CNR Modems

[Rags]

What's wrong with using an external USR/3Com modem that plugs into the serial port?

Rags

[The PIT]

Nothing I won't part from mine apart from the lack of newer drivers and upgrades.

[High_Jumbllama]

I wasn't . . .

I wasn't talking 'bout shipping. In any case, they charge that much for shipping no matter what you get and in this particular case it was due to 3day FedEX shipping. The shipping is not part of the cost of the modem.

[Wombat]

The shipping <B>& Handling</B> sure is a part of the cost. Over $11? FedEx 3 day would cost $4, maybe $6 dollars. Sending a 70lb monitor is only $20.

[Snake-Eyes]

Hmm. I don't really see the reasoning behind the CNR and AMR slots. They basically do what most PCI modems have done for a while now- use the processor for most work, with just a basic card w/telephone jack on the back (aka software or WinModem). From what I can see, the CNR/AMR slots were designed simply to make sure people have to pay more money to be able to use the extra slot on the motherboard. If they'd have included an extra PCI slot and not put the AMR/CNR there, the effect would probably have been the same overall.

By backup for my ADSL connection is by modem, but I use an external serial modem, since that is guaranteed to have full hardware, limiting the processor's involvement, and it also has support under a wider variety of operating systems.

[MultimediaMan]

A P3 600+ or a Socket A Athlon will have a hard time noticing a CNR device on the bus. Athlon XPs and P4s? Fractions of a percent performance hit.

If you want a hardware accelerated PCI modem try the Intel/Ambient HaM. Fairly decent and well supported in in Win9X and XP. Could never get it work in my SMP rig with Win2K, though.

[DosFreak]

He has USB correct? Tell him to get a USB modem. The way things are going Serial/PS2 will be gone in 2+ years from desktop computers and you'd have to use a port replicator connected to a USB port anyways to use a serial modem. Might as well get a USB modem now and save the trouble. My Diamond SupraMax 56k USB 1.1 works excellently. (except for the fact that it uses USB uke: :throwup: :vomit: :choke: :gasp: )

[The PIT]

Theres been one or two problems with usb modems like failing to connect to certain isp's dropping connections and low speeds.

[DentyCracker]

USB modems can suck big time if you have the right modem/VIA chipset mobo. In fact USB 1.1 sux overall on quite a few chipset/mobo/os combinations

[The PIT]

Via hasn't had the most reliable of usb over the years. If anyone has any problems I suggest they try out Georges patches over at Viahardware.com

[Geek]

Here in New Zealand, I have never seen a CNR/AMR slot device. I dont know why manufactures even put them on their boards.

Anyway, I use to have a PCI modem, then it never worked so switched to a USB modem, but that did not have voice features so then went to a serial 65K Dynalink modem, which has served me well.

I would reccomend a serial one, as it can be used on older machines too. (bonus if you want to make an LRP)

Though as for the main point, I say this:
CNR v AMR - which sucks more?

Cheers!

Mark

[GNEP]

I use an AMR 56k modem - came with the board (ECS K7AMA - not a great one!).

This seems to work fine. A little slower to connect than my PCMCIA laptop modem, but once connected speeds are pretty much the same.

gnep