(Saved from Zoom's webpage)
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U.S. Robotics Modems Die, Zoom's Live In FCC Lightning Test
USR Courier "Pops and Flashes" in Test by Independent Lab CCL
BOSTON, MA, March 4, 1997 - After FCC Part 68 surge testing conducted by
Communication Certification Laboratory (CCL), the low-cost Zoom® V.34X
faxmodem emerged fully functional while the U.S. Robotics Courier
V.EverythingTM external faxmodem failed to operate.
The Part 68 metallic surge test simulates electrical surges that are
typical of those caused by lightning striking a telephone line, which
transmits the surge to the modem.
The FCC test simulates a lightning strike by exposing the test modem to an
800-volt peak amplitude electrical surge, current-limited to 100 amps, over
a period of time consisting of 10ęs (microseconds) risetime and 560ęs decay
time to half-voltage peak.
The Zoom V.34X "continued to go on-hook and off-hook and send data after
the electrical surges of FCC Part 68 were applied," according to CCL. In
contrast, the Courier V.Everything , USR's flagship faxmodem, "failed to go
into an off-hook mode after the FCC Part 68 metallic surges (at both 800
volts and 600 volts) were applied." The CCL noted that, "Units in the
actual field that experience lightning surges and remain in a continuous
on-hook state create an inconvenience to the user since the unit cannot be
used and also requires the time and expense to have the unit repaired."
CCL's John L. Chase states, "A popping sound was heard and an electric
flash was seen when the 800-volt metallic surge was performed on the unit."
The CCL repeated the surge test at 600 volts peak amplitude with a new USR
V.Everything modem. Again the USR modem failed.
"These test results demonstrate the high reliability and robust performance
of Zoom modems," said Zoom President and CEO Frank Manning. "ZoomGuardTM
technology raises the cost of goods of Zoom's modems, but drastically
reduces the probability of field failure from lightning compared to U.S.
Robotics and others. ZoomGuard is one of a number of reasons that Zoom
modems have unusually few field problems."
"Our ZoomGuard lightning and surge protection program has dramatically
reduced returns due to modem failure," said Manning. All current V.34 Zoom
modems and ISDN products are protected by ZoomGuard.
Copies of Communication Certification Laboratory's test report and letter
summarizing the test report are available from Zoom Telephonics at no
charge on request.
Lightning is the most common cause of modem failure. Direct hits to
overhead lines occur, but far more common is the induced surge on a buried
cable. According to Roy Carpenter, Chairman of Lightning Eliminators and
Consultants, "Lightning presents one of the greatest threats to military
information systems; probably the most significant, next to military action
by an enemy."
In the United States, the high point of thunderstorm activity is in western
Florida, with a ripple effect out from this focus of lightning activity.
The high lightning level of the southeast extends all the way west into
eastern Texas. In addition, the United States has intense thunderstorm
activity in areas of Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Even in the
relatively low lightning activity area of the central United States, "there
are about 20 strikes per square mile to farmland per year," according to
Carpenter. April is the beginning of lightning's primary season that
extends over six months, ending in early October.
CCL is a full service, independent, electronic testing and certification
laboratory, located in Salt Lake City, Utah. CCL also provides EMI and
safety testing services. CCL has no affiliation with any manufacturer and
their client base is not concentrated with any particular manufacturer.
CCL has been an active member in the telecommunication and testing
industries since 1971. Its telecom testing services include FCC Part 68, IC
CS-03, EIA RS470, JATE, and AUSTEL. CCL was one of the first laboratories
to offer testing to FCC Part 68 and was instrumental in the development of
the rules. CCL takes an active part on Telecommunication Industry
Association's (TIA) Committee TR41.9, which prepared the test procedures
for Part 68 and continually works on current Part 68 issues.
CCL has demonstrated its competence to perform testing to FCC Part 68 and
Part 15 by being accredited by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National
Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP). CCL is also accredited
by AUSTEL and OSHA and are members of TIA, ACIL, ANSI, IAEI, IEEE, CCT, and
TAPAC.
Zoom Telephonics designs, produces, and markets products that link people
and their personal computers through the world's largest network, the
international telephone network, and connected networks including the
Internet and corporate local area networks. Zoom Telephonics is publicly
traded on NASDAQ (NASDAQ: ZOOM). Zoom products are distributed worldwide.
The Zoom Web Site is http://www.zoomtel.com.
... Number of Vulcans needed to replace a bulb? Precisely 1.0000000000000
--- Terminate 4.00/Pro
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