Path: menudo.uh.edu!menudo.uh.edu!usenet From: chal@p16.anet.bbs.bad.se (Christian Almgren) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.reviews Subject: REVIEW: US Robotics Sportster modem Followup-To: comp.sys.amiga.datacomm Date: 16 Dec 1992 17:48:46 GMT Organization: The Amiga Online Review Column - ed. Daniel Barrett Lines: 172 Sender: amiga-reviews@math.uh.edu (comp.sys.amiga.reviews moderator) Distribution: world Message-ID: <1gnq5vINNgmu@menudo.uh.edu> Reply-To: chal@p16.anet.bbs.bad.se (Christian Almgren) NNTP-Posting-Host: karazm.math.uh.edu Keywords: modem, hardware, telecommunications, datacomm, commercial PRODUCT NAME US Robotics Sportster modem, Revision A BRIEF DESCRIPTION A V.32bis modem with V.42bis and FAX capability. AUTHOR/COMPANY INFORMATION Name: US Robotics Address: 8100 North McCormick Blvd Skokie, Illinois, 60076-2999 USA Telephone: 800-982-5151 (in USA) FAX: 708-982-0823 (in USA) LIST PRICE 4000 Swedish Crowns, which is approximately 250 English pounds. SPECIAL HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS HARDWARE Works with all Amiga models. [MODERATOR'S NOTE: Remember that the Amiga 1000 has a non-standard serial port and may require a special cable. - Dan] SOFTWARE A communications program. MACHINE USED FOR TESTING A2000 with a Motorola 68010 CPU. REVIEW US Robotics Sportster is a modem that support speeds up to 14400 bps (using the V.32bis standard). I have used it for a couple of months now and it works just fine for me. In addition to being an ordinary modem, it is a FAX too. Unhappily, it supports only "Class 1" FAX commands, and there is no program on the Amiga thats supports them. The connect string is also very good. It gives much information, such as: CONNECT 14400/ARQ/V32/LAPM/V42BIS where o 14400 is the speed. o ARQ is error-correction. o V32 is the standard being used (V.32). o LAPM is V42, which is the standard being used for error-correction. o V42bis is compression, giving you throughput up to 56700 cps. It also has a good information display. Just send the command ATI4 to the modem and it responds: US Robotics Sportster 14400 Settings... B1 E1 F1 M1 Q0 V1 X4 BAUD=19200 PARITY=N WORDLEN=8 DIAL=HUNT ON HOOK &A3 &B1 &G0 &H1 &I0 &K3 &M4 &N0 &P0 &R2 &S0 &T5 &Y1 S00=000 S01=000 S02=043 S03=013 S04=010 S05=008 S06=002 S07=060 S08=002 S09=006 S10=007 S11=070 S12=050 S13=000 S14=001 S15=000 S16=000 S17=000 S18=000 S19=000 S20=000 S21=010 S22=017 S23=019 S24=150 S25=005 S26=001 S27=000 S28=020 S29=020 S30=000 S31=000 S32=008 S33=000 S34=000 S35=000 S36=000 S37=000 S38=000 Very impressive! It also has built-in help. Suppose you wish to know what Dial commands you can use. Just type ATD$ and the modem responds with: HELP, Dial Commands (CTRL-S to Stop, CTRL-C to Cancel) 0-9 Digits to Dial * Auxiliary Tone Dial Digit # Auxiliary Tone Dial Digit T Tone Dialing P Pulse Dialing R Call an Originate Only Modem , Pause (Wait for S8 Time) ; Remain in Command Mode After Dialing " Used to Dial Alpha Phone #'s W Wait for 2nd Dial Tone (X3-X4) @ Wait for an Answer (X3-X4) ! Flash Switch Hook OK DOCUMENTATION The documentation is a small book that describes the modem itself, how to configure the modem, and all Hayes commands. The book is easy to read, but it is confusing if you are looking for some special, particular information. They could have done a better job at grouping the information in the book. It's all there... just a little hard to find. The documentation is appropriate for beginners. In addition, experts will appreciate the appendices about Error/Flow-Control, Handshaking, and stuff like that. At the end of the documentation is a reference card you can tear out. It is very good. Everything you really need to know is there, including all the commands with short descriptions. LIKES AND DISLIKES I'm very satisfied with my Sportster, but it is very ugly. It doesn't look professional. However, it is reliable and works fine. BUGS In the early versions of the modem ROM, it is possible to connect with HST modems with speeds of up to 16800 baud. However, the Sportster is not supposed to be able to do this. The later versions of the modem are unable to connect to HST modems. WARRANTY 5 years CONCLUSIONS The modem works fine, and is relatively cheap, but has an awful-looking design. COPYRIGHT NOTICE Copyright 1992 Christian Almgren. All rights reserved. Internet: chal@p16.anet.bbs.bad.se Fidonet: 2:201/411.16 --- Daniel Barrett, Moderator, comp.sys.amiga.reviews Send reviews to: amiga-reviews-submissions@math.uh.edu Request information: amiga-reviews-requests@math.uh.edu General discussion: amiga-reviews@math.uh.edu