"fastest" 56k modem??

[BSEagle1]

Anyone know which modem on the market is fastest and provides the least latency in games? Howbout a site where I can compare them?
I've heard US Robotics makes the best ones, but then others say the 3Com Gaming Modem (like 3 years old) is still good...but then again I got fast connects out of my HSP56 modem.

 

[jonmullen]

If your on 56k its really not going to make a difference. I would just make sure to get a true hardware modem and not some stupid software one.

 

[BSEagle1]

What do you mean by a "True hardware modem"? One that has no complimentary software?
Explain please

 

[Angrymarshmello]

True hardware does not use your computer's cpu and other resources to power the modem (if you will). Go to the store and look at their minimum specs for modems - a hardware modem usually has specs of 386/486 cpu, very low end. (Just a generalization)

All in all, there is no longer a best 56k modem for gaming. I've had plenty of friends who some say the 3com sux, some say it rocks. I personally used a Diamond Supra Express 56i (ISA however) as my modem. Do not get an external USB modem - too much lag/latency issues. If you choose to get external get a serial if they're still made.

 

[BSEagle1]

How fast did that one typically connect?

 

[BSEagle1]

How fast did that one typically connect?

 

[cow123]

what speed you connect at usually depends on the background noise level of the phone line, if its a clean signal you will connect higher (when i had 56k i would be able to connect at 52,000bps and once at 54,000 or so it all depends on your line/phone company/isp if its not some $5 internal software modem)

 

[xSauronx]

ive used hardware and software and havent noticed any difference, dialup is diaulup now a days
i just got cable internet....my modem owns you

 

[Electrode]

Although I don't think they've been made since the mid '90s, I used to have a USRobotics Courier v.everything external serial modem. It supported X2 and v.90, and it was extremely fast. I clearly remember getting sub-100 ping times in Quake 3 with it.

I don't think that there's a v.92 upgrade available for them, but if you can live with v.90 speeds, try to find one. You'll think you're using ISDN!

 

[Priest77]

I used to use a Diamond Supra Express as well. Worked as well as could be expected for online gaming. Made a huge difference over the software modem built into my laptop that I was using at the time.

 

[cleverhandle]

I'm with Electrode - Courier v.Everything rocks about as much as a dialup modem could rock. I used mine for years on some crappy phone lines, and rarely got poor connects or drops. Works flawlessly in every operating system, and no drivers to install. I got mine off Ebay for about $75 many years ago - you could probably still find one there for a decent price.

 

[BSEagle1]

Yike! They're like 200 bucks! But then again, it's US Robotics we're talking about.
Would I be better off getting one of these modems or should I just go with 128k ISDN??

 

[cleverhandle]

Well, I assume you'd pay more monthly for the ISDN, but that's significantly more bandwidth at that level.

As for the Courier's price, just buy used. I'm usually prissy about buying everything new, but the Courier's are built like tanks. I used mine for about 3 years before I got DSL in January, and it was already 2-3 years old and heavily used when I got it. Might as well be new as far as functionality is concerned, though.

edit: Just dug it out - it was labelled "V.Everything - with V.34". That would mean it was originally a 28.8 modem. The V.34 spec looks to have been released around 1995. So we're talking about a modem that's probably around 6-8 years old. Pretty damn impressive.

 

[Gand1]

I still use my USR Courier V.everything! I'm still waiting for the V.92 upgrade for it though. USR is taking thier sweet old time.

 

[eplebnista]

56K Survey Summary(click next to each modem for details like connection speed, reliability, etc.)

hth,
eplebnista

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: eplebnista
56K Survey Summary(click next to each modem for details like connection speed, reliability, etc.)

hth,
eplebnista

Nice old survey, brought back memories when I was a Engineer at Hayes Modems. I evaluated all of those chipsets and recommended that we went with the Lucent Venus and Conexant HCF series. We put the Lucent set in the Practical Peripheral cases and the HCF in the Accura cases.