which dial up modem should i buy from newegg?

[Lifer]

i need good speeds, reliability and price
newegg

 

[Yossarian]

they still sell those things?

 

[parsley007]

i'd go with the cheapest...as far as speeds, a $10 one had performed as good as a $50 one for me...reliability likewise, mine just tended to like lightning..

 

[Gibson12345]

You can spend an extra $40 or so on a hardware modem and upgrade from "really, really slow" to "very slow."

Or just go with a Winmodem ($10-20). Anything from US Robotics should be OK.

 

[Dantzig]

Why not buy one from someone in FS/FT?

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: parsley007
i'd go with the cheapest...as far as speeds, a $10 one had performed as good as a $50 one for me...reliability likewise, mine just tended to like lightning..

really, i read up on old threads and everyone was recommending hardware modems over winmodems.
what brand/model was the $10 modem?

 

[Algere]

Do they make PCI versions of hardware modems or are they only in ISA form? Or unless you mean the external versions.

 

[John]

Lucent and Ambient (Intel) offer good winmodem chipsets. Do a search for username Modus on this forum for some good winmodem information.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: Algere
Do they make PCI versions of hardware modems or are they only in ISA form? Or unless you mean the external versions.

USR, Aopen, Actiontech, etc offer PCI hardware modems.

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: John
Lucent and Ambient (Intel) offer good winmodem chipsets. Do a search for username Modus on this forum for some good winmodem information.

thanks.
another Q.
are all external modems hardware modems?

 

[Lifer]

Modus' thread?

 

[dartworth]

Text

 

[John]

Originally posted by: Lifer
thanks.
another Q.
are all external modems hardware modems?

USB modems are not really 'hardware' modems since they are controllerless. Think of them as Winmodems running off the USB port.

 

[Brian48]

I picked up one of these for my main box. Seems to work fine. Usually connects at 52kbps. I keep it around for emergency email whenever the cable goes out (which hasn't happened so far, but it doesn't hurt to be ready).

Generic Lucent modem = $6.98 shipped

 

[nageov3t]

I'm a huge fan of this modem:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...-104-135&catalog=18&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=0

 

[psiu]

I just put a Zoom 3025 in a customer's computer. Internal, PCI-slot, not a winmodem. Worked okay. Although I had to drive back down to install it for her (she bought it and tried it herself). PCI modems will be...quirky. Recommend a slot in the middle...because I can. Didn't seem to work in the 1st PCI slot. Tried fixing the drivers and whatnot, eventually completely removed them, reseated the board in the 2nd slot that I tried and voila. Also plugged the phone lines into the proper ports on the back.

Connected at 40.0 kbs. Not too shabby. Worked alright on less graphically intensive pages.

Althoug, I don't think a winmodem will be too bad nowadays, as obviously CPU's are little more powerful than they used to be, and you wanted all your horsepower going into programs. Not too mention, most computers will have memory available now and not have to use virtual memory as much.

As a random guess, if you have a p4 or athlon xp and 128-256 MB ram, you should be okay. Personally, I would say to get an external modem, because that way you'll have blinking, flashing lights...

On a side note, it was really bizarre to a modem dialing up again....

Edit: Apparently the Zoom is a "host-based, controllerless modem." Which apparently means it's somewhere in the middle. Passes a little work on to the CPU, but does most of it itself. I guess....

 

[AIWGuru]

Originally posted by: psiu
Iidn't seem to work in the 1st PCI slot. Tried fixing the drivers and whatnot, eventually completely removed them, reseated the board in the 2nd slot that I tried and voila

That's because your first PCI slot is shared with your AGP slot.

 

[AIWGuru]

Originally posted by: psiu
Althoug, I don't think a winmodem will be too bad nowadays, as obviously CPU's are little more powerful than they used to be,

All processors wait at the same speed.

 

[GregMal]

Goto Pricewatch, modems, brand:lucent.......Many delivered for under $10.
I've got 2 running in 2 different computers...very satisfied.......they're so
cheap, get 2.........Greg

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: John

Originally posted by: Lifer
thanks.
another Q.
are all external modems hardware modems?

USB modems are not really 'hardware' modems since they are controllerless. Think of them as Winmodems running off the USB port.

Wow so you can have a controllerless device running off another controllerless device. Intel loves you guys for promoting the use of CPU cycles

On the serious side Lifer I used to only suggest USR models 2976 and 2977 but in all honesty dialup and dialup. The only reason to seriously consider a HW modem at this point is if you have really really really bad phone lines (and even then there are alot of people who still argue that SoftModems handle line noise just as well <shrug>).

Thorin

PS > I miss WinModus what happened to him?