Rod, at 08:04 on Jun 01 1996, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

BG> if the Dynalinks have solved their service tone detect problems,

RS> The V34 external has on an AXE exchange anyway.

BG> Interesting, and it sounds like you've actually seen one in the flesh.

RS> Yes, *BUT* I am talking about a V34, *NOT* a V34+

Bugger, that one small "+" is really going to confuse the issue
shortly, now that 33k6bps is purportedly due to be ratified this month as
well.

BG> They're quite obviously not Rockwells, and given that
BG> Tom Przeor's new internal modem is actually a Sportster
BG> rebadged as a Texas Instruments (with its ID string in ROM
BG> changed), I wonder if Dynalink have now gone the same route?

RS> No idea on the V34+, the V34 is certainly Rockwell.

Sure, and very generic Rockwell at that.  Funny that apart from their
service tone detect problems, they are actually quite a reliable modem,
although if their V.34+ model is actually a rebadged Sportster (and
especially that one with the V.42bis problems) as I suspect, Dynalink's
name will be mud within a couple of months.

RS> Quite a spunky looking little modem too. Unlike those damned
RS> Sportsters, still recon they look like a fucking answering machine |-)

BG> Could be worse though. One new V.34 modem (Compucom,
BG> I think) looks remarkably like a half-squashed grapefruit.

RS> Yeah, some completely bizarre stuff around.

Remember the Interlink ads of a year or so back, with that stylised
spherical graphic as a modem?  Dunno what they really looked like in the
flesh, and there was no fucking way I was about to find out either.

RS> Corse the external Courier with its wheels and steering wheel is a tad 
RS> weird too |-)

True, and the "leaning tower of Pisa" V.34 Maestros weren't a
whole lot better either.  Still reckon your Supra 14k4 is one of the most
functional looking modems seen here, with its proper extruded alloy casing,
not plastic.  Beats me too why more manufacturers didn't bother including
LCD or LED speed displays, if only from the POV of their being
aesthetically pleasing.

BG> Funnily enough, I never thought the external Sportie to be anything
BG> other than sleek and functional, with its relatively large top-front
BG> mounted power switch, and the volume knob recessed, but still easily
BG> adjustable, and I've always preferred the ability to change the audio
BG> level externally, rather than relying on a fucked AT command to do so
BG> (a bit hard to do during an on-line session too).

RS> Cant say I have ever felt the need, just adjust it to taste with
RS> the other setup detail and leave it like that forever.

Dave actually finds his Courier's external audio pot quite useful at night,
as his BBS is in the dining area, and the connect tones can be a tad
raucous at 3am.  Better than Maestro's abortion of an internal audio pot
though.  What complete fucking moron designed that one, I wonder?

RS> Corse if the room noise varys lots, you many need to at times I guess.

True, as useful as it is, I think I could manage to live without it.

Regards, Bill
@EOT:

--- MsgedSQ/2 3.30