Bonedoctor's family owned Smartlink? I used to work for their tech/customer service dept way back in 1997. ArchTek is a Twainese company and Smartlink is their product name. Their modems were actually good back in 97 when they had ISA modems back then. I haven't been keeping up with modems cuz i'm on broadband now.
I snagged two at the Webster TX CompUSA yesterday. CompUSA's website inidcated "In Stock" for the subject item. When I got there their in store database indicated 3 on hand. We could only find two, and they were in the very back corner of the store in an area the kid referred to as "overstock" along with a bunch of other unpriced merchandise. The salesyoungster didn't know exactly where they were. He took me to the "overstock" corner, and began looking. I looked to my side and saw "SmartLink", and that seemed fresh on my mind. Picked up the box and eventually found the word Archtek on the back. Sure enough, both of them rang up at $4.88.
Unless ya know what you are lookin' for, it's easy to miss.
Look for a purple box about 10" by 6" by 1 1/2" with a red SmartLink block in the upper left hand corner. Snapshots of the box are here.
Interesting Note: In looking around for a File Sharing Service, I found that the popular Freedrive requires an arbitrary user to open an account before downloading a file which another has uploaded for sharing via the web. OfficeClip does not require this, making it convenient for others to view shared files quickly.
Good Luck
Unless ya know what you are lookin' for, it's easy to miss.
Look for a purple box about 10" by 6" by 1 1/2" with a red SmartLink block in the upper left hand corner. Snapshots of the box are here.
Interesting Note: In looking around for a File Sharing Service, I found that the popular Freedrive requires an arbitrary user to open an account before downloading a file which another has uploaded for sharing via the web. OfficeClip does not require this, making it convenient for others to view shared files quickly.
Good Luck
I just got my modem, but they are selling two for $4.88. They have the SmartLin one, but the also have a I/O Magic MagicSurfer 56k v.90 modem. IF you can get them, these are probly better. Also, I tried the drivers for the smartlink in linux mandrake 7.2, and it didnt work. Any help here, I am new to linux?
hey, can anyone tell me where to find the program to flash the modem cuz it's only connecting at 49k on my phone line where my other modem usually connects at 115k. Thanks
Your joking right? The 115k speed you see id the connection speed
between your computer and your modem. You want to add a 'w2' to your
dial string so that it actually reports your modem to ISP speed. The
49k speed sound right on the money. Really good actually.
between your computer and your modem. You want to add a 'w2' to your
dial string so that it actually reports your modem to ISP speed. The
49k speed sound right on the money. Really good actually.
Yeah, we pretty much got Archtek America Corp. started in the US. Taiwan Cement owned Archtek Telecom in Taiwan. It's been a long time since I've even thought about the company. Moved onto other things, I guess.
thewinky,
SmartLink is just a trademark for the modem. The company name is Archtek America Corp. Thus the logo is an "A". I wonder if they're still using that "A" logo. Hmm.
SmartLink is just a trademark for the modem. The company name is Archtek America Corp. Thus the logo is an "A". I wonder if they're still using that "A" logo. Hmm.
Well, unfortunately for thewinky and all the other linux users who AREN'T using RedHat 6.1, this driver probably won't work as well as a modem should. It's a binary module, so it will work best with the exact kernel it was compiled for (2.2.12-20). Anyone who upgrades past 2.2.14, without patching their kernel first will have problems. (pppd will crash, kernel panic, etc.). Any other kernel version, results are not guaranteed and can result in decreased stability and YMMV (your mileage may vary). It is not recommended to use modules from mixed kernel versions (i.e. 2.2.18, but 2.2.14 ppp.o and 2.2.12-20 modem driver) [See Alan Cox's post on the kernel-traffic mailing list. Msg me for the exact URL] If this module includes code from the GPL'd serial driver (as the Lucent one is), this binary module is ILLEGAL, since the source is not available.
Basically, for Linux, get a hardware modem. If you MUST get a winmodem (financial reasons, built into hardware, etc.) I would recommend one based on the Lucent chipset as theirs is a partially binary-only, partially source based driver that will compile in the 2.2.x series with much less headaches. (not 2.4.0 though)
Basically, for Linux, get a hardware modem. If you MUST get a winmodem (financial reasons, built into hardware, etc.) I would recommend one based on the Lucent chipset as theirs is a partially binary-only, partially source based driver that will compile in the 2.2.x series with much less headaches. (not 2.4.0 though)
Hm... sounds like a good deal. I need a pci modem anyways. I'll drop by CompUSA in the morning. = )
If you live in the Portland area, the Tigard store has about 50. They are marked 24.88 but have them do a search on the web page by sku#. I picked 1 up, I just cant use many of these. If you build systems or something you might want to jump on these. There were some modems next to it that ended in .88 also, I believe this means they are discontinued. A little online checking for these might score a deal also.
Picked up a few today... my local store has around 75 of these in stock on the shelves.
Check zip code 91302. The Woodland Hills store has them. You might be able to talk the store manager into shipping inner store to your local store. I have done this with OM before.
If anyone wants one... let me know ... and I will pick some up.
Also I picked up the:
I/O Magic MagicSurfer 56k $4.88
Hi-VAL SpeedTastic 56k for $4.88
Anyone know which of these should yeild better performance...?
Thanks
Check zip code 91302. The Woodland Hills store has them. You might be able to talk the store manager into shipping inner store to your local store. I have done this with OM before.
If anyone wants one... let me know ... and I will pick some up.
Also I picked up the:
I/O Magic MagicSurfer 56k $4.88
Hi-VAL SpeedTastic 56k for $4.88
Anyone know which of these should yeild better performance...?
Thanks
If you want to know which is (should be) the best, you've first
got to look inside the boxes and see what modems are REALLY
included...None of these brands (Hi-Val, I/O, etc.) represents
a hardware manufacturer. So whatever is in the box depends on
who they buy from. You should be able to tell from the driver
disc enclosed, from the installation documentation, or from looking
at the chipset on the modem...
Kwad
got to look inside the boxes and see what modems are REALLY
included...None of these brands (Hi-Val, I/O, etc.) represents
a hardware manufacturer. So whatever is in the box depends on
who they buy from. You should be able to tell from the driver
disc enclosed, from the installation documentation, or from looking
at the chipset on the modem...
Kwad
So if you are saying that the Linux driver for this is only compatible with Redhat 6.1's kernal, then it is no good for a lot of other people. Maybe this question is best on one of the other forums, but which PCI modem works with linux(any version)?
I will ship for just the cost of the modem plus the shipping. And any old ZIP 100 disk you might have...... you can throw in for me, would be nice......lol
Just return the favor one day.
Rather than start ripping open boxes to look at the chips used... thought someone might have had some other experiences with these 3 modems. Want to install one now.... but don't want to test each one to decide.
Thanks.
Just return the favor one day.
Rather than start ripping open boxes to look at the chips used... thought someone might have had some other experiences with these 3 modems. Want to install one now.... but don't want to test each one to decide.
Thanks.
Lanyap
Elite Member
- Dec 23, 2000
- 8,188
- 2,243
- 136
I have the SmartLink and MagicSurfer. SmartLink has an ESS chip while the Magicsurfer has a PCtel chip. Don't know about the HiVal. I prefer the Smartlink/ESS modem. It is a newer chip and is supposed to handled telephone line anomolies better that PCtel.
So if you are saying that the Linux driver for this is only compatible with Redhat 6.1's kernal, then it is no good for a lot of other people. Maybe this question is best on one of the other forums, but which PCI modem works with linux(any version)?
It is most likely to work best with Redhat's kernel. Mileage will vary on others. For example, I have a Lucent based winmodem. For awhile, they only had the one driver that was built for Redhat 6.1's kernel also. Worked great on my 2.2.14 kernel that I built by
hand. This module was broken on any kernel past that because of changes in the ppp code. Eventually, they released an updated version that is partially source code that can be compiled to work on 2.2.x. That's what I'm using now on 2.2.18. People have gotten it to work on the 2.4.0 series as well.
Here's an excellent link for winmodems and linux:
[L]walbran.org/sean/linux/linmodem-howto-all.html[/L]
But, to answer the question: a hardware modem.
It is most likely to work best with Redhat's kernel. Mileage will vary on others. For example, I have a Lucent based winmodem. For awhile, they only had the one driver that was built for Redhat 6.1's kernel also. Worked great on my 2.2.14 kernel that I built by
hand. This module was broken on any kernel past that because of changes in the ppp code. Eventually, they released an updated version that is partially source code that can be compiled to work on 2.2.x. That's what I'm using now on 2.2.18. People have gotten it to work on the 2.4.0 series as well.
Here's an excellent link for winmodems and linux:
[L]walbran.org/sean/linux/linmodem-howto-all.html[/L]
But, to answer the question: a hardware modem.
There are a few versions of the 5634 modem listed on Archtek modem list.
In particular, the CompUSA modem appears to be the 5634 PEW (if the link someone listed is accurate).
56K-PCI
56 Kbps
(Windows 95/98/NT only)
Model 5634PEW
Actually, they only show drivers for Win95/98 and not even for NT on their website - let alone Linux or Win2k.
The 5634 PCW (not PEW) appears to be a non-winmodem, and if anyone sees that for $5, post it!
In particular, the CompUSA modem appears to be the 5634 PEW (if the link someone listed is accurate).
56K-PCI
56 Kbps
(Windows 95/98/NT only)
Model 5634PEW
Actually, they only show drivers for Win95/98 and not even for NT on their website - let alone Linux or Win2k.
The 5634 PCW (not PEW) appears to be a non-winmodem, and if anyone sees that for $5, post it!
PCTel modems are, without question, the worst modems out there.
Any time you see a "free [or cheap] after rebate" modem, it's
just about guaranteed to be a repacked PCTel. Though I've had
some success with these on good phone lines, people who have
tried them on iffy phone lines are never satisfied. PCTel modems
are the kind you buy to put in someone else's computer (hopefully
someone else you'll never see again ).
The ESS vs PCTel question isn't a question at all. Buy the ESS.
Actually, the ESS is a pretty decent chipset. Not as good as
the Lucent chipset--if the Hi Val modem is based on the Lucent
set (about as likely as monkeys flying out of my...) then go for
that. Otherwise, you should be at least as well off with the
ESS-based modem.
Kwad
Any time you see a "free [or cheap] after rebate" modem, it's
just about guaranteed to be a repacked PCTel. Though I've had
some success with these on good phone lines, people who have
tried them on iffy phone lines are never satisfied. PCTel modems
are the kind you buy to put in someone else's computer (hopefully
someone else you'll never see again
).The ESS vs PCTel question isn't a question at all. Buy the ESS.
Actually, the ESS is a pretty decent chipset. Not as good as
the Lucent chipset--if the Hi Val modem is based on the Lucent
set (about as likely as monkeys flying out of my...) then go for
that. Otherwise, you should be at least as well off with the
ESS-based modem.
Kwad
Just got back form CompUSA in Skokie, IL - damn bastards had 4 in stock, but refused to go look for it, "if it's not on the shelves, than MAYBE it's bad returns". Yeah, right, I am sure that's what they are, BAD RETURNS... arrghhhh, CompUSA is staffed with retards.
Affirmative Rochlin.
These are the 5634PEW's.
The High Val's are the PCTEL chips (but has pager notification).
The Smartlinks are the ESS chips.
The I/O Magic also has the PCTEL chip.
Thanks for all the input. Looks like I'll throw in the Smartlink first. And maybe test the Hi-Val for kicks.
These are the 5634PEW's.
The High Val's are the PCTEL chips (but has pager notification).
The Smartlinks are the ESS chips.
The I/O Magic also has the PCTEL chip.
Thanks for all the input. Looks like I'll throw in the Smartlink first. And maybe test the Hi-Val for kicks.
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