Compusa in Santa Clara gots tons of them! Anyone want to trade half life + 3 bucks for one? Thanks!
//Ryan
//Ryan
PLEASE...Anyone with a choice, DO NOT buy the Hi Val or I/O
modems...Trust me, the PCTel modems are markedly inferior to the
ESS modem (or any other modem for that matter). This is not a
choice...
Kwad
modems...Trust me, the PCTel modems are markedly inferior to the
ESS modem (or any other modem for that matter). This is not a
choice...
Kwad
Okay...here's my story (in case anybody wants to hear it):
I'm in the Boston area and so I checked the online stock and it was listed as out of stock in my nearest store in Cambridge (just down the street). It's listed as in stock in the Brighton store so I walk all the way to the bus stop and ride for 40 minutes to Brighton and in that store, they couldn't find any of them (and warned me never to use the online stock-checker feature again). Drats. I wasted $1.50 on bus fare and 3 hours of my life.
Later, I go to my Cambridge CompUSA to look for that scanner everybody's talking about. On a whim, I check out the modem section and lo and behold, there's 2 Hi-Val 56k modems and an ArchTek one which I purchased (each for $4.88).
Even later after that, I go home, and open up the Archtek one and I notice that there's no ESS chips on it (TI chips instead) and that this thing's ISA and has jumpers. It turns out that it's the 5643BTS which is a hardware version with speakerphone and voice and stuff. Totally weird, and totally a steal for 5 bucks. The SKU# for that one is 273875 but it's not listed on the webpage to search for availability. (I couldn't find much info on the archtek site because it's slow and unreliable but there's a mini-review on it here).
Moral of the story--don't bother checking the webpage for availability. It's actually contradictory and deceitful.
Second moral of the story--look out for the 5634BTS version which is also discounted to $4.88 because it's a hardware modem. I haven't installed it yet but I'm willing to bet it'll blow away even the best winmodem.
way
I'm in the Boston area and so I checked the online stock and it was listed as out of stock in my nearest store in Cambridge (just down the street). It's listed as in stock in the Brighton store so I walk all the way to the bus stop and ride for 40 minutes to Brighton and in that store, they couldn't find any of them (and warned me never to use the online stock-checker feature again). Drats. I wasted $1.50 on bus fare and 3 hours of my life.
Later, I go to my Cambridge CompUSA to look for that scanner everybody's talking about. On a whim, I check out the modem section and lo and behold, there's 2 Hi-Val 56k modems and an ArchTek one which I purchased (each for $4.88).
Even later after that, I go home, and open up the Archtek one and I notice that there's no ESS chips on it (TI chips instead) and that this thing's ISA and has jumpers. It turns out that it's the 5643BTS which is a hardware version with speakerphone and voice and stuff. Totally weird, and totally a steal for 5 bucks. The SKU# for that one is 273875 but it's not listed on the webpage to search for availability. (I couldn't find much info on the archtek site because it's slow and unreliable but there's a mini-review on it here).
Moral of the story--don't bother checking the webpage for availability. It's actually contradictory and deceitful.
Second moral of the story--look out for the 5634BTS version which is also discounted to $4.88 because it's a hardware modem. I haven't installed it yet but I'm willing to bet it'll blow away even the best winmodem.
way
Oh man, you're bumming me out. I left that hardware modem on the
shelf at the Cambridge store because I figured it couldn't POSSIBLY
be on sale like the rest of them...
That modem has been sitting on the shelf for at least 5 days!
In fact, I had it in my basket, when I noticed it wasn't the
PCI cheapo and put it back.
Oooh...Am I pissed now!
Kwad
shelf at the Cambridge store because I figured it couldn't POSSIBLY
be on sale like the rest of them...
That modem has been sitting on the shelf for at least 5 days!
In fact, I had it in my basket, when I noticed it wasn't the
PCI cheapo and put it back.
Oooh...Am I pissed now!
Kwad
I just installed the smartlink in a computer for my father in law. Everything was fine until I dialed out, then the video freaked out and then didn't return until I rebooted. I moved the card to the lower slot and still the same thing. He is using a pci video so it prob only will be a problem with those. Or maybe just a bad modem. By the way this one is the ESS chip. Anyway be careful and if anyone else has had a problem let me know.
I just bought one Smartlink ESS modem last week at Comp USA, San Diego, no problem with installation on Windows 98. It gives 49K connection to Juno ISP. It is faster than my Lucent modem. It is a real good buy.
Hey Kwad Guy,
Don't be pissed--you probably got more modems than me anyways and I did have to take the bus down to Brighton. Maybe in the future, we can hook up and divy up the bountiful spoils that the Cambridge CompUSA has to offer.
Peace...
way
Don't be pissed--you probably got more modems than me anyways and I did have to take the bus down to Brighton. Maybe in the future, we can hook up and divy up the bountiful spoils that the Cambridge CompUSA has to offer.
Peace...way
Scored two of these modems at CompUSA 5th Ave Manhattan an hour or so ago (PCI with the ESS chip).I was amazed that they still had them.
Actually, they still had at least 20 more on their shelves more. They're marked on the shelf at 19.98 -- though they ring up at 4.88 -- maybe that is why they are still there. What an amazing deal!! If you're in NYC, go get one, just in case you ever decide to build an additional computer that doesn't have one yet.
I'm hooked to the net by a cable modem. But I'm building a new desktop when DDR boards come out. At this price I got it for autodialing with MS Outlook, and PC faxing. 2nd is for a second mini tower cheap pc I may build as a voicemail and low hit rate net server. I almost feel I should have bought more -- just in case.
Actually, they still had at least 20 more on their shelves more. They're marked on the shelf at 19.98 -- though they ring up at 4.88 -- maybe that is why they are still there. What an amazing deal!! If you're in NYC, go get one, just in case you ever decide to build an additional computer that doesn't have one yet.
I'm hooked to the net by a cable modem. But I'm building a new desktop when DDR boards come out. At this price I got it for autodialing with MS Outlook, and PC faxing. 2nd is for a second mini tower cheap pc I may build as a voicemail and low hit rate net server. I almost feel I should have bought more -- just in case.
Thank you for the tip. Bought one at the Burbank, California Superstore. They were out of the PCI but got a serial external Surfrider for $4.88.
But wait the deal is better. It comes with Norton AntiVirus(FULL VERSION) and other Software beside the Telecommunication Software.
It has Voice and the ability for up to 1000 Voice Mailboxes. Included in the box are:
Serial cable with both 25 & 9 pin connection.
This has to be one of the sweetest deals I got in a long time.
I feel that the External Modem is a better deal and it also frees up a PCI slot.
Connections between 49666 & 50333
Go Get Them
Yoti in Los Angeles
But wait the deal is better. It comes with Norton AntiVirus(FULL VERSION) and other Software beside the Telecommunication Software.
It has Voice and the ability for up to 1000 Voice Mailboxes. Included in the box are:
Serial cable with both 25 & 9 pin connection.
This has to be one of the sweetest deals I got in a long time.
I feel that the External Modem is a better deal and it also frees up a PCI slot.
Connections between 49666 & 50333
Go Get Them
Yoti in Los Angeles
got one of the SmartLink. SKU 273876 for $4.88+tax. the last one on the shelf. how do i know which type of ESS chip it has? anyway, my connection's much speedier than before. great find. thanks, guys.
Woah....
According to this the ISA version sorta sucks. The PCI version is the better of the Smartlink
modem. Read down at the bottom "what's hot/what's not".
The PCI version does not do well on noisy lines apparently. And is VERY slow on transfer speeds (great on download speed though).
PCWorld review of modems
Think I am going to take back my Hi-Val and I/O and pick up one of those Trendnet babies. Damn the Trendnet is just as fast (actually FASTER on download speeds) as the hardware modems.
According to this the ISA version sorta sucks. The PCI version is the better of the Smartlink
modem. Read down at the bottom "what's hot/what's not".
The PCI version does not do well on noisy lines apparently. And is VERY slow on transfer speeds (great on download speed though).
PCWorld review of modems
Think I am going to take back my Hi-Val and I/O and pick up one of those Trendnet babies.
Damn the Trendnet is just as fast (actually FASTER on download speeds) as the hardware modems.Thanx Cybordolphin
Learn something new every day!
I will track another one down if I can
Thanx Again
KingNero
Learn something new every day!
I will track another one down if I can
Thanx Again
KingNero
I did not realize the SmartLink 5634PEW modems were on sale on CompUSA again until I just saw this thread.
I already have two SmartLink 5634PEW modems I bought in 1999 with mail-in rebates, but this deal even better because I do not have to wait a few months for the rebate checks.
I sold a third SmartLink 5634PEW modem at a profit a few months ago since I had three.
At $5 each tomorrow I will buy the local CompUSA's inventory of them for family and friends.
The SmartLink 5634PEW modems work fine for me on my two computers running Windows 2000, but the drivers for Windows 2000 are more tricky to install than the Lucent LT Winmodems' under Windows 2000 since the SmartLink 5634PEW drivers are 'unsigned' and not on the Windows 2000 Professional CD.
The performance of the SmartLink 5634PEW modems and the Lucent LT Winmodems are roughly equivalent (good but not quite as good as U. S. Robotics hardware modems) under Windows 2000, at least based my hundreds of hours experience using various types of modems.
I already have two SmartLink 5634PEW modems I bought in 1999 with mail-in rebates, but this deal even better because I do not have to wait a few months for the rebate checks.
I sold a third SmartLink 5634PEW modem at a profit a few months ago since I had three.
At $5 each tomorrow I will buy the local CompUSA's inventory of them for family and friends.
The SmartLink 5634PEW modems work fine for me on my two computers running Windows 2000, but the drivers for Windows 2000 are more tricky to install than the Lucent LT Winmodems' under Windows 2000 since the SmartLink 5634PEW drivers are 'unsigned' and not on the Windows 2000 Professional CD.
The performance of the SmartLink 5634PEW modems and the Lucent LT Winmodems are roughly equivalent (good but not quite as good as U. S. Robotics hardware modems) under Windows 2000, at least based my hundreds of hours experience using various types of modems.
Where you got W2k drivers? I'm planning on a win2k/98 dual boot system in the near future.
Thanks.
Thanks.
<< were you all excited when the Usual Suspects mentioned Skokie, IL? >>
of course, even got a woody
Heheh, good movie.I did not buy all the local Fort Worth (Hulen) store's stock, just seven at $4.88 plus tax each since I can think of that many relatives' or friends' computers that could use one.
There were three or four more of the Archtek modems left on the store's shelves, but the CompUSA salesman who asked me about them seemed incredulous at the price and may have bought the rest himself.
I suppose that there were many of that model of modem remaining because none of the modems had any prices marked on them, and the shelves had no listing of the Archtek modem or price.
My assumption is that CompUSA must be closing out the Archtek modems.
There were three or four more of the Archtek modems left on the store's shelves, but the CompUSA salesman who asked me about them seemed incredulous at the price and may have bought the rest himself.
I suppose that there were many of that model of modem remaining because none of the modems had any prices marked on them, and the shelves had no listing of the Archtek modem or price.
My assumption is that CompUSA must be closing out the Archtek modems.
Well I bought one of these last week on a lark since it was so cheap. Just to see how well a cheap winmodem could work. Hey for $4.88 + tax why not. To my surprise it connects consitantly faster than my USR Courier and Sportster on the same line and same ISP's. I was amazed. So if this cheap modem can connect at these speeds then there should be a hardware modem that can do it. Only my Sportster will connect faster than 28.8 to one of three ISP's. This cheap modem connects 32k-38k to all three no problem. I tried a Blaster v.90 exteranl but no better than the Courier. Have to send it back. I was thinking of trying a Supra Express external.
The Archtek 5634PEW modem uses the ESS 2898S chipset, which is a controllerless chipset.
The details can be found at http://www.esstech.com
and specifically at http://www.esstech.com/product/Communications/modem products.pdf
This is a very, very good controllerless modem, but it is not a full 'hardware' modem.
This type of controllerless modem is much better than a Host Signal Processing (HSP)
modem like the ones that use the PCtel 789T chipset.
The details can be found at http://www.esstech.com
and specifically at http://www.esstech.com/product/Communications/modem products.pdf
This is a very, very good controllerless modem, but it is not a full 'hardware' modem.
This type of controllerless modem is much better than a Host Signal Processing (HSP)
modem like the ones that use the PCtel 789T chipset.
FYI, there are now 30 on the shelf at the CompUSA store #423 in Modesto, CA. When I got mine a week ago there were only 6.
Get 'em while you can!
Get 'em while you can!
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