Commodore 64 modem... hahahha

I'm going to buy it, thats sweet, i only have analog connection out here and i used to use AOHell, what a joke! As soon as i pushed enter to go to a site, i got disconnected :rolleyes:

Thx for the site, i didn't know they made external 56k's anymore lol, v.92 rocks!!!

What's your ISP?