Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!ox.com!math.fu-berlin.de!fub!einoed!bitcave!jdb
From: jdb@bitcave.in-berlin.de (Joern D. Busch)
Subject: Re: CompuComm CSP modems 9600???
Message-ID: <1991May5.202439.4504@bitcave.in-berlin.de>
Organization: GH0D loves the Stooges
References: <1991May5.000049.8146@cs.mcgill.ca>
Date: Sun, 5 May 1991 20:24:39 GMT

storm@cs.mcgill.ca (Marc WANDSCHNEIDER) writes:

>I have recently been hearing a lot about a CompuComm CSP modem which is a
>9600bps modem which can do up to 38,4kpbs with compression, yet it is not V.32
>compliant, and is one quarter the price at about $180.

I am using a CC SpeedModem Combo for several months now, running it in
my BBS, joining the CC sysop program. If you'll contact CC, say hi from
me to Cynthia Murray (you'll probably get her on the phone).

First of all, forget about the 38.400.  That speed is supposed to be
accomplished by an external protocol which is written especially for
the SpeedModem {Combo,Champ}.  Also forget about compatibility with
any other highspeed modem at speeds above 2400/MNP.

That out of the way, these modems really do deliver 9600bps when talking
to one of their kind, with or without their own error correction protocol. 
Also you get 2400/MNP5 with any other modem supporting that, and with the
SpeedModem Combo 9600bps send/receive fax, too (BitFax software included).
As far as I know, current pricing is $279 for the Combo, and $159 for the
Champ.

They builded their highspeed technology from scratch, with the goal of
doing it as cheap as possible.  One particulary interesting design decision
is that they made the signal processor usable by any other firmware they
might come up with.  Plans exist to implement voice mail capabilities some
time this sommer.

These modems come as internal models, configurable in 22 combinations
of the port adresses 278, 2e8, 368, 378 and 3e8 with the IRQs 3, 4, 5,
7 and 9.  Standard COM1 and COM2 as well as quasi-standard COM3 and COM4
are possible, of course.  The modem card looks like a 16450 to your
software, but it doesn't really have that UART on it.  With DOS and X00,
I lock the speed to 19200 and have no problems with it.  I also tried to
install it in a unix box, but the FAS async driver doesn't recognise the 
16450 emulation.  The stock asy driver doesn't work very well at high 
speeds, it especially doesn't seem to do hw handshaking right.  If anyone
succeeded in using a CC in a Unix/386 box, I'd definetely like to hear
about that.

Of course, it is a pity that you cannot talk to other highspeed modems
with a CC, but that's why it is that cheap (they say that V.32[bis] is
very expensive to build).  You get a lot of value: 2400/MNP5, 9600 fax,
9600 CSP.  Also they start to get wide-spread: EXEC-PC already has some
lines equipped with CCs, I heard.  I also heard CI$ is considering it.
Customer service is excellent, firmware upgrades are free, warranty is
5 (five) years, and you have a 30 day money back guarantee.

One warning to overseas, though: here in Germany, I had some problems
with Germany's non-standard telephone lines.  A change in a resistor
value helps for nearly all installations, but I had one case where we
weren't able to make the CC work (yet).  Note that this doesn't apply
to USA (and Canada?) users, I heard they work nicely out of the box
over there.
  

I hope this is the kind of information you were looking for.  I'm
afraid it sounds a bit like sales blurb; if so, please ignore that.

			Joern.
-- 
     Joern D. Busch, Postfach 210401, 1000 Berlin 21, FRG, (+49 30) 3931111
jdb@bitcave.in-berlin.de ..!mcsun!unido!fub!einoed!bitcave!jdb ..which reality? 
