Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Dowding on February 13, 2001, 03:02:00 PM
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I'm looking to buy a new modem, and just wondered what everyone else uses/recommends. Obviously it would have to be good for online gaming (which basically consists of AH, for me).
I was thinking of going external - are USB modems as good as serial ones?
Cheers.
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Dowding,
I have never used an external modem at all so can't help you there.
The experience I do have has shown me that it's best to get a "name" modem. Before I got DSL I used the US Robotics 3Com 56k modem. Not the WIN modem but the 56k Faxmodem. The Winmodem needs to use data compression to get the 56k speed and the fax modem doesn't. (That's how it was explained to me) In other words the Win modem will be slower.
Mav
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Hi Dowding
I had to get a new modem about 4 months ago. I used to use a Diamond Supra 56k external serial modem which was excellent. I couldn't get another one at the time so I chose the Diamond SupraMax 56k USB. Whatever you do DON'T get one of those! I don't know if it is because it's USB or what but for normal browsing it was quick as hell, but for gaming it caused major warps all the time, and I mean ALL the time. So I went back to PC World (it was a Sunday I think!!) and bought the Elsa Microlink 56k 'Internet' which is a snazzy grey/blue external modem with powerpack/serial connection. I had never heard of Elsa making modems before but all I can say is that I am VERY pleased with it and can't recommend it enough! You also get some tweak utilities with it too. I think it's priced very well at under £50.
Hope that helps
Regards
Nexx
[This message has been edited by Replicant (edited 02-13-2001).]
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Best modem is the (fastest, most realiable) is the US ROBOTICS 56K VOICE HARDWARE MODEM.
Only problem is that its ISA, but if you have free isa slots its not a problem.
Before someone comes to argue with me; I got this conclusion from when I worked in a hardware site and did benchmarks with 10 different modems, including many USB and PCI models, and the US ROBOTICS came on top.
Try to go for a ISA or USB modem because they have their own processor (Hardware Modems) many PCI modems also have their own CPU, but its hard to know wich. US ROBOTICS makes a GAMERS modem that is PCI. Its the same US ROBOTICS I'm recomending but changed to a PCI model. If you can find this, better yet, but it was kinda expensive when it came out.
Avoid Diamond modems, they work for some people, but they generally are very unstable, have driver problems, and are not very consistent in their connection speed. They are also very sensitive to your phone line.
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Actually, the best modem would be the external USR Courier modem. A tad expensive, but it is the best on the consumer market right now.
Avoid a USB based modem. Use the good old UARTS for the serial port. You will be happier for it.
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Roy "Skuzzy" Neese
President, AppLink Corp.
http://www.applink.net
skuzzy@applink.net
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Never tested that modem, Skuzz.
But since your word is the law when it comes to networking, I fully trust you (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)
I am using a Best Data USB modem right now and its pretty fast. Not as fast as my old ISA US ROBOTICS :-/
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I'm using an external Courier on my system now. Unfortunately/fortunately the poor thing is relegated to sending and recieving faxes, but 3 or 4 years old and one 56k upgrade and it still works great.
SOB
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Thanks guys. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
At home, our phone lines are all provided by a cable company, and they are offering a cable modem Hi-speed internet thing for £33 (about $50) a month.
I already have an NIC card, but it has to be 10 Base-T. How can I check this is the case?
Not sure I can justify the expense, but does anyone reckon they are any good?
Thanks again. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
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I've got a cable modem now and love it...not as much as my old DSL, but since I can't get DSL here it's the next best choice.
If your network card is installed in your computer (not a USB), then it'll be either a 10 or 100.
SOB
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Cool!
It's a PCI card which got installed at uni.
Thing is, the cable company reckon they cost £45+, whereas mine cost me £25.
Also, it only has a standard modem cable port - I always thought they use that proper network cable (with a circular plug).
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hmmmm...maybe I spoke too soon (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) They do make network cards for home networking that work off of phone cable, but you usually buy that in a kit with a couple of cards & I'm not sure if those run at 10Mbps or not. Are you sure it's a phone connector or is it a little fatter than a phone connector? If it's a little fatter, then that should be good.
If you do need to buy a new network card, 45 Brit seems pretty dang high, but that's as compared to here in the states.
SOB
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A PCI 10/100 NIC is cheap. Should be around 25 Pounds at most I would guess.
How to check: Your network card should have a box-shaped socket in it just like an RJ11 phone jack. (Although I think you guys might use different phone jacks in the UK?)
It should look like this: http://www.dlink.com/products/adapters/dfe550tx/ (http://www.dlink.com/products/adapters/dfe550tx/)
This is the type of plug used for 10BaseT UTP cabling, Unshielded Twisted Pair. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif) This is a standard network card, and what the cable modem company is expecting. Your card may have both this type of port, and an round one with two bumps on it for a BNC connection using "thinnet", or thin coaxial cable. (10Base2) Thinnet is not normally used in modern networking, and would only be found on older network cards.
If you do need to get a new network card, stick with some kind of name-brand PCI card. Intel, 3Com, D-Link, LinkSys... something you recognise. And remember, nothing is "free", if it's a $5 network card, it SUCKS. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
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Lephturn - Aces High Chief Trainer
A member of The Flying Pigs http://www.flyingpigs.com (http://www.flyingpigs.com)
Check out Lephturn's Aerodrome! (http://users.andara.com/~sconrad/)
"Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know." - Michel Eyquem, seigneur de Montaigne. (1533–1592)
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It is definetly a little fatter, and has two LEDs. It was installed by the IT department at my uni. for connection to the network from my room at college. Obviously, they didn't give me any documentation and my computer has no information about the card.
Anyway, I've tracked down an ACER 10/100 WOL ethernet card for £41.
You yanks and your cheap electronics... grrrrr (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif).
<edit> Cheers Lephturn!!! (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
I think I might go with this cable modem thing - at least I'll look into it.
[This message has been edited by Dowding (edited 02-14-2001).]
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I as of yet don't have the luxury of cable or dsl. I do have a few modems though. For me I get best connects via USRobotics. (currently use voice pro .. external usb or serial) Contrary to some others I seem to get the best connects from USB modems ... go figure.
Chuck
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Pirate //BK\\
pi
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Dowding e-mail me your address I'll mail you D-link 10Mbits card. It's and ISA thing but it's got both RJ45 and 10BaseT (thin ethernet) connectors. I happend to have a few just lying around (all new Dells come with LAN ports on board (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)).
I might have a PCI dual card (would be a 3COM thing in this case) - but my LAN box is at my gf house, can't remember if I have any of those - can you wait till Friday?
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Lynx, you diamond, you. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
I'm gonna find out what exactly the card in my machine is and it will be a couple of weeks before I decide what I'm going to do. I'll email you then, pal.
Obviously I'd pay for packaging and posting and give you some extra. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
<edit>
Looks like my card will suffice - it's an SMC 1208T (PCI) and according to their site and reviews on the Net, it is 10 Base-T.
Thanks for the offer though! If it turns out to be crap, I'll drop you a line. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
[This message has been edited by Dowding (edited 02-15-2001).]
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It's clearly obvious that my modem is the *best* modem. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif) I tweaked it a few weeks ago and I download at an average of 400-500k/sec. Hate me all you want. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)
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===>Frosty
====>Exposure2k.com
=====>Frosty@exposure2k.com
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I live in a rural area, and have a crummy phone line that gets 26.4K on a good day, and often less. I'm using a USR 28.8 Sportster internal modem.
Any chance that a different modem would get better performace from my crummy phone line?
I notice that one of the USR modems has a "game mode", what's up with that?
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Popeye, Ive had 3 different 56K modems in this machine, all 3 logged in at different speeds to the same isp. So yes, you might get better connects w/ better hardware.The best I have used is 3coms ISA fax modem.the range was 36k to 49,333 being the best.We did test two of the 3 on another isp and found one being better, however the 3com won hands down..
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Thanks Ode,
I'm going to try a USR Courier Everything Everywhere Super Extra Wonderful, to see if it can make my connect more reliable.
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I'm due to be getting the computer in my room connected to the net soon, and so I've been reading up on modems.
All of the magazines I've read reckon that the external Diamond Supra Max USB is the best to use. I don't know whether that's based upon just browsing or gaming, but the latter is more likely, what with it being a gaming mag and that!
I never realised that the modem hardware has such and effect on your connection, I thought they were all practically identical.
We got our internal PCI ZOOM 56K modem for £50, and get solid connections of 49333 bps down a regular phone like with BT Anytime. I get download speeds of up to 6 K/s!!! Thats almost as fast as my mate gets with ISDN!
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A USB modem is NOT the way to go.
Your download speed is pretty much irrelevant for playing a game like Aces high. Check this article out: http://users.andara.com/~sconrad/connection.htm (http://users.andara.com/~sconrad/connection.htm)
If you are buying a new modem, your best bet is a US Robotics Courier external. It's a bit expensive, but there are other slightly cheaper USR external modems on the market. A PCI modem would be your second best choice. USB is the worst possible choice for gaming. The only thing you want connected via USB is your control devices. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
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Sean "Lephturn" Conrad - Aces High Chief Trainer
A proud member of the mighty Flying Pigs
http://www.flyingpigs.com
Check out Lephturn's Aerodrome (http://users.andara.com/~sconrad/) for AH articles and training info!
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DaGuvna, see my earlier post
Nexx
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Just to add to the confusion I guess:
Diamond Supra PCI internal was the best modem I've ever had. I had solid connects, fast downloads and no problem whatsoever for just under 30 quid. Then I read about winmodems being the source of all evil and the opportunity came along to swap it for highly recommended Hayes Accura internal thing (full blown modem, not using CPU - blah-blah-blah...).
Well - connection is fractionally slower (so are downloads), it's stable... Err...
Was it worth extra 40 quid? Definitely not. Absolute waste of money.
External modem is better? How? Your ISA/PCI thing is sitting right on the data bus seeping the power of the mobo and feeding the data straight in and out. Any external is the same inside as internal with the only differences being a separate box, blinking lights (yawn), and a power source. And, of course, few more cables like you don't have enough of them. And let’s not forget an extra cost too.
I disabled both serial ports in BIOS cuz there's absolutely no need for them to be there - it's a legacy from good ol' DOS days. Now I have (gulp) spare (!!!) IRQ's and no device conflicts.
The worst modem I've ever had was made by USR. It was a winmodem that windows refuse to detect, drivers kept crashing and god forbid if you got it working you dare change any settings... After 6 months of hell I just put it in the bin and swore never to touch USR stuff again.
YMMV
p.s. ISDN (in the UK) - what a joke! My gf is on this crap paying a small fortune and downloading at 6-6.5K tops. Me and my boring phoneline do it at 5.5-6K (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
I guess It Still Does Nothing is still a pretty good description for it (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif).
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Winmodems of any kind are junk.
Don't let the USR Winmodem be confused with the Courier. The USR Courier is about as close to the quality of modem an ISP would use.
The older Diamond modem (when they were Rockwell based) were good products, but they have since gone downhill as they switched to the Lucent part.
External versus internal:
The external modems have an advantage over internal modems as they use the onboard UART of your computer system, which is tied directly to the CPU bus.
The built-in UART drivers are incredibly stable, and so is the hardware.
Internal modems still have a UART they process everything through, which may or may not be as good as the one on your motherboard. From a performance aspect, there is no difference from a PCI based modem versus an external modem.
As a matter of fact, bus and EMI noise can slow down an internal PCI modem versus an external modem.
In the U.S, external modems must meet Class B FCC requirements, which requires shielding. Internal modems only have to meet Class A FCC requirements, which are a lot easier to do.
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Roy "Skuzzy" Neese
President, AppLink Corp.
http://www.applink.net
skuzzy@applink.net
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another benefit of an external modem are the status lights and the fact you can power cycle it if it gets hung up without having to reboot your computer.
but the best "modem" has a coaxial input and a RJ45 output. Mine is made by Motorola and has a Road Runner on the front...
beep, beep.. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Eagler