Rod, at 16:47 on Apr 16 1996, you wrote to Russell Brooks...

RB> Any service tone detection quirks your end?

RS> Only the STD pips.

Same here with my US/Canada V.34+ Sportster, but I simply add X3 to the
dialling string to disable BUSY detection on STD calls.  Too lazy to ask
Telstra to remove the pips, but I might just do that one day soon...

RS> Pretty good there. My only real reservation is the ATZ
RS> behaviour we have already discussed which I think is too
RS> much of a gotcha for no good reason, but other than that...

As long as you're aware of that quirk, it isn't a problem at all.

RS> I've also never been that keen on USRs propensity to use DIP switches
RS> long after everyone else has binned them, mainly coz its too easy for that
RS> to bite droids too. Cant see the point in anything more than a concealed
RS> 'dumb modem' jumper for those who really must have one of those, and are
RS> capable of reconfiguring it with some inconvenience if they know enough
RS> to know they need one of those for a particular application.

I see your point, but not all high-end modems like USRs are used on PCs or
BBSs, and DIP switches can be useful in those circumstances.  The bottom
line is that you don't have to use them if you don't want to.  Besides,
most Courier buyers appear to be fairly modem-literate, and not your
average newbie droids.

RS> My only other quibble is that it does put a bit more hash on the
RS> voice calls than is desirable. I always use a modem for dialing
RS> voice calls and have the phone in parallel with the modem between
RS> the modem and wall socket for various reasons. The hiss is noticeable,
RS> and its also audible on the modem speaker when dialing data calls
RS> too. Not unusably loud, just a nuisance level thing.

Never noticed that myself, but it doesn't matter anyway, as the US/Canada
versions haven't had the series RJ-11 socket disabled, and I actually have
my own PC-room phone plugged directly into the Sportster.  Much more
elegant IMO, and great for using the modem or PC for dialling the phone.

RS> Still recon we need Taiwan to clone the hardware and provide
RS> just useable code, so we can just flash USR code in after buying.
RS> That really would blow a FUCKING great hole in the market |-)

True.  Can't see it happening any time soon though.  :(

Regards, Bill

--- Msgedsq/2 3.20