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Modem Wars!


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sxpert
Member

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

Re: Thanks

quote:
Originally posted by larryboyjohn
After much carefull thought, I think I will be the proud owner of a SpringPort modem shortly. Although I would reeeaaallllyyyy like to get the Thinmodem+ (for the extra RAM), I simply must have digital support. No way around it. The SpringPort's digital shield looks like it can allow the modem to use a digital line some of the time, or at least warn the user that it is on a digital line. Also when you include the $30 mail-in rebate, the price is a soft ~$120. Thanks for all the helpfull comments you guys have posted.

Not so. You can't use an analog modem on an ISDN line. i just won't work. However, the digital guard will prevent the modem from frying if you plug it in such a line.

03-05-2001 07:13 PM

VTL
Member

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

That's correct. All the Springport will do is warn you if the line is digital. You can't actually use a digital line.

03-05-2001 08:30 PM

kevin_i_orourke
Member

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Cambridge, England, UK
Posts: 44

One other point comparing Thinmodem with Springport is that the Springport is approved for use in Europe and lots of other places. It looks like they couldn't be bothered getting European approval for the Thinmodem, they don't seem to sell it over here.

So the Springport wins out for travelling outside the USA.

Kev.

03-05-2001 09:28 PM

halldp
Member

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 41

Thinmodem Program information

I just recently purchased the regular Thinmodem from Staples ($70.00 with rebate). Anyway I plugged the unit into my Prism and was surprised that the modem didn't work at all. I emailed CardAcess and received a reply within an hour. I was told to download and install the flash update from their web site. This cured the problem and the unit works fine.

03-05-2001 09:39 PM

dredhead
Member

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 85

quote:
Originally posted by VTL
That's correct. All the Springport will do is warn you if the line is digital. You can't actually use a digital line.

Waitaminit... when you all say "digital line" I hear "Dataport in your average business hotel," not "ISDN." The digital lines that most of us worry about are those digtally switched hotel phones. What's the term for it, CDX? Something like that?

As a frequent business traveler, I worry way more about that than happening upon an ISDN line. My laptop handles such lines without glitching (and against the advice of all the IT guys). Can the Springport modem do the same?

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03-06-2001 04:42 AM

Pimpbot 5000
Member

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE, USA
Posts: 7

Thinmodem + & IBM Modem Saver = Better Solution that Xircom

I recently received my Thinmodem+ and couldn't be happier.
It's way fast and the battery consumption hasn't been bad on my Prism.

I think this whole issue of the Digital Line detection is really a non-issue.

If you are concerned about digital lines, invest in an IBM "Modem Saver"

http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin...&lang=en_US

IBM's site has it for $30.00 (Should be available for less though other channels).

The modem saver is the size of a big pen an will let you know if a line is safe or not for analog modems.

I can't imagine adding all the extra weight of the Xicom unit just because ocassionally I might need to know if a line is digital. Drop a modem saver in your breif case, and in the event that you need it - great. The mean while, you've got a super small, lightweight modem..

Just my two cents..

PimpBot 5000

03-06-2001 06:50 AM

larryboyjohn
Member

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Ogden, UT
Posts: 11

Define Digital

OK, I am confused. I didn't know there were difrent kinds of digital lines. Is an ISDN line like what you get from AT&T? My phone service is AT&T Digital Phone, and I will be using my springboard compatible modem to test and write PalmOS web browsers. Is AT&T Digital Phone an ISDN, or something else that will not fry an analog modem? Please help me!

~John C.
[email protected]
www.larryboyjohn.20m.com

John 3:16

03-06-2001 04:37 PM

sdoersam
Member

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland
Posts: 205

quote:
Originally posted by dredhead

Waitaminit... when you all say "digital line" I hear "Dataport in your average business hotel," not "ISDN." The digital lines that most of us worry about are those digtally switched hotel phones. What's the term for it, CDX? Something like that?

As a frequent business traveler, I worry way more about that than happening upon an ISDN line. My laptop handles such lines without glitching (and against the advice of all the IT guys). Can the Springport modem do the same?

In most cases, the "dataport" at hotels is an anolog line put in specifically for modem access. In some cases, it might be converting the signal in the wall or phone, but at the connection point for your modem, it is analog. Analog modems (which is what 28.8, 33.6, 56K modems all are. It is what the spec was designed around) do not work with digital lines. Some of them just have protection built in to keep them from frying if you do plug into a digital line. (due to voltage differences). This is the case with the Xircom. Personally, I use a Thincomm with a line protector as my preferred method. Less bulky, and fewer complaints.

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Sven

If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished.

03-06-2001 04:50 PM

critic
Member

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 201

Re: Define Digital

quote:
Originally posted by larryboyjohn
OK, I am confused. I didn't know there were difrent kinds of digital lines. Is an ISDN line like what you get from AT&T? My phone service is AT&T Digital Phone, and I will be using my springboard compatible modem to test and write PalmOS web browsers. Is AT&T Digital Phone an ISDN, or something else that will not fry an analog modem? Please help me!

OK...slow down and breathe.

Basically, there are two types of landlines - analog and digital - most homes are equipped with analog lines, while some businesses and hotels are equipped with digital lines. Digital lines can carry more traffic than analog lines because the data is handled differently. The main thing you need to remember is that most normal landline modems can only be used on an ANALOG line, because a digital line would damage it. This is true not just for the various Springboard modems, but for most PC modems as well.

ISDN is a form of digital line - it carries 128K and is considered to be the predecessor of DSL, as the user could use more than one telephone device at a time. The difference was that an ISDN line was a special digital line, where DSL is carried over standard analog lines (I think). Users of ISDN lines who wanted to use standard landline modems or telephone equipment had to buy special adapters to keep the line from frying the phone/modem.

You mentioned that your phone is an AT&T Digital Phone. Are you referring to your WIRELESS phone or the phone in your house? If you're talking about the phone in your house, it's probably just a 900MHZ Digital Cordless phone plugged into an analog landline - you'll be fine with whatever Springboard modem you want to use. (An ISDN line would have been a special install, and you would know if it were there. Also, there's a good chance your answering machine would explode.) =) If you're talking about your wireless (cell) phone, well, that's an entirely different thread.

Hope this helps (and hope I didn't get too many of the facts wrong...)

M-D
Austin 3:16

03-06-2001 04:52 PM

bookrats
Member

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 501

Re: Line Protector?

quote:
Originally posted by sdoersam
Personally, I use a Thincomm with a line protector as my preferred method. Less bulky, and fewer complaints.

What line protector do you use? Is it the IBM Modem Saver mentioned above?

I'd be interested to hear any recommendations for a line protector; I'm thinking of getting a ThinModem+.

__________________
Jeff Meyer

"And he died like he lived: with his mouth wide open."

03-06-2001 06:17 PM

larryboyjohn
Member

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Ogden, UT
Posts: 11

Re: Re: Define Digital

quote:
Originally posted by critic

OK...slow down and breathe.

Basically, there are two types of landlines - analog and digital - most homes are equipped with analog lines, while some businesses and hotels are equipped with digital lines. Digital lines can carry more traffic than analog lines because the data is handled differently. The main thing you need to remember is that most normal landline modems can only be used on an ANALOG line, because a digital line would damage it. This is true not just for the various Springboard modems, but for most PC modems as well.

ISDN is a form of digital line - it carries 128K and is considered to be the predecessor of DSL, as the user could use more than one telephone device at a time. The difference was that an ISDN line was a special digital line, where DSL is carried over standard analog lines (I think). Users of ISDN lines who wanted to use standard landline modems or telephone equipment had to buy special adapters to keep the line from frying the phone/modem.

You mentioned that your phone is an AT&T Digital Phone. Are you referring to your WIRELESS phone or the phone in your house? If you're talking about the phone in your house, it's probably just a 900MHZ Digital Cordless phone plugged into an analog landline - you'll be fine with whatever Springboard modem you want to use. (An ISDN line would have been a special install, and you would know if it were there. Also, there's a good chance your answering machine would explode.) =) If you're talking about your wireless (cell) phone, well, that's an entirely different thread.

Hope this helps (and hope I didn't get too many of the facts wrong...)

I was refering to my home/office (one and the same) land line (not wireless. I don't even have a wireless).

So, sounds like I could use the thinmodem+ on my AT&T digital phone service? That would rock. Thanks!

~John C. Linford
[email protected]
www.larryboyjohn.20m.com

John 3:16

03-06-2001 08:58 PM

dredhead
Member

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 85

...

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Last edited by dredhead on 03-07-2001 at 05:23 AM

03-07-2001 05:16 AM

dredhead
Member

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 85

quote:
Originally posted by sdoersam

In most cases, the "dataport" at hotels is an anolog line put in specifically for modem access.

In most cases, the "dataport" at hotels is just a pass through from the phone itself. I can't say that I recall ever seeing a different line for phone and a different line for data in any hotel I've been in, save the really cool ones that have ethernet or USB access to a T1.

(from Usenet - so you KNOW it's true)

> > I've never heard of this. Are there ways to test for evil phone lines you shouldn't plug
> > your modem into?
>
> Check into a hotel, unplug hotel phone, plug in modem, replace burnt out
> modem (and maybe motherboard). try it it you wish.
...

The reason being:
analog phone lines: 48 V supply voltage
digital phone lines: 96 Volts
Which would make a simple test possible.

Since I take my meter with me most gigs, I'll just test the voltage and save myself $30. Maybe I'll find out that the "dataport" is actually stepped down in voltage, and therefore safe. But it's not a seperate line. You can tell, because the handset will make this weird hissing and boinging sound when you lift it to make a call...

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03-07-2001 05:21 AM

critic
Member

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 201

quote:
Originally posted by dredhead
...

It's not just me, right? I mean, I did my best, but he still didn't get it. (sigh)

03-07-2001 09:38 PM

Bret Snyder
Member

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Hacienda Heights, Ca
Posts: 302

DataPorts's on phones in hotels provide an analog signal to be used for modems. In most cases these are used to bypass the PBX phone system (digital) that the hotel uses (in other cases, the hotel might have a Centrex system that is completely analog).

In either case, I trust the jack labeled "Dataport" and test or ask for a fax line when I don't know for sure.

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Bret Snyder<BR>If you don't know where you're going,<BR>You'll probably end up somewhere else.

03-07-2001 11:43 PM

Talldog
Member

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 44

Wow! I just bought a SpringPort, and there wasn't anything in or on the box about a rebate. I just downloaded the form. How cool is this?

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Talldog

03-08-2001 12:12 AM

dredhead
Member

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 85

quote:
Originally posted by critic

It's not just me, right? I mean, I did my best, but he still didn't get it. (sigh)

Sigh. Don't feel too superior. That was Visor Central's discussion board not letting me delete my own post.

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...the patron saint of the easily amused...

03-11-2001 02:05 AM

larryboyjohn
Member

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Ogden, UT
Posts: 11

Digital line was a rip off!

What's this? I find that my "digital" phone line is actualy a annalog line? True! I call AT&T and they say that although the name is "digital phone" it is a analog connection and safe for all modems! Ya hooo! This means the thinmodem+ for me! Whoop de do!

__________________
~John C.
[email protected]
www.larryboyjohn.20m.com

John 3:16

03-11-2001 08:51 PM

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