Re: USB modem

Andre, I use a Best Data USB Modem alongside my LWFF USB with absolutely no conflicts or slowdowns. My connection to VROC is very solid with only 1 disconnect since I connected the modem, over a year now. -- don [|]-(_)-[|] Andre Warringa <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]... > Last Sunday I had another IGPLC league race. Monza. Qualified 4th, and > after 8 laps I was in 2nd position, due to some accidents in front of > me which I could avoid fortunately. > I felt like standing on the Titanic, shouting I'm the king of the > world!, and then disaster struck, even worse than the Titanic > disaster: > > I got disconnected. > > Really, being punted out of the race by another driver sucks, making a > fatal mistake yourself is even worse, but a disconnection during a > league race really, really, really sucks. > > I've got a cable connection. Fast, download speeds often exceed 150k, > but the connection is not stable enough for online racing. > Bart Westa recommended me to get a modem for racing online. > > I have an analogue line, and don't have a spare slot in my pc for an > internal modem, so I'm gonna buy an external 56k6 modem. > But now I saw an external USB modem. > > I've got 2 USB slots, one I use for my LWFF, the other will be used > for my modem. Normally this should not conflict, but I heard from > different sources that more than 1 USB devices sometimes do conflict. > > Does anyone have experience with USB modems? Is it better to get an > USB modem than a serial modem, or doesn't it reallt matter? > > Andre

>Buy a cheap Full Hardware modem, from a store that lets you return it if >it doesn't work right. It's my experience that "cheap" and "hardware" are not typically on a modem's list of properties at the same time. MOST hardware modems are $80US+. Many software modems can be had for less than $25. Gunner

Last Sunday I had another IGPLC league race. Monza. Qualified 4th, and after 8 laps I was in 2nd position, due to some accidents in front of me which I could avoid fortunately. I felt like standing on the Titanic, shouting I'm the king of the world!, and then disaster struck, even worse than the Titanic disaster: I got disconnected. Really, being punted out of the race by another driver sucks, making a fatal mistake yourself is even worse, but a disconnection during a league race really, really, really sucks. I've got a cable connection. Fast, download speeds often exceed 150k, but the connection is not stable enough for online racing. Bart Westa recommended me to get a modem for racing online. I have an analogue line, and don't have a spare slot in my pc for an internal modem, so I'm gonna buy an external 56k6 modem. But now I saw an external USB modem. I've got 2 USB slots, one I use for my LWFF, the other will be used for my modem. Normally this should not conflict, but I heard from different sources that more than 1 USB devices sometimes do conflict. Does anyone have experience with USB modems? Is it better to get an USB modem than a serial modem, or doesn't it reallt matter? Andre

I had the SupraMax 56k USB. I returned it within a week because it ate around 60-70% of CPU resources. It was replaced with a nice ISA hardware modem, so I can't offer any further guidance. Except that Voodoo2 cards & USB modems seem to have conflict problems. Be warned, because software modems are not always advertised as being software modems. (grrrrr) cheers, Phil

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> I've got 2 USB slots, one I use for my LWFF, the other will be used > for my modem. Normally this should not conflict, but I heard from > different sources that more than 1 USB devices sometimes do conflict. > > Does anyone have experience with USB modems? Is it better to get an > USB modem than a serial modem, or doesn't it reallt matter? > > Andre

Thanks for the input Phil. I have 2 Voodoo II SLI cards, so I will stay away from the USB modem then. Do serial modems eat that much CPU resources too? And now, the stupid question of the day: What is a software modem? Andre On Tue, 02 May 2000 14:06:38 +0100, Phil Flack <[email hidden]> wrote:

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>I had the SupraMax 56k USB. I returned it within a week because it ate >around 60-70% of CPU resources. It was replaced with a nice ISA >hardware modem, so I can't offer any further guidance. Except that >Voodoo2 cards & USB modems seem to have conflict problems. > >Be warned, because software modems are not always advertised as being >software modems. (grrrrr) > >cheers, >Phil > >> I've got 2 USB slots, one I use for my LWFF, the other will be used >> for my modem. Normally this should not conflict, but I heard from >> different sources that more than 1 USB devices sometimes do conflict. >> >> Does anyone have experience with USB modems? Is it better to get an >> USB modem than a serial modem, or doesn't it reallt matter? >> >> Andre

Andre Warringa wrote: > > Thanks for the input Phil. I have 2 Voodoo II SLI cards, so I will > stay away from the USB modem then. Alison's site has a bit on USB modems, and the voodoo problem (it might be a PCI bus problem, I'm not sure). > Do serial modems eat that much CPU > resources too? It all depends on whether it is hardware or software (and I guess on how well the drivers have been written). > And now, the stupid question of the day: What is a software modem? A software modem (also known as WinModem, SoftModem, TotallyCrapModem, ...) makes the CPU do all the work (encoding, compression, error correction, etc.). A hardware modem does all that itself - as a result it has more chips than a software modem. There are hybrids, which use the CPU for some things. Buy a cheap Full Hardware modem, from a store that lets you return it if it doesn't work right. Phil

more like two cans with a string attached. dave henrie Simon Brown wrote: > > I always think of software modems as empty plastic boxes with just a wire > running from one end to the other :)

I always think of software modems as empty plastic boxes with just a wire running from one end to the other :)

The easiest way to tell if it is a software modem is if it says on the box that Windows is required. If it says that you must have Windows, stay away from it. TW On Tue, 02 May 2000 14:49:31 +0100, Phil Flack <[email hidden]> wrote:

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> > >Andre Warringa wrote: >> >> Thanks for the input Phil. I have 2 Voodoo II SLI cards, so I will >> stay away from the USB modem then. > >Alison's site has a bit on USB modems, and the voodoo problem (it might >be a PCI bus problem, I'm not sure). > >> Do serial modems eat that much CPU >> resources too? > >It all depends on whether it is hardware or software (and I guess on how >well the drivers have been written). > >> And now, the stupid question of the day: What is a software modem? > >A software modem (also known as WinModem, SoftModem, TotallyCrapModem, >...) makes the CPU do all the work (encoding, compression, error >correction, etc.). A hardware modem does all that itself - as a result >it has more chips than a software modem. There are hybrids, which use >the CPU for some things. > >Buy a cheap Full Hardware modem, from a store that lets you return it if >it doesn't work right. > >Phil

Todd Walker twalker294 at earthlink.net

> And now, the stupid question of the day: What is a software modem? The worst thing ever invented. Also known as WinModems, SoftModems, or LinModems in the case of the rare one that has Linux drivers as well. It's a modem that just has the minimal hardware to connect to a phone line and rather than use its own processor it bums a ride off of the main one. Saves loads of money for both consumers and manufacturers but it absolutely sucks for performance. I have two computers here, one with a 56K Winmodem (Diamond SupraMax to be exact) and the other with a 33.6k realmodem, an old ISA Zoom model. I don't get 56K service, so that doesn't matter. They're all (well, I have a third PC, but it only has a 14.4 modem, what a POS) networked together; guess which modem I use? The Zoom model. On this one (best video setup - G200/V2) when playing GPL online not only do I get higher framerates from ditching the modem in here, I also get 200ms LOWER pings going thru a 10mbps LAN and the 33.6 rather than using this modem. -- Kirk Lane [email hidden] [email hidden] ICQ: 28171652 BRT #187 "Yeah you won't find me I'm going MIA Tonight I'm leaving Going MIA Getting lost in you again Is better than being known" -Foo Fighters, "MIA"

Phil Flack wrote in message <[email hidden]>... >Buy a cheap Full Hardware modem, from a store that lets you return it if >it doesn't work right. > It's my experience that "cheap" and "hardware" are not typically on a modem's list of properties at the same time. MOST hardware modems are $80US+. Many software modems can be had for less than $25. Gunner

I spent �40 (=~$64) on a Dynalink ISA hardware modem. Very good considering the rubbishy phone line I'm on. Phil "Don Hancock (\"Gunner\")" wrote:

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> > Phil Flack wrote in message <[email hidden]>... > >Buy a cheap Full Hardware modem, from a store that lets you return it if > >it doesn't work right. > > > > It's my experience that "cheap" and "hardware" are not typically on a > modem's list of properties at the same time. MOST hardware modems are > $80US+. Many software modems can be had for less than $25. > > Gunner

Also soft modems are often tiny little things, about a quater the size of a proper modem, and just about small enough to flush down the loo, which is where they belong :)

Ok, I got the message now :) Andre On Wed, 03 May 2000 02:41:15 GMT, "Simon Brown" <[email hidden]> wrote: >Also soft modems are often tiny little things, about a quater the size of a >proper modem, and just about small enough to flush down the loo, which is >where they belong :) > >

If you're not hosting, I'd suggest haunting the local computer swap meet for an older modem. You should be able to pick up a full hardware 33.6 modem card for a song. I know that in GPL this comm rate is perfectly adequate for on-line racing. Regards, Brett C. Cammack That's Racing! Motorsports Pompano Beach, FL

My cable connection used to be fine, I hosted races with more than 10 cars with a perfect ping, but the quality of the cable dropped big lately. How many drivers can join me if I host a race with a 56k6 modem? Andre On Wed, 03 May 2000 11:00:15 GMT, [email hidden] (Brett C. Cammack) wrote:

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>If you're not hosting, I'd suggest haunting the local computer swap >meet for an older modem. You should be able to pick up a full >hardware 33.6 modem card for a song. I know that in GPL this comm >rate is perfectly adequate for on-line racing. > >Regards, >Brett C. Cammack >That's Racing! Motorsports >Pompano Beach, FL

On Wed, 03 May 2000 11:11:41 GMT, [email hidden] (Andre Warringa) wrote: >My cable connection used to be fine, I hosted races with more than 10 >cars with a perfect ping, but the quality of the cable dropped big >lately. >How many drivers can join me if I host a race with a 56k6 modem? I would guess about three, tops. Regards, Brett C. Cammack That's Racing! Motorsports Pompano Beach, FL