In a message to Anthony about "Maestro Modem Prices!", Bill said:

BG> It never ceases to amaze me that the only modems which can
BG> reliably detect local telco tones are non-approved US
BG> imports (I bet the USR never barfs at your dialtones),

Almost never.  It gets and ATZ^M for it's pains if it does. ;)

BG> which says a great deal about the ability of local
BG> programmers to write decent ROM code for Oz modems
BG> (Netcomms also suffer from similar problems).

I really can't see what the problem is.  The sportster sounds very sure
of itself.  For instance, it always waits for at least three beeps of an
engaged signal to make sure that it's still not the two beeps of a weird
ring tone, and almost always identifies it by the end of the third.  The
Maestro 2400 needed about 5 busy beeps and hung up in the middle of the
next.  Pathetic.  If there's one thing that the Sportster is a bit nasty
with, it's how long it defaults to waiting for a dial tone.  I can't
remember if there is an override S variable for that?  Not usually a
problem for me on an AXE exchange though.

BG> the V.34 USR myself. Oh, BTW, Maestro have announced that
BG> the RRP of their soon to be released V.FC (not V.34) modem
BG> will be just over $800, and that's just too expensive AFA
BG> I'm concerned, especially when an imported USR V.34 should
BG> cost much less than that. Then again, given the paltry
BG> amount of files I download, 14k4 will do me for a while yet.

There are some things that I personally just rarely find the need to
keep upgrading all the time.  Shit point software is one of them.
Modems is another.  90% of my modem calls are for mail, and who cares if
it takes about 4min/day instead of 2min with a V34?  Same reason I have
a 386DX40 instead of a 486DX33 - too little benefit except for Intel.
Might as well wait till I feel like splurging on a super-duper 486...

'tnt, Amfony.                     
--- Maximus/2 2.01wb