Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Golfer on December 26, 2005, 01:30:51 PM

Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Golfer on December 26, 2005, 01:30:51 PM
For Christmas, Santa brought me a nice new 3 input firewire card!  Horay I can do digital video now.

The bad news...Golfer's computer only has 2 PCI slots.  One for video card, one for the modem.  I'm furious about this now but it's all directed at myself.

My question to the good folks of aces high (and in just a few moments...google):

Is there an external modem which can connect into my ethernet card and into a phone line in my apartment?  This would be a life saver!

If there is such a thing, can you suggest a good one that either:
1.) You have used
2.) You have a friend who used
3.) You have read a good review of someone who has used one
4.) You just know of one that exists :)

Thanks!
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Skilless on December 26, 2005, 01:39:42 PM
Sounds to me like an excellent excuse to go to broadband...
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Golfer on December 26, 2005, 01:44:37 PM
Not available in my area.  I went from cable to dialup when I moved.  Can't wait to move again.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Captain Virgil Hilts on December 26, 2005, 01:47:01 PM
Get a Zoom. Not only have I used one, I've used two and they've been FLAWLESS. I've also installed a bunch of them for friends and family (that's where the two I had went as well). No complaints, at all. From anyone. Also, a dramatic improvement in the reliability and speed of the connection. Doesn't hurt that it frees up computer resources too.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: x0847Marine on December 26, 2005, 01:59:08 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
Get a Zoom. Not only have I used one, I've used two and they've been FLAWLESS. I've also installed a bunch of them for friends and family (that's where the two I had went as well). No complaints, at all. From anyone. Also, a dramatic improvement in the reliability and speed of the connection. Doesn't hurt that it frees up computer resources too.


Thats a great tip for dial up users, back in the day we used to 'shotgun' 2 modems, i.e bridge connections, it wont get you to dsl speeds... but it helps...
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Meatwad on December 26, 2005, 02:05:41 PM
About 10 years ago me and a few friends didnt have the interenet yet, so we all dialed into one of them 1-800 number BBS's and chatted that way. Their as old as the dinosuars, but we sure had fun
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Golfer on December 26, 2005, 02:48:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
Get a Zoom. Not only have I used one, I've used two and they've been FLAWLESS. I've also installed a bunch of them for friends and family (that's where the two I had went as well). No complaints, at all. From anyone. Also, a dramatic improvement in the reliability and speed of the connection. Doesn't hurt that it frees up computer resources too.


Outstanding.  Is that a phone to modem to ethernet jack device?  Is there an actual product number or anything like that I can search for?

Thanks!!!!
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: indy007 on December 26, 2005, 02:50:55 PM
iirc, shotgun is handled in the software. it does require 2 phone lines and 2 logins with your isp. I could be totally off the mark though, it's been 7 years since I've used one.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Vulcan on December 26, 2005, 03:04:54 PM
Quote
Originally posted by indy007
iirc, shotgun is handled in the software. it does require 2 phone lines and 2 logins with your isp. I could be totally off the mark though, it's been 7 years since I've used one.


Correct, it uses mutilink PPP, the ISP must explicity support it. It also runs at 2 x the speed of the slowest link.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Captain Virgil Hilts on December 26, 2005, 03:06:55 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Golfer
Outstanding.  Is that a phone to modem to ethernet jack device?  Is there an actual product number or anything like that I can search for?

Thanks!!!!


Actually, it uses the old serial port, you put it on com 1 or com 2.

I'm not sure what the latest model is. I bought one a while back while my DSL was being redone, I gave it to my mother-in-law, so she has the box and paper work. My mother has the one I bought before I got DSL, and she has all that stuff. Both were purchased at Staples, on sale, for around $50 or so, and they're always on sale.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: wrag on December 26, 2005, 03:37:38 PM
I use a U.S. Robotics "USR5686E" hooked up to com port 1.  Goes from Com port to modem to wall jack.   Uses the V.92 feature if it's available where you are.  It's a voice/fax modem as well.

Works great, but a little expensive.

I get a top speed or 42.6k here where most can only get 26k.  Most here use the standard internal modems.  The phone connections here are the sux!  Lots of line noise and the lines are very OLD.  No cable or DSL available here :(

Sadly I get allot of packet loss and such though.  Don't think it's the modems fault.  Just trash for phone lines.   I'm usually about 1/10 of a second behind most in the MA.  Connect here pings right at 210 and upwards to 350 when I use ping plotter.  Shows it a little better when I use the AHII log on screen to check ping.

I connect at setting of no more then 37,333, with compression turned off, for AHII, as per Skuzzy's recommendation.  He recommended some other settings as well so check with Skuzzy on the best way to use it if you go with this modem.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Golfer on December 26, 2005, 04:15:30 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Captain Virgil Hilts
Actually, it uses the old serial port, you put it on com 1 or com 2.

I'm not sure what the latest model is. I bought one a while back while my DSL was being redone, I gave it to my mother-in-law, so she has the box and paper work. My mother has the one I bought before I got DSL, and she has all that stuff. Both were purchased at Staples, on sale, for around $50 or so, and they're always on sale.


I found these here http://zoom.links.channelintelligence.com/pages/prices.asp?sSKU=3090-00-00A (http://zoom.links.channelintelligence.com/pages/prices.asp?sSKU=3090-00-00A) that use the USB input.  Are they garbage like many other USB type things?

I saw the serial connection ones and I think this is what i'm going to go with.  USBs are $50 and the others are in the $65-$80 range.  I can live with that.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Captain Virgil Hilts on December 26, 2005, 05:22:25 PM
Yeah, get the serial port version, it works better than USB. It also seems the USB bus uses more resources, so the more you add to the USB load the more it seems to be less reliable and lower in performance. You'd think that USB, being newer, would work better, but the serial port seems to do it best.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Golfer on December 26, 2005, 05:54:32 PM
thank you sir!
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: RightF00T on December 26, 2005, 07:30:42 PM
Ive got a similar question:

Two Computers
Dialup Connection

Can I just get an ethernet cord and connect the two and have a "network"?  I would like to be able to share the internet connection, printer and a few files.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Eagler on December 26, 2005, 10:04:47 PM
zoom is good but I found us robitics/3Com better

yes. use serial port:
I picked up one on ebay a while ago for my tivo.
here are some:
http://cgi.ebay.com/US-Robotics-3Com-56K-External-Fax-Modem_W0QQitemZ6832918084QQcategoryZ14920QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&fstype=1&catref=C6&from=R10&satitle=3com+modem+56k+external&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&bs=Search&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=33511&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Jackal1 on December 27, 2005, 08:14:42 AM
CVH, a couple of questions about the Zoom modems.
Is it possible to use more than one computer to one of these modems? I am not speaking of shared connections, etc, but the ability to use the modem for two computers for connection at different times.
What kind of ping performance increase can be expected?
And last , but not least, how hard are they to setup/configure?
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: beet1e on December 27, 2005, 08:45:56 AM
Quote
Originally posted by RightF00T
Ive got a similar question:

Two Computers
Dialup Connection

Can I just get an ethernet cord and connect the two and have a "network"?  I would like to be able to share the internet connection, printer and a few files.
Yes, you can do that - I was doing that for a long time but it's a PITA. Your host computer needs a network card to be able to do this, and the guest computer will be connected to the host network card by ethernet cable. You can then access the internet from the guest, and even access shared files/folders and share the printer. IP addresses will be 192.168.0.1 for the host, and 192.168.0.2 for the guest. Don't listen to anyone who tells you that BOTH PCs need a network card - you don't. You need two NICs, but your modem serves as the one for the host PC. The guest sees the host as a "LAN".

There are two downsides - 1) configuration, a bit tricky if you don't know TCP/IP settings; 2) performance - terrible!

IF you can get broadband in your area (still chuckling that it's not available in all areas of the US - LOL) then I would get it, and get a multiport router. The multiport router will offer the same high speed performance to BOTH PCs, ie. the guest PC will not be limited by the host network card. And... you will have network capability - file/folder sharing, printer sharing - WITHOUT having to do any TCP/IP tinkering, and you won't need a network card.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: RightF00T on December 27, 2005, 10:54:10 AM
Good info beet1e thanks, I am also very surprised we don't have any kind of broadband available here.  Its a rural area but not wide expanses of farms like you would think.  I would say there are atleast 4 households for every mile of road.  

The problem is, to get to my house there are a series of backroads that a total of about 4 houses reside near.  Keep in mind this is a 40+acre area.  To complicate the situation most of the road/area is owned by either the state or the local brickyard that is 2 miles from my house.  I fear, that due to all the road improvements they do on a yearly basis due to the high traffic of heavy lifters(brick trucks), a company would not dare invest installing cable access for us plebians.  Its safe to say I live in the "boonies".
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: beet1e on December 27, 2005, 04:24:00 PM
RF - I was just kidding about the availability of broadband after I saw jackal here. ;) I know there are the same problems in parts of Australia, and some of the remote areas of Britain! All the best with your setup, but be warned about the performance issue. I don't know if some network cards will give better performance than others. Get the best one you can!  Also I have loads of info about doing this - can PM you an entire BBS thread if you need it.

:)
Title: Holy connection speed batman!
Post by: Golfer on December 28, 2005, 03:36:50 PM
I don't know how or why...but my normal 56k connection using an "AOpen" modem connected into my com1 serial port has made my connection speed 115.2kbps according to my earthlink software.  Plus an average speedup time of 12.8x using my accelerator software I might as well be on highspeed for browsing!

Amazing :D

Is this true or is it a glitch of some kind :)
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Golfer on December 28, 2005, 03:37:29 PM
I should add the price was right for this modem...all told tax title and license it rang the gong at "free"
Title: Re: Holy connection speed batman!
Post by: Eagler on December 28, 2005, 04:37:43 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Golfer
... connection speed 115.2kbps according to my earthlink software ....
Is this true or is it a glitch of some kind :)


that is the port setting I believe..
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on December 28, 2005, 05:04:54 PM
Was just about to say the same.

Anyone thinking they can achieve broadband levels with dialup is only fooling themselves. No offense.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Golfer on December 28, 2005, 05:36:00 PM
I was being facetious.

Change that :) smiley to a ;) wink smiley and the internet will convey such things.  Darn shift key!
Title: Re: Re: Holy connection speed batman!
Post by: indy007 on December 28, 2005, 05:48:28 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Eagler
that is the port setting I believe..


That, or drivers. Generic windows drivers would make the modem work, but it wouldn't show true connect speed. It became a sneaky trick for appeasing angry customers that would scream your ear off because they couldn't connect at 56k and didn't know or particularly care about FCC regs, wiring quality, central office locations, etc, etc.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Golfer on December 28, 2005, 06:55:43 PM
No need to get worked up.  I am happy as a clam that it works :)

I get a full 50+kbps out of it (shown by download speeds) and used generic 56k modem drivers.  I thought it was funny that it showed my connection speed to be so high and put the wrong smiley in :cry

I appreciate all the input and it wound up getting me the serial modem at rock bottom prices!  Thank you again!!
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Jackal1 on December 28, 2005, 08:36:46 PM
Well...................I just ordered one also. If it doesn`t help , then it`s all Golfer`s fault. :) Yea..........yea............. ..that`s it. :p
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Nefarious on December 28, 2005, 09:35:09 PM
Im glad it all worked out Golfer, But you live in Columbus and you dont have High Speed?

I live in BFE West Virginia, and have Verizon DSL. Just another reason Why West Virginia is better than Ohio I guess ;)
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Golfer on December 28, 2005, 10:25:57 PM
my drivers license doesn't say columbus...im about 15 minutes away.
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: beet1e on December 29, 2005, 04:06:32 AM
Well ROFL. Who would have thought that I'd have one of the best connects out of the folks on this board! Let's compare prices, guys...

In US$, I pay about $51/month for my broadband service, but I have splashed out and got the 1GB speed - really great for those big downloads. When I have house guests and they plug their laptop into my router, they're amazed at the download speed. One of my friends described it as "frighteningly fast"! I could have stuck with the 500MB connection (around $39/month) but I was doing some big downloads at the time - Linux etc.  - who would have thought only 5 years ago that we could one day download an entire operating system. Back around 2001, I couldn't even download WarBirds3 because of the 2 hour connect time limit, and was having to arse around with download managers. :mad: My three horse town didn't get the telephone exchange broadband enabled until late 2002. The modem that came packaged with my first ADSL deal was priced at £100 ($171 today). And when I first wanted to create a home network, I seem to remember that a multiport router was going for three times that. That's why I went for that %#*& network card! Now, you can pick up a broadband dial up modem brand new for as little as £7. I bought my current 4-port router just recently for around £30.
Quote
my com1 serial port has made my connection speed 115.2kbps
Suddenly, I feel young again! :D
Title: Need an external modem.
Post by: Reschke on December 29, 2005, 02:44:54 PM
There is a new technology they are working on here in the states with broadband via power lines. The plan is to get it working and open up broadband to everyone in the US who has power lines running to your home. I forget the link for the information about it but will find and post it here.