JM> Hello Arthur!
 JM> Thursday March 19 1998 01:05, Arthur Marsh wrote to all:
 AM >> I may get flamed for saying this, but 3COM/USR's own web pages seem to
 AM >> indicate that they only field test their modems on US access line 
(local
 AM >> loop) conditions:
 JM> not from me youwon't .. i'm one of those poor suckers who purchased a
 JM> reputation, that now the hardware is failing miserable to deliver.
You must live on some far off planet somewhere, sir.  Because I haven't had 
one bit of problem getting a reasonable response from anyone at 3COM/USR 
regarding anything.
The product (Courier V.everything and Sportster) is the best on the market, 
the most dependable on the market and if there is a problem.  The company 
backs the product to the hilt. IMO
 JM> warren zevon pen'd a one liner for one of his songs, that went someting
 JM> like this 'don't let your mouth write a cheque your body can't cash',
 JM> while all big corporates are guilty to some extent .. this new 3com/usr
 JM> merger has greater potential because of the combined workplace culteral
 JM> ethos.
And as soon as the dust settles down some, I suspect the level of support 
will once again be as good, if not better than it was under the USR tradmark.
 JM> that is interesting, i alway thought it was either national 
emiconductor
 JM> or rockwell .. or motorols (semicconductor div) in association with some
 JM> unknown developer.
 JM> may its like thr way the russians were alwsy protray on televison . the
 JM> russinas were always the first to invent or develop all of the worlds
 JM> leading technology, in russia .. maybe usr developed the first USR dsp,
 JM> yes ?
YES!  Not only the first, but the only reliable/dependable one.
 JM> what did they do lay cable down mainstreet smallvile and called it 
typical
 JM> cable run ? sorry this is unfair .. i know several instance where this 
s
 JM> not the case.
"Several, my posterior" USR/3COM did extensive research and testing.  Always 
has and probably always will.
 JM> but, on the other hand why does the courier have such markedly poor
 JM> 'badline perfromance' figures and connectivity when compared with other
 JM> modems in it class .. the microcom deskporte fast+ come readily to mind.
I don't know where you get -your- test results from, but I suspect an old 
copy of MAD Magazine.  Other than some minor production problems a long time 
ago, an SDL or two that were developed by a High School drop out, nothing 
connected to the Courier modem (or I-Modem adapter) has ever been any 
ouble.
The Courier has a long history (well deserved, if I might say so myself) of 
the most dependable communication device around.  I've owned a Courier since 
the 2400Bps days (before that Hayes) and have control over more than 1,016 of 
them right now for the Vet Net Systems.  I can honestly say, not one of the 
Couriers has had one seconds problem, and absolutely none of them have had to 
be repaired and I'd know because I have to approve every pay-out for purchase 
or repair.
 AM >>  Some astute people from outside of the USA (such as Telstra's
 AM >> Frank Nitzsche) have noticed the USR Couriers guess the wrong kind of
 AM >> line conditions and fail miserably. Does 3COM/USR have processes in
 AM >> place to learn from such problems and incorporate fixes into their 
code?
I'd suggest that Mr. Nitzsche should flash his Courier with a country 
specific code if he wishes to avoid problems in the future, or not attempt to 
use a USA/Canada model in some other country.
 JM> i for one would like to hear a real answer to this qustion
Perhaps when you come up with a REAL question and not some senseless 
innuendo, perhaps at that time an answer will be forthcoming.
 JM> ... i do what i can, with what i have, are you able to say the same ?
And normally Jonathan you do very well but I suspect not this time.  
Differing of opinions I suggest and you are most certainly entitled to yours.
Respectfully,
CT
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