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How can I tell what modems are hardware modems?

D

DZip

Senior member
I am looking for a V.92 PCI Voice/Fax/Data hardware modem. After looking at many different ones, is there a way to tell if it is a Winmodem or a hardware modem. The manufacturers don't say in there specs. If anyone can point me to any sites that carry hardware modems, I would be very happy.
 
if it's PCI, theres a good chance its a winmodem.

If it's ISA or serial, it's definatley a hardware modem (someone else correct me on that if I'm wrong)

If it's external USB, there's a small chance you might get it working on Linux (if thats what you want to do)
 
Well, as a general rule any external modem is a hardware modem, so if you pick up a USB v.92 modem you'll be OK.

As for PCI, you'll actually do OK with whatever you get. The old ISA Winmodems were really crappy, but the PCI Winmodems are much better because not only are CPUs much faster, but the onboard DSP is much better and the PCI controller also offloads a lot of the crap. I have a PCI Winmodem in my 800 Mhz laptop and I only get a stutter in my mouse and the rest of my system in the dial and hang up split seconds, but the rest of the time it's fine. The PCI modem in my 1.6 GHz P4 is the same way.

If you MUST HAVE a hardware PCI modem, I can't help you there.
 
Just search pricewatch, pricegrabber, or whatnot and search for 3com (model)2976 or 2977. Both are OEM hardware modems. The only difference between the two are that the 2976 adds voice.

When shopping around, the bet way to tell if you are getting a hardware modem is to look at the system requirements. If the only OS listed is Windows, odds are it's a winmodem.

Hope this helps some.
 


<<

If it's ISA or serial, it's definatley a hardware modem (someone else correct me on that if I'm wrong)
 >>



There are a very small number of ISA software (WinModem's) available, but those have always been in the distinct minority. I only know of two manufacturers producing them.
I don't know of any external software modems however, and I believe those are purely hardware models.
 
who the hell would waste their money on a hardware 56k modem in this day and age? A soft modem barely uses 3%-5% CPU utilization, and they're cheap. A hardware modem isn't any faster at downloading data than a soft modem, your still stuck with your crappy phone line. GET BROADBAND!!!

If I was stuck with dial-up I couldn't imagine wasting more than $20 on a modem.
 


<< who the hell would waste their money on a hardware 56k modem in this day and age? A soft modem barely uses 3%-5% CPU utilization, and they're cheap. A hardware modem isn't any faster at downloading data than a soft modem, your still stuck with your crappy phone line. GET BROADBAND!!!

If I was stuck with dial-up I couldn't imagine wasting more than $20 on a modem. >>



Broadband isn't availible everywhere. And if you're not using windows as your OS, a Winmodem isn't going to do you much good, now is it?
 
USB modems aren't Winmodems. There may BE USB Winmodems, but they aren't all that way. I have a MultiTech USB modem and it is NOT a Winmodem.
 
Basically, when you click the Dial button on your Dial-up connection, if it "hangs" for a coupla seconds before dialing, it's most probably a winmodem. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
I've had a pci USR winmodem 56K and I could only get 28.8 out of it while my old 33.6 cheapie isa modem gave me constant 33.6 uploads and downloads. If you have a fast cpu then you shouldn't have any problems with using a winmodem.
 
Plus with a hardware modem your ping times should be noticeably lower. And not all usb modems are hardware based. The usr pci
hardware modems will run you $40+ usually. The winmodem in my laptop annoys the hell out of me when connecting/disconnecting, but
other than that, it has no ill effects on the system. Same goes for just about any winmodem.
 
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