On Sat, 7 Oct 2000 06:03:13 -0700, Tom L. McCoy wrote:
> Can someone recommend a particular modem that'll work
> in an old dos-based 486-66? I'm not sure the machine
> will support a 56k, or even a 28.8.. and I never tried
> any of the 14.4's, I went from a 2400 hayes to a 56k
> in a win-pentium. I want to use the 486 to occasionally
> get the mail and browse if necessary.
For internal modem, I know at least these: Diamond Media's
SupraExpress, USR Sportster or Courier, and Hayes Accura.
These are full-hardware modems, and thus just slightly
cheaper than their external counterparts.
Internal modems has their own high-speed UART built-in, so,
no mather how obsolete your PC's UART (COM port controller),
they will work just fine. However, most internal modems
nowadays are software modems (A.K.A winmodems): those that
contain a DSP (digital signal processor), and those that don't
(usually referred to as Soft or HSP modems). Both won't work
reliable under either DOS or Linux.
For more info about winmodems, visit:
http://808hi.com/56k/winmodems.htm
The simplest way to tell if an internal modem is winmodem
or not, is the price. If it offered for half the price of
the external model or less, then most likely it's a winmodem.
To be sure, however, you should test the modem on your SurvPC
first (some computer store here offered trial purchase, or
try before you buy). Bring your SurvPC to the store, let
them install the modem (sometimes for a small fee), and make
sure the internal modem works OK before buying it.
As with software, sometimes the spec written on the box or
manual is incorrect. The SupraExpress 336i on my 286 for
example, is a PNP internal modem with "386 or better" spec.
But both the modem and its "Legacy" PNP software (DOS-based
device driver and setup program), are runnable just fine on
my 286.
External modems, in other hand, are less complicated than
their internal sisters. They are full-hardware modems, and
thus more expensive. The only thing needed to use them
reliably on SurvPCs is a high-speed UART. You could tell
what UART installed on your SurvPC with diagnostic programs
such as MSD (included with MS-DOS and Windows), PC Tools,
QEMM Manifest, and many others.
If your UART detected as 16550A or better, then you're lucky.
Just plug the external modem to your COM port, and you ready
to go. For SurvPC's with the older 8550 UARTs, however, you
will need an adittional card: Either "Super I/O" or "High
Speed RS-232". These are dying breed though, quite hard to
find nowadays. But try http://www.jameco.com/ anyway, or
your local thrift store. Be careful when selecting Super
I/O cards, some of them still using 8550 UART, and has no
socket for "16550 upgrade chip".
--Eko
http://www.survpc.net/ - Older PC and DOS Internet
http://survpc.virtualave.net/ (noframe)
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