[KLUG Hardware] Win (Software) Modems

[Adam Williams]

>I've been told not to buy a Win Modem.  Which, after a small amount
>of research, I've discovered appears to be a software modem.  So, I
>can understand why, if I use Linux.

I'd check http://www.linmodems.org/#pages Some HSP devices do work under
Linux.  Not that I recommend them.

>I've been told that I'm "out of luck" if I'm looking for a PCI Modem
>that's not a software modem.  I have to buy a more expensive external

No, there are PCI modems that are not HSP devices, and have (or emulate
in hardware) a UART and AT command set.

>modem -- preferably a $100 US Robotics modem.
>I'm not using Linux.  Why do I need a hardware modem?

Modems are better than HSP telco interfaces (winmodems) for many of the
same reasons that SCSI is better than IDE.  The device can do more
itself, leaving your processor alone so it can do crazy things like run
application processes.  Only in the case of HSP the situation is much
more extreme than the SCSI vs. IDE scenario.  The processor has to chunk
audio samples to grind out the data,  and we are talking about all that
work for something like 50k.  It is ridiculous.  Two timing as a CPU and
a DSP really can have a noticable impact on performance,  ecspecially if
you want to surf the 'net AND do other stuff.

>I found a modem for $40 that is PCI modem.  It's the AOpen FM56-PM. 
>The vendor isn't sure if it's a software or a hardware modem.  Does
>anybody know?  The AOpen Website seems unhelpful.

Check http://www.idir.net/~gromitkc/20020425a.html