software modems?

[Chazwurth]

I am kinda confused on the subject of software modems. Obviously software modems are controlled by software and controllerless modems have the software "built in" or "on board". My question is this, how do I tell if my modem is software driven?? I have had problems with my modem which is a cheap $10 job so it must be software driven. I went out and bought a $68 sonicblue external usb modem, but then I noticed it says "windows-external-modem" on the backside of the box it mentions updating firmware which would indicate a controllerless modem? No where on sonicblues web site does it mention if this modem is controllerless? What do you think??

[juppy]

Most of the modems will say if they are a Winmodem (software, as you called it) or a hardware modem. Basically the winmodems don't have their own processor, so they have to use the cpu from your system to process their info. Hardware modems do their own processing and don't bother your cpu as much. You can usually tell by price too. If it's under $30, odds are its probably just a winmodem. I've read around here in some other threads that the usb modems aren't supposed to be that great. Can't find the thread right now though. As for the "firmware" update, I think (not sure) that probably is referring to the V.90 being updated to the V.92 standard. If it says "Windows external modem" I would think it would be a Winmodem, but for that price it may not be. Someone else jump in here if you know this one please, or correct me if I'm wrong. Oh, btw, it would probably help if we knew what model the new modem is too, not just the brand. :)

[glc]

USB modems come both ways - hardware and controllerless - but USB in itself exacts a toll on the CPU so even a hardware based USB modem is not as good as a serial or internal hardware modem. Controllerless USB modems are as bad as you can get from a resource standpoint.

Controllerless modems depend on Windows software to work, hardware modems do all their own onboard processing. If it has firmware, it's a hardware modem. If you must use a USB modem, that SonicBlue is probably as good as they get, that's the successor to the Supra Express.

[juppy]

Thanks for helping out on this one, glc. I wasn't real sure about the firmware part of the question. And where it said "Windows external", that kinda led me to think it might be a winmodem. Learn something new every day I guess. :)

[glc]

The reason that one says Windows external is because USB doesn't work in DOS.

[reboot]

Careful, there ARE USB Winmodems (softmodems) around as well, usually with the Rockwell/Conexant HCF chip, or the Cirrus Logic (Ambient, then Intel) chip.
True hardware modems usually say on the box that they will work in DOS. If it doesn't, it's probably a winmodem.
99% of internal PCI modems are winmodems.
There are only a very few exceptions!

[glc]

Correct - but even a full hardware USB modem won't work in DOS, not because of the modem but because of USB.

[reboot]

True. I still can't figure out why anyone would <i>want</i> any sort of USB modem.
Although I used a nice Diamond USB for a while, it had it's problems, especially in XP.
<b>Nothing</b> is as good as the old Supra Serial, except maybe the Supra ISA..

[glc]

The USR 5686 and 5687 are in the Supra class too.

[reboot]

Yes, but easily twice the money :D

[glc]

The problem is finding any of these any more, the only one still made is the latest version of the 5686 external and of course it's pricey. We caught some Supra internals at Compgeeks several months ago for $14 each and stocked up.