ZX-News #14 12 ноября 1996

Модем

Modem - What is a modem? Which modem is better? ..

             What is a modem.



           (C) Alexei Mikhailov



  As promised, we begin a series of articles
purpose of which - to tell user'am who do not have the 
slightest idea about what a modem, and why you need it who are

faced with a choice between the modem and the second drive, for 
example, or several packages from floppy games, what it is - 
modem connection, why is it necessary, that as cool and 
interesting. We will try to share experiences, to answer all 
the questions that invariably arise for every newcomer. I hope 
that the most experienced fidoshniki write in this column is 
not one letter - each of them in stock lot

interesting stories and tips ...


         Let them be all modems!



  Of course, the first question that
arises from the user before you buy
modem is which one is better - Vicomm
or Hayes.


  Imho, the very question posed in this form is a sign of 
"well, full yuzerstva. :) 


  The thing is that these two "unit"
serve very different purposes, and
each of them, at least so far,
with the tasks assigned to it copes. Vicomm even very 
convenient to use to communicate with their friends and 
acquaintances, to send each other any programs, and just any 
files. Due to the relatively low price and ease of 
connectivity, "vikommka" quickly gained popularity in St. 
Petersburg several years ago ...



  And all would do if it were not Fido. :)


  Once again sinkleristy "carried away" with
PC an excellent piece of metal - Hayes, and do not regret
about it. Although the company Hayes'y are rare, usually - 
Hayes-compatible modems. 


  What are the pros Vicomm, and what for
Hayes. Well, Vicomm'ku easier to get and connect to it's 
already written a few terminal programs, it has HUNDREDS 
sinkleristov Peter, will soon open network OmegaNet ... In 
short, at minimal cost - quite good opportunities.



  Hayes - much more expensive modem, it is not always possible 
to find and buy, unfortunately, many hayes-compatible modems 
are completely unwilling to work with Spectrum, although on a 
PC working without problems, often come across Hayes'y that 
trbuyut supply of-12V, which normally do not find the Spectrum 
- have to buy a new power supply ... 


  However, imho, if there is a modem
connection to the Spectrum to any future, then
this is the future for Hayes'om. OmegaNet, of course, would be 
a good network, but not with Fido beats ever. Sooner or later, 
the period Toy passes and everyone begins to demand from the 
computer for something new, but no less interesting. 
Correspondence and exchange of programs across the city - it's 
good, but at Fido the same could "get up" with the whole 
country! 


  At Hayes'e convenient to work with the post, but
not comfortable with the games, as at present
day is still just under terminalka IsDos. Ie to send any game, 
you need it and zaZIRirovat konvertnut in IsDos, and those who 
accepted it, should also dehobet'oy file handle,

then back to TR-DOS, then the disk-doctor title correct ... And 
on vikommke - once all of TR-Dos'e. 


  But Vicomm - without hardware protocols
compression and data control. This means that
if you say, was transferred to the terminal
mode symbol on Vicomm'e and communication costs
bad and your buddy will not accept this character from the 
first time, it it will never will not accept ... :) But Hayes, 
if not accepted the first time, will take more and yet, until 
everything is OK In short, with poor communication Vicomm 
"swallows" the characters Hayes and takes them all.



  When transferring files, Hayes, using
own memory, he "shrinks", ie
compresses the data, giving a significant gain in speed by
compared with Vicomm'om. Ie if nominally the same speed (and 
Vicomm - 2400, and Hayes - 2400, for example), almost Hayes

passes several times faster.


  But! Not so good. It also happens that
Us - well, just very bad, or passed through some strong crack 
... AND Hayes successfully wrote "NO CARRIER" and

"Throws" the tube, while Vicomm'ka -
Only a couple of attempts to count down and
further transfers. That will have to Hayes'e
dial again ...


  On top of that often confuses beginner
the fact that Vicomm'ok in hundreds,
Hayes'ov have spekrtumistov - no more than two
tens. Imho, do not worry if
considering that Fido sit Spectrum fans from around the country 
and all together they are much more than vikommschikov in St. 
Petersburg. 


  Hayes allows you to call any pisishnuyu bbs, of which 
hundreds in St. Petersburg alone. You can "write" themselves 
and aria ZX.SPECTRUM, and SPB.SPECCY, as well as at least

hundred any other on any matter and
interests of the thousands that already exist in Fido. It is 
clear that OmegaNet, with all his desire is not able to ensure 
that "Pull" at-least a dozen of the echo areas ...



  And do not be ashamed of what you are working with the Speccy 
- on the contrary! All pisishniki just drop when they learn 
that the networks possible and on the Spectrum "climb"! Imho, 
one must strive to Fido, but not in OmegaNet. A the best option 
- and there, and there ... 


  In principle, OmegaNet and created as
springboard into the world of Fido, and from this point
view and it needs to be considered.


  I think talking about "death" vikommok
very premature. They had a show. Phrases such as "Hayes, Hayes, 
and again Hayes "is not quite logical. Imho, probably need to 
seek some compromise. It is clear that the hundreds of people 
who have already is Vicomm, the trash they throw away does not

will, and according to this OmegaNet without the "clients"
will not remain. Probably the best and
Hayes, and Vicomm (a sweet couple:), and worst of all - even 
without a modem ... 


                  ----
 Hayes-compatible modems are internal and external. Clearly, 
the internal modem cheaper and easier to operate than

external.


  If you like to buy Hayes, remember the most important thing - 
many of them do not work with Speccy! So the "Secure your 
position for retreat, "ie, try to negotiate with the seller 
about a possible return ... 


  I advise you to look for modems with the protocols. This
sounds like this: MNP5 and v42bis. The fact
what are the protocols, it is quite clear in the article was 
written by Vladimir Larkova in ZX-FORMAT'e.



  Again, theoretically, Hayes'y 2400
now considered "junk" from pisishnikov,
some such as treshka (386), or
VGA-monitor. Most "cool" bbs already refuse to "let" to a modem 
below 14400. So, like, should pisishniki

get rid of this "junk" ...


  In fact, the way it is, but ...
2400 modems are not so much. For example, I myself was 
searching for a month, barely able to find ... Here's how it 
was. 


  Another thing - 14400. Their bulk in any
shop - choose on taste. True cost
they are from $ 70 ...


  Hayes'y come with fax and no fax.
Us spektrumistam, the presence or absence
fax, by and large, it does not matter, and fax
mainly affects the cost of the modem
(About 5 $).


  In the next issue we will publish ZxNews
wiring diagram of Hayes-modem to the Zx-Spectrum'u designed by 
Mikhail Kondratyev. Imho, it's not that hard. 


  Already know everything that went SMUC. This device has a 
slot into which you can also "stick" Hayes. And it does not 
require any chips.



  So here's the situation with the modems in
the glorious city of St. Petersburg. At the end of
all, you decide which modem to select and
its imho I have expressed in this article - and
he and the other.


          To be continued ...


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