Need a Winmodem, which one?

[Snoop]

Looking for some input on a winmodem, should I get the Lucent , or the ambient/intel one? The only diff i can see is that the ambient intel modem is full duplex while the lucent is only half duplex.

 

[divinemartyr]

I've never had good luck with winmodems myself, as they depend on the operating system for instructions. Hardware based modems have always been my personal preference as download speeds are mostly determined by your phone line and the chipset on the modem itself. USRobotics makes some of the best hardware-based modems available.

dm

 

[Wingznut]

Where's modus?

 

[divinemartyr]

Hey I'm just speaking from my personal experience! I know modus loves winmodems but I've never had good luck with one. Only used about 3 though so my experience is 'somewhat' limited. Enough that I'll never own a winmodem again anyway.

dm

 

[jonnyjack]

i recently switched from a USR/3com 56K hardware modem to a Diamond SupraMAX winmodem...USR was my friend's...had to give it back...hehe

USR: ping ave. was like 103ms
Diamond: ping ave. 125ms

but my transfer rate actually improved from 4.3KB/s to 5.5 KB/s

here's a thread about winmodems a little while ago

 

[mrbios]

The Lucent LT Winmodem is definately the best, as is has the lowest CPU utilization of all the Winmodems, and it is also supported in Linux.

Russell "Mr.Bios" Sampson

 

[Modus]

I'll spare you the cut and paste since you probably already know how much potential winmodems have. I will say that the Ambient/Intel chipset is one of the very worst. The drivers are not bad interface-wise, but performance and line handling leave much to be desired.

The leaderboard for softmodem chipsets:

1) Lucent LT
2) Conexant HSP
3) 3Com/USR, Conexant HCF, PCTel HSP, Motorola SM56
4) Ambient/Cirrus Logic/Intel

Number 1 is often faster than the most expensive hardware modems, number 2 is only about equal to them, number 3 is slightly slower, and number 4 sucks at this point. Keep in mind that with winmodems, the drivers ARE the modem, so the situation can be reversed with a simple driver update.

Modus

 

[Modus]

Oh yeah, and full/half duplex is meaningless for modern v.90 modems. They're all duplex now.

Modus

 

[Wingznut]

Spare us the cut and paste? Say it isn't so!

Oh well, at least we got your opinion twice.

(EDIT: or maybe not)

 

[Modus]

I sure hope I didn't offend you if by chance you work in softmodem department

That's probably the equivalent of the mail room at Intel

Modus

 

[samiam2]

are you saying that if i update the drivers for my modem i may see better performance? ive got a conaxant soft56k modem. the drivers are dated 03-01-1999. i think maybe they are version 2.05? its the ones that came on the cd

thanks!

glenn.

 

[PreDatoR]

I've got a GVC Lt Winmodem. After going through 4 different POS WINmodems i will stick to what modus says. They are the best. I'm only connecting at about 44k cause of my phone lines. My DL rate goes between 4.5k and 5.5k and my ping in HL TFC runs about 150-250. I had a PCTel and couldn't stay connected long enough to check my email let alone play a game and the ping on those is terrible. The conaxant soft56k modem, had one of those 2. I got the updated drivers for it connected at 48k religously awesome download rates but it sucked for games. Don't know if it was only half duplex but the upload rate on it was terrible. Had an external Diamond Supra Express 56k. Could never get past 26.4 with it but my ping kicked @$$. Usually pinged about 100-150 dang near all the time. But when you download a lot of music 24.6 is way too slow. Hell 44k is way too slow but its all that is available to me at the moment. I've had a USR in the past. I hit speeds of 53k with it. usually connected at 50,667 all the time. ping was ok in the 200-400 range and it downloaded 5 - 6k all the time. But i was sitting right on a main trunk for the phone company which helped out a lot. When i lived 5 blocks from my server i couldn't get past 32k with that modem. All depends on your geographical location to your server and the phone lines. Some work better than others in different conditions.

 

[samiam2]

with my conexant soft56k i get 190-250 game pings. and up to 4.5k/s downloads. connected at 45,333. i have never tired another modem so i dont know if any others would be better for my line.

cheers!

glenn

 

[samiam2]

btw mobius, id be interested to hear what you mean by "the potential of winmodems", ive been wanting to get rid of my winmodem and buy a hardware modem for ages becouse my friends seem to get better pings with hardware modems. Id be interested to hear what you have to say on the subject.

cheers!

glenn

 

[Basse]

Modus:

Need yor expertise.. Need your opinion on Conexant HSF?

/B

 

[Snoop]

Thanks, guess ill be getting the Lucent

 

[hans007]

lucents are really good actually, get one of those . Also conexant and lucent are the same company i think so its the same thing.

 

[Wingznut]

Nah modus, I work with the P4's. But thanks for your concern.

Anyway, I've used cheap generic Lucent based modems with very good success.

 

[PG]

with my conexant soft56k i get 190-250 game pings. and up to 4.5k/s downloads. connected at 45,333. i have never tired another modem so i dont know if any others would be better for my line.

Those are some pretty good numbers. I doubt that you could do much better with any other modem. My opinion would be to leave that modem alone and save your money.

 

[lenjack]

Definitely the lucent, sometimes call LT for Lucent Technologies.

 

[SDTom]

Another vote for LT modems.
I think that one of the things that makes them work so well is the quality of Lucent's drivers, Lucent does a good job with them.
A good LT modem resource page

Tom

 

[Blain]

Diamond SupraMax PCI... Very nice!

 

[Vrangel]

Modus

What? No cut and paste post ? :Q

Now I'm really depressed...

 

[Anon19]

i had a hardware 3com modem, connected at 45,333 but it was an ISA modem.
Had a conexant softmodem, also connected at 45,333 but it got fried in an electrical storm. Decided to go with a motorola sm56 (because it had a lot of features) i only connect at 38,666. Got recent drivers still get same connection.

 

[Modus]

samiam2,

Definitely try to find the latest drivers for your modem chipset. Performance and reliability will almost always improve over time.

Basse,

The Cnexant HSF is pretty good. Nice throughput and line handling, average pings. Nothing beats the Lucent LT, though. And Conexant is not the same company.

Modus