RB> Any service tone detection quirks your end?

RS> Only the STD pips.

BG> Same here with my US/Canada V.34+ Sportster, but I simply add X3
BG> to the dialling string to disable BUSY detection on STD calls.

RS> I think a better workaround is to use an ATDT,, dialing prefix.

I should have said suffix, mangled it a bit there.

RS> Then the busy detect still works and the workaround is invisible.

BG> I've actually used a ModemTrans statement in Bink which automatically adds
BG> X3 to the dialling string of any calls which use STD, and as I only use
BG> Bink for polling for email, I almost never hear a busy signal. Might try
BG> the 2 commas though, as it appeared to solve the problem with my old Intel
BG> 400. My only reservation is that 4 seconds delay between answer and modem
BG> tone recognition may be too long, while 2 seconds may not be enough.

Nope, all you need it to stop it listening to the line immediately
after the called modem loops the line. The timing aint at all critical.

BG> I know that the comma time is configurable in the
BG> modem, but I just couldn't be bothered fucking about.

It aint that critical.

BG> Actually, it's just occurred to me that I can't use commas with Bink,
BG> as these need to go AFTER the phone number, not the dialling prefix. 

Just put the commas in your NORMAL dial suffix. You are thinking
about doing it with a ModemTrans, there aint any need to.

BG> Looks like I'm stuck with my current method,

Nope.

BG> as I can't have the STD pips removed until late this year,
BG> when our exchange goes fully digital (I've just checked this).

Welp, if it was me I would stick the commas in the dial suffix
till then. No disadvantage at all, and allows busy detect.

BG> Too lazy to ask Telstra to remove the pips,
BG> but I might just do that one day soon...

RS> Or use Optus, no pips. The main problem with that
RS> route is that the Telstra weekday economy rate with
RS> Smart Saver is MUCH cheaper than the Optus 20c rate.

BG> Yeah, I came to the same conclusion after checking Telstra's new
BG> rates too. Just as well I did, as I'd all but changed to Optus for
BG> STD at the time (I'd organised it by phone, but hadn't yet returned
BG> the official documentation).

Yeah, with our sorts of calling patterns, there aint much in Optus
for us. The main exception is weekends when the 10c is cheaper than
the Telstra rate, even with a Smart Saver, but its only about 11c or
12c instead of the 10c Optus charges. And its even more complicated
by the continuing specials most sundays of 9c before the Smart Saver
with Telstra, giving 7.65c after the smart saver.

Can get a bit tricky trying to use both too, say just Optus on weekends
when Telstra isnt running their 9c that Sunday. If you dont watch out
you can fall out of qualifying for the Smart Saver on dollars per month.

BG> I think the easiest solution overall is to have the pips removed though.

Dunno, they do have some superficial value in that in theory
at least the people you call by voice may be less prepared
to just answer the phone and put you on hold immediately.

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...

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

RS> Cant agree with that,

BG> Why am I not surprised?  :)

Coz you are a zealot who cant bring yourself to admit there is
the slightest deficiency in anything that USR has ever done Bill |-)

Tho I must admit that if you are gunna be a zealot about a particular
modem, it makes a hell of a lot more sense to be a zealot about USRs.

RS> computing is already FAR too riddled with quirky little things you have
RS> to remember to do like that already. A robust design is about minimising
RS> those when there is no good reason to do it the way that can bite.

BG> So what if it bites the occasional newbie?

Robust designs about about minimising any capacity to bite unless
there is a damned good reason to implement it the way which can bite.

BG> Who cares?

Anyone who understands what good design is about.

BG> As long as you and I know about it, what's the problem?

Its VERY easy to forget in the heat of the moment as you
are thrashing around trying to work out why a new mailer aint
working etc. Human beings aint very reliable at always remembering
where the mines are, you can step on one and blow you foot off.

BG> Would you refuse to buy a product because although YOU
BG> knew about it's quirks, some others didn't?  I think not.

Pity that says sweet fuck all about whether it would be better if they
did the ATZ command THE SAME WAY EVERYONE ELSE DOES Bill. Particularly
when there isnt a SINGLE good reason to do it the way they do. Bad design.

AND its not as if starting to do the ATZ the way everyone else
does now would break anything ANYWAY, if people keep mindlessly
AT&Wing after every port speed change, it will STILL work.

Zealotry Bill.

RS> I've also never been that keen on USRs propensity to
RS> use DIP switches long after everyone else has binned
RS> them, mainly coz its too easy for that to bite droids too.

BG> I see your point, but not all high-end modems like USRs are used on
BG> PCs or BBSs, and DIP switches can be useful in those circumstances.

RS> Nope. By definition you must still be able to communicate with
RS> the modem over the comms port to do any configing you want to do.

BG> And what about those computers which
BG> don't use carrier detect or DTR (Amigas?),

Irrelevant, you can still configure the modem thru
the comms port and AT&W whatever config you want the
modem to have on that stuff. No need for a DIP switch.

It must be doable, Hayes dumped all DIP switches
right back with the original 2400 for christ sakes.

ALL you need is NVRAM.

BG> where you can set the DIPs to &C0 and &D0, which

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