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View Full Version : Udating Driver on Zoom PCI Winmodem?

LawyerRon
03-11-2001, 02:02 PM
One of my computers has a Zoom PCI Winmodem #2529M (Lucent) and I noticed Zoom has an updated driver for it. Is there a benefit to upgrading?
glc
03-11-2001, 03:21 PM
Ron - my attitude is if it aint broke dont fix it.....but if it's not performing like it should I would certainly try it.
LawyerRon
03-11-2001, 09:12 PM
George,
It seems like it's having a harder time connecting than it used too. Possibly the problem's with my ISP. I share the same philosophy in that I don't like to change things when things are working properly. It just seems that lately the performance of this modem is lacking.
glc
03-11-2001, 09:43 PM
Run the diags (modems, diagnostics, more info) - what's the current driver version? If it's a stock Lucent driver its 5.xx.
LawyerRon
03-12-2001, 09:20 AM
OK,
The message I get is:
ATI3 Zoom V.90 Data+Fax Modem Version 5.5.
reboot
03-12-2001, 12:56 PM
5.5 is ancient (in computer terms), and at least 5.75 would (could, and should) help a bit.
There are newer (5.8x I think) that incorporate Windows ME support, but you don't need to go that far.
LawyerRon
03-12-2001, 12:58 PM
Thanks Jim.
glc
03-12-2001, 01:13 PM
5.5 - thats a fairly old driver.

The latest version of the generic Lucent driver is 5.97. The version you see on the Zoom site is 5.75, which is a VERY stable version. Go for it.

If you want to play, go on over to 808hi.com - he has an article on how to upgrade that modem to V.92 - which Zoom does NOT want anyone to do!
LawyerRon
03-12-2001, 01:17 PM
George,
Thanks for the info, I'll check it out.
Carl Price
03-13-2001, 03:05 PM
I tried the v.92 conversion over the weekend. When I had the v.92 drivers installed, my modem wouldn't work, put v.90 back and works like a charm. Do you reckon that v.92 thing is Zoom specific.
glc
03-13-2001, 04:27 PM
Carl and Ron - you might want to read this page thoroughly.

http://808hi.com/56k/LTWINv92.HTM
LawyerRon
03-13-2001, 04:54 PM
George,
It doesn't seem like the V92 standard is all that earth shattering. To quote your link (excellent BTW):

"The V.92 specification will allow a PCM upstream at rate from 24,000bps to 48,000bps. The rate will increment in steps of 1.333k as in V.90. So, upstream rates could be 24k, 25.3k, 26.6k, 28k, etc. While the specification allows a 48k rate, it may be as elusive as 56k with V.90."

So it appears the major improvement is in the upstream rate gain, however dubious.
glc
03-13-2001, 06:12 PM
There are other benefits - like call waiting - the modem will put the Internet on hold to take a phone call - and the dialup to a V.92 server will connect almost immediately rather than going through all the screeching and bonging. The compression is higher, so downloads will be faster at the same connect speed.
LawyerRon
03-14-2001, 01:44 PM
OK,
Installed the 5.75 driver for the Zoom Lucent modem last night and it seems to connect easier with the ISP now. Before, it seemed to struggle to get a V90 connection at times.

Does anyone know if the Modem will operate any faster now with the new driver? The connect speeds seem to be about the same.
glc
03-15-2001, 12:42 AM
If the connect speed is the same. I don't think you will notice much difference, unless the old driver was actually corrupted.