Subject: REVIEW: US Robotics Sportster modem
From: [email-masked] (Christian Almgren)
Date: 16 Dec 1992 17:48:46 GMT
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.reviews

PRODUCT NAME

	US Robotics Sportster modem, Revision A

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

	A V.32bis modem with V.42bis and FAX capability.

AUTHOR/COMPANY INFORMATION

	Name:		US Robotics
	Address:	8100 North McCormick Blvd
			Skokie, Illinois, 60076-2999
			USA

	Telephone:	800-982-5151 (in USA)
	FAX:		708-982-0823 (in USA)

LIST PRICE

	4000 Swedish Crowns, which is approximately 250 English pounds.

SPECIAL HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

	HARDWARE

		Works with all Amiga models.

		[MODERATOR'S NOTE:  Remember that the Amiga 1000 has
		a non-standard serial port and may require a special
		cable. - Dan]

	SOFTWARE

		A communications program.

MACHINE USED FOR TESTING

	A2000 with a Motorola 68010 CPU.

REVIEW

	US Robotics Sportster is a modem that support speeds up to 14400 bps
(using the V.32bis standard). I have used it for a couple of months now and
it works just fine for me.

	In addition to being an ordinary modem, it is a FAX too. Unhappily,
it supports only "Class 1" FAX commands, and there is no program on the Amiga
thats supports them.

	The connect string is also very good.  It gives much information,
such as:

		CONNECT 14400/ARQ/V32/LAPM/V42BIS

where

	o	14400 is the speed.
	o	ARQ is error-correction.
	o	V32 is the standard being used (V.32).
	o	LAPM is V42, which is the standard being used for
		error-correction.
	o	V42bis is compression, giving you throughput up to 56700 cps.

	It also has a good information display.  Just send the command ATI4
to the modem and it responds:

		US Robotics Sportster 14400 Settings...

		B1  E1  F1  M1  Q0  V1  X4
		BAUD=19200  PARITY=N  WORDLEN=8
		DIAL=HUNT   ON HOOK

		&A3  &B1  &G0  &H1  &I0  &K3  &M4
		&N0  &P0  &R2  &S0  &T5  &Y1

		S00=000  S01=000  S02=043  S03=013  S04=010
		S05=008  S06=002  S07=060  S08=002  S09=006
		S10=007  S11=070  S12=050  S13=000  S14=001
		S15=000  S16=000  S17=000  S18=000  S19=000
		S20=000  S21=010  S22=017  S23=019  S24=150
		S25=005  S26=001  S27=000  S28=020  S29=020
		S30=000  S31=000  S32=008  S33=000  S34=000
		S35=000  S36=000  S37=000  S38=000

Very impressive!

	It also has built-in help.  Suppose you wish to know what Dial
commands you can use.  Just type ATD$ and the modem responds with:

		HELP, Dial Commands (CTRL-S to Stop, CTRL-C to Cancel)

		0-9 Digits to Dial
		*   Auxiliary Tone Dial Digit
		#   Auxiliary Tone Dial Digit
		T   Tone Dialing
		P   Pulse Dialing
		R   Call an Originate Only Modem
		,   Pause (Wait for S8 Time)
		;   Remain in Command Mode After Dialing
		"   Used to Dial Alpha Phone #'s
		W   Wait for 2nd Dial Tone (X3-X4)
		@   Wait for an Answer (X3-X4)
		!   Flash Switch Hook

		OK

DOCUMENTATION

	The documentation is a small book that describes the modem itself,
how to configure the modem, and all Hayes commands.

	The book is easy to read, but it is confusing if you are looking for
some special, particular information.  They could have done a better job at
grouping the information in the book.

	It's all there... just a little hard to find.

	The documentation is appropriate for beginners.  In addition,
experts will appreciate the appendices about Error/Flow-Control, Handshaking,
and stuff like that.

	At the end of the documentation is a reference card you can tear out.
It is very good.  Everything you really need to know is there, including all
the commands with short descriptions.

LIKES AND DISLIKES

	I'm very satisfied with my Sportster, but it is very ugly.  It
doesn't look professional.  However, it is reliable and works fine.

BUGS

	In the early versions of the modem ROM, it is possible to connect
with HST modems with speeds of up to 16800 baud.  However, the Sportster is
not supposed to be able to do this.  The later versions of the modem are
unable to connect to HST modems.

WARRANTY

	5 years

CONCLUSIONS

	The modem works fine, and is relatively cheap, but has an
awful-looking design.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

	Copyright 1992 Christian Almgren.  All rights reserved.
	Internet: [email-masked]
	Fidonet:  2:201/411.16

---

   Daniel Barrett, Moderator, comp.sys.amiga.reviews
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