la> There are gadgets sold under the claim that they will split
 la> your phone signal and allow you to use it to talk while still
 la> connected with a modem.  Pure fiction?  I saw one advertised
 la> on TV for $75 or so.

IIRC, they require the modem to be V.92 capable... the idea, as i
understand it, is that the device will maintain the carrier with the modem
or carry the comms thru to the modem while diverting the other (digital?)
traffic to the phone...

FWIW: our telephone conversations are converted to digital quite quickly,
these days, and about the only analog stuff is in the "last mile"
stuff to your handset... in many places, these days, the "last
mile" may actually be digital and the final conversion is done
"locally" on premises...

)\/(ark