Recommended modems
                                      
                               By Kevin Kadow
                                      
   While Ripco does not endorse any manufacturer or model of modem, we
   have found some modems to be particularly reliable, and others to be
   extremely unreliable.
   
   As far as the "X2" or "56K" modems go, as always we only support the
   real standards for modems, never proprietary vendor-specific
   protocols, the universal standard is V.90 and is currently in beta
   testing, scheduled for deployment in late October.
   
General recommendations

   As a general rule, external modems are better than internal. Internal
   modems seem to break down sooner, and have more noise problems than
   externals. Externals also have better resale value, and if your phone
   line gets hit by lightning, it's less expensive to replace an external
   modem than an entire computer.
   
   Flash-upgradeable modems come in two flavors. Some less-expensive
   modems allow software upgrading of the firmware code, but not of the
   DSP code.
   Flash-upgradable DSP is a definite plus, as upgrading the DSP code may
   be necessary to fix some bugs and support new protocols.
   
   Never buy a modem that lists any of the following "features":
     * RPI (Rockwell Interface) or HCF (Host Controlled Family) or HSP
       (Host Signal Processing).
     * WinModem or 'Windows Required'
     * Compression 'with software drivers'
       
                       DO NOT BUY 'X2 Upgradable' modems
                                       
   We have no intention of ever supporting US Robotics proprietary X2
   protocol. we will support the ITU's standard V.90 protocol. 
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Specific Recommendations

  Good Modems
  
   These are the modems Ripco has used in our modem pool in the past, or
   have personally tested and found to be reliable and fast.
   In descending order:
   
    1. 3Com (formerly U.S. Robotics) Courier 33.6 V.everything
       The USR Courier has been the modem of choice for BBS sysops for
       over a decade. While more expensive (and physically larger) than
       the competition, the price and space are worth it. Stay away from
       their cheap cousin, the Sportster.
    2. Motorola Power and Premier
       (DISCONTINUED) The Motorola Power, and it's successor, the
       Premier, is a solid modem, the only complaint we've ever had about
       this modem is the ugly rounded case design, and the occasional
       failure to answer correctly, which is why we no longer use them
       for our dialins. Motorola has disbanded their modem unit and no
       longer produces this modems.
    3. Cardinal MVP288/336
       This Cardinal modem is simple and inexpensive. While they're not
       pretty, we've not had any problems with these modems.
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  Bad Modems
  
   In no particular order, these are the modems that we and our users
   have had the most problems with. If you have one of these, you should
   sell it to a friend who you won't mind losing.
     * Any modem that came with your computer.
       Come on- they're giving it away for free, what do you think these
       (usually internal) modems cost the reseller? $20 tops.
     * 3Com (USR) Sportster and WinModem
       The most amazing thing about the US Robotics Sportster modem is
       that such a horrible, unreliable modem can come from the same
       company that makes the Courier.
     * Zoom
       Back when 2400 was the top speed, Zoom made some pretty good
       modems.
       Since then they have had some good, and some bad. One example of
       their bad modems is the 'Zoom 2925', which falls under the
       'WinModem' diatribe above. The 2919 and 2929 may be okay.
     * Any PCI modem using RLVDL56DPF/SP Chipset
       Apparently all currently available PCI interface modems are
       'Winmodem' variations (See above).
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   This article written by Kevin Kadow and does not represent the
   official opinions of Ripco Communications, Inc..
   If you liked my opinions on analog modems, see what I say about ISDN
   products.