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From: "Brian D. Uhreen" <bduhreen@spots.ab.ca>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2.comm
Subject: 56k modem speeds
Date: 26 Feb 1997 20:09:36 GMT
Organization: iSTAR internet Incorporated
Lines: 104
Message-ID: <5f25a0$585@nr1.calgary.istar.net>
NNTP-Posting-Host: cheetah.spots.ab.ca
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

This post came from my ISP on the stance of 56k modems.   It doesn't
really have anything to do with the Apple2 unless the apple2 can still
keep up with a 56k modem.  (BTW this is Canadian stance)
	Brian


I'm sure that, by now, you have all been inundated with USRobotics
advertising hype for their X2 modem technology.

The following is a short description of the requirements for an
ISP (like Spots) to offer 56k, some information about x2 and K56flex, 
and some reasons for our choosing to use only one of these 'standards'.

Up to this point, an ISP could offer its services using analog phone
lines just like the ones you have installed at home for dialing in
to our modem pool.  Our dial-in pool consists of many USRobotics 
Sportsters and Couriers, connected to a number of Livingston
Portmaster terminal servers.  This combination works very well for
us now, but it's unable to support either of the new 56k 'standards'
that are about to be released.  

In order for us to support any kind of 56k, we need to replace all 
of our old analog phone lines, modems, and terminal servers with
digital ones.  This is very expensive, and isn't something we want
to have to do more than once.  We've done a lot of research, and
we've decided to abandon our relationship with USRobotics hardware,
and purchase new digital Livingston Portmaster 3's.  These devices
accept two digital circuits, each capable of connecting 23 digital
phone lines.  Each digital phone line is able to accept ISDN or 
analog calls.

What may not be obvious, given the amount of money USRobotics has 
poured into their advertising, is that two camps have formed over the
56k modem issue.  One camp consists entirely of USRobotics and their
X2.  The other camp consists of Lucent and Rockwell, and is called 
K56flex.

Both camps have developed their own 'standard'.  Originally, the
Big Three modem chipset designers (Lucent, Rockwell, USRobotics)
each had their own plans for 56k.  Lucent and Rockwell, acting in
what appears to be the best interest of the consumer (you and I),
joined forces to create K56flex.  The Lucent/Rockwell team invited
USRobotics to join them, which would have assured interoperability
between all the 56k modem chipsets.  USRobotics flatly refused the
offer of the K56flex team, and went on developing X2, which will now

	NOT* interoperate with anyone else's modems.  USRobotics also will

not license X2 to any other modem chipset manufacturer, meaning
it's now USRobotics vs. The World.  

Anyone who remembers USRobotics' HST 'standard' will recall that
they tried to force consumers into buying proprietary USRobotics
technology at outrageous prices by offering BBS operators excellent
deals on HST-capable hardware.  Their assumption was that, if all BBS
operators used HST, then any consumer who wanted to get high speeds
would have to also run out and buy an HST modem.  This didn't
work very well.  

Now USRobotics is trying to strong-arm ISPs, like Spots, into using
proprietary USRobotics equipment by brain-washing the general
public into thinking that X2 is the only 56k solution around.
Most ISPs are not interested in playing USRobotics' game; hence
this email telling you all about the problem.

Our official stance on this issue is that we will *NOT* be supporting
the X2 standard.  The vast majority of Internet providers will not be
supporting X2.  If you are planning to buy a new modem in anticipation
of being able to connect at 56k, please do call us for a recommended
vendor.  We will not be recommending USRobotics.  Hayes, for instance,
is offering a $99 upgrade from ANY modem to K56flex once it's
available.

Here are some of the many reasons we're supporting K56flex:

1)  Their standard is technically superior.  They offer 56k downstream,
    and 45k upstream.  X2 offers 53k downstream and 33.6k upstream. 
    Contrary to all their advertising hype, USRobotics 56k technology
    exceeds signal strength limitations for the public switched
    telephone network (PSTN) as laid out by the FCC.  Lucent holds a 
    patent that allows them to transmit at 56k without exceeding these
    limitations.

2)  The Lucent/Rockwell venture includes two distinct code-bases, and is
    therefore more likely to be accepted by the ITU-T (The 
    international body responsible for developing communications
    standard; like v.32, and v.34, for instance) 

3)  USRobotics claims to have 40% of the modem market cornered.  A large
    independent study indicates that the number is really closer to
    25%.  However, Lucent and Rockwell make up the vast majority of the
    other 75%; their chipsets are on the inside, but their labels are not
    necessarily on the outside.

4)  Lucent/Rockwell have been acting in our best interest from day
    one.  It's hard to trust USRobotics to do the right thing in
    light of their predatory tactics in getting X2 to market
    before it's even available in stores.




  To thine own self be true.  And it must follow, as the night the day. 
	Thou canst not be false to any man -- William Shakespeare
		Brian Uhreen,	bduhreen@spots.ab.ca