Jim, Ziggy, Dave,
Do any of you gentelmen or anyone else on the forum know of a decent USB External Moden that I can connect to my notebook??
Zoom has a mini one but it's not very good. The first one I had lasted only a month and a half before dying. The next two were both returned immediately as they arrived Dead and thus not very usable.
What about a normal external modem that one would use with a desk-top unit? Is there perhaps a cable that is designed to plug into the modem on one end and is USB on the computer end?
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks
Jon
Hey Jon - Can't really help with the USB device mate....brands here would be different to what you can get there. The only USB modems available here in Oz are from the wireless providers themselves.
I can help you with the desktop type wireless modem/router though. If you get one of those you do not need any hard wiring at all. The device receives [i:8iy51fte]and [/i:8iy51fte]transmits wirelessly. Your notebook would need to have a wireless card installed but I have never come across any of the modern machines which didn't.
Things must be a little different in the U.S.A. to Oz, this equipment is generally supplied by the service provider here and often at no cost.
I'm sure Ziggie or Dave will know a lot more about the USB modem brands mate, we shall look forward to their sagacious responses.
Cheers.......JIM
I'm assuming you're looking at dialup modems? Am I right. If so check out Zoom and US Robotics. Unfortunately they run about $50. There should really be no reason for one to crap out. The interface isn't important at those speeds, so there shouldn't be any difference other than where the power comes from (USB or the PCI buss).
Make sure the computer doesn't allow the usb port to enter power saving mode. Right click on the usb port/hub in device manager and choose Properties.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... 3&name=USB
mo...dem??
what is this modem?
LoL
seriously though, US Robotics would be your best bet. Are you looking for a PCMCIA card (Cardbus) or USB or Serial? Back in the day I used an external serial attached modem by US Robotics. Best modem I ever had (that was back when it benefited to move the modem processing off of the main bus...wow, those are the days).
USB [i:28yjfwhz]dialup[/i:28yjfwhz] modems??????? What on earth are they?????
Did I say things must be a [i:28yjfwhz]little[/i:28yjfwhz] different in the U.S.A......try a heck of a lot different!!
I feel a little foolish now. Thing is, there ain't no such animals here, the only USB modems available are for wireless connectivity. As a matter of fact, dialup is being phased out....our largest national provider ceased all dial up services on 1st January 2010.
Thanks Dave and Zig for responding with the correct information.
Cheers all....JIM
[quote="ozbloke":10rvel8k]USB [i:10rvel8k]dialup[/i:10rvel8k] modems??????? What on earth are they?????
Did I say things must be a [i:10rvel8k]little[/i:10rvel8k] different in the U.S.A......try a heck of a lot different!!
I feel a little foolish now. Thing is, there ain't no such animals here, the only USB modems available are for wireless connectivity. As a matter of fact, dialup is being phased out....our largest national provider ceased all dial up services on 1st January 2010.
Thanks Dave and Zig for responding with the correct information.
Cheers all....JIM[/quote:10rvel8k]
Wow. I'd love to see them drop dial-up here in the States. Of course, at the moment, that would drop about 25% or so of the US from the 'net, but all in the name of progress right?
Ziggie - I'm pretty certain the figures (for people on dial-up) are much lower here. That is my impression plus I'm pretty certain the providers would not be dropping something which was in any way profitable.
Broadband is available in most centers now, although wireless is currently the big mover, and remote areas have access to satellite connection which is subsidised by the government.
It has surprised me to learn that so many people are still using dial-up in your country where the technology is generally streets ahead of ours.
Cheers mate....JIM
Jim,
It is pretty disgusting that the US, inventor of the internet as we know it, has such dismal broadband offerings. I talked a little about this from the broadband side in the article [url=http://www.davescomputertips.com/articles/internet/the_current_state_of_broadband_internet_access.php:myfzi81w]The Current State of Broadband Access[/url:myfzi81w].
Unfortunately most providers in the US are granted monopoly status by the local governments, which stifles competition, service, penetrations, and quality. Until someone bites the bullet and removes the exclusive area guarantee to the providers I don't see this changing. Growing over the air broadband solutions may help, but they have strict download/upload limits. We desperately need more competition and Federal government help to increase broadband access and speeds in the US. (did I just advocate government involvement? I must be crazy!)
LOL.......Well although we have excellent competition among a great number of ISP's here, we have to endure a similar situation to yours with regards to our pay TV service. We have just 2 pay TV providers, one is allocated the rural areas (via satellite) and the other the city areas (via cable) so even they are not in direct competition with one another. That's it, a closed shop. We have a choice of one and if we don't like what they are selling or the prices they charge we have absolutely no other choice, except free to air of course...but that's not really an option is it!!!
Sorry mate.....LOL
JIM
I don't know about where you are Jim, but I use an OTA antenna for my TV and it works perfectly-ish.
For Cable TV, we have two choices: Cable or Satellite. And there are only two satellite companies. There's enough collusion that prices are absurdly high no matter where you go.
I had hoped that FiOS coming into the market would lower prices. But no.
[quote="WiseTioga":hwvzk0ia]Jim, Ziggy, Dave,
Do any of you gentelmen or anyone else on the forum know of a decent USB External Moden that I can connect to my notebook??
Zoom has a mini one but it's not very good. The first one I had lasted only a month and a half before dying. The next two were both returned immediately as they arrived Dead and thus not very usable.
What about a normal external modem that one would use with a desk-top unit? Is there perhaps a cable that is designed to plug into the modem on one end and is USB on the computer end?
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks
Jon[/quote:hwvzk0ia]
Sheesh, you guys...you sure can ride a tangent to its untimely end!
To the OP: I'm surprised you had so much trouble with the Zoom units; they're usually pretty good. Besides Newegg, Tiger Direct is one of my favorite online suppliers. Check what they here: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... e=External
U.S. Robotics is definitely one of the best choices. Dave's advice about the properties of the USB port is excellent and worth the time to check.
Best
Tangent? What tangent? Is that that thing that goes off of a circle?
Speaking of circles, I was at the supermarket (Circle K...get it?) when I ran into someone else who was buying pineapple in January.
I want to go to Hawaii to see real pineapples someday.
What were we talking about?
[quote="Ziggie":7r6ny786]Tangent? What tangent? Is that that thing that goes off of a circle?
Speaking of circles, I was at the supermarket (Circle K...get it?) when I ran into someone else who was buying pineapple in January.
I want to go to Hawaii to see real pineapples someday.
What were we talking about?[/quote:7r6ny786]
Absolutely go to Hawai'i in January, but don't look too hard for pineapples. They grow 'em, but not as much as when I was there in the 70's. And sugar? Heh, buy a bag in the market - sugar cane's almost completely dead as an agricultural product. Malamapono a hui hou, Ziggy.
Ron
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