Tai, at 10:39 on Apr 21 1996, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

TL> Don't the Non-Austel ones have a few problems with dial tones or something?

On some exchanges, they won't recognise BUSY, and they also occasionally
misinterpret the STD pips as a BUSY response and drop carrier (and redial).
 But apart from that, they work just fine.  :)
 
TL> But also, the US ones get the SDL thingoes first or something ?

Yep, much sooner than we do.

TL> As far as I know, there is the V.Everything, the V.Everything DS (US
& AUS 
TL> models) and a new AUS model, which has no duaghterboard or something ? Is 
TL> that right ? And what model is the best one ? I don't really wanna get the 
TL> US model if I am gonna hve heaps of troubles setting it up and all that 
TL> ...

The US/Canada Couriers are ALL single-board V.Everything versions now.

BG> USR BBS ............... 847-982-5092

TL> So this is the one to call to order a US model ?

Yeah, you order it via the SYSOP door on-line.  Sure beats being put on
hold for 20 minutes on their bloody voice line (and at ISD rates too).

BG> The US sysop price on a Courier is US$249 plus US$10 
BG> shipping (credit cards accepted for purchase).  The 
BG> modem supplied will be the V.Everything, and is fitted 
BG> with a small brass plate which states that the modem is 
BG> "not for resale".  This plate is also easily removable.  :)

TL> Is that the Dual Standard one, or not ? Do they still make two different 
TL> models, or do they all have DS now ?

No, they're all DS (V.E) models now.

TL> Do you know roughly how long it would take to get from there to here ?

Once they see fit to send it, about 2 days.  You may have to wait up to a
year before they decide to do so though.  And I'm not joking either.

BG> Be advised that if you do import one, you'll be stung 
BG> another 22% sales tax on the landed cost in A$.  Still 
BG> much cheaper than local prices though, given the 
BG> current exchange rate of around US$0.79 per A$1.00.

TL> So after US to AUS $ conversion and the 22% tax, it comes to about $400 or 
TL> a bit less right ?

It's much closer to A$500 actually, and if you can't qualify for one under
the sysop deal and buy it from the US at retail prices, it'll end up
costing more than the local street price for the same modem.

TL> Even if I had a tax exemption number, would I still have 
TL> to pay the 22% tax ?

On a modem?  I can't see those being tax exempt at all.

TL> No probs ... You've been a big help ... Just a few more questions though 
TL> ... With the 22% sales tax, when do I have to pay that ? When it arrives, 
TL> or when I order it ? Can that be paid by credit card ?

When your modem arrives, you will be contacted by the shipping agents, on
behalf of Customs, and you pay the sales tax at that point.  You won't get
your modem until you cough up the sales tax though.  And yes, credit cards
are accepted for that.

TL>  And do the US models get new SLDs (?) before the AUS models ? I heard that 
TL> the AUS models are always behind in getting them or something ?

TL> Does anyone in here actually have a non-Austel approved Courier that could 
TL> tell me what problems to expect from one ?

Dodgy service tone recognition.  Otherwise they work perfectly here.

Regards, Bill

--- Msgedsq/2 3.20