.5 Hints to the tested modems

This chapter will give you advice about the tested types of modems. We cannot give any guarantee for completeness or correctness of these specifications. The producers of modems change the firmware regularly which can result in new errors about which we were not informed at time of testing.

Read this chapter carefully to find the most compatible modem. It is even more important if you plan to buy a voice modem.

The ZyXEL Modem 1496 E(G)(+) 

The quality of recording can be adjusted in several steps in the dialogue box "Preferences Voice". An increase in quality is achieved by higher resolution of the scan value. Higher quality means larger memory space for messages on the hard disk. The adjustment ADPCM3 records with three Bit per scanning. This leads to a need of space of 3600 bytes/sec! For smaller hard disks it has to be considered that adjustment ADPCM2 might be sufficient. This needs only 2400 Bytes per second. The quality is worst in the adjustment CELP but uses the least amount of memory. It works with only 1 bit per scanning and needs only 1200 Bytes per second answering text. CELP exists only in ZyXEL-Plus-Models. From firmware 6.13 ZyXEL offers also ADPCM4.  This resolution can only be used by ports of 57600 Baud.

Recording with Zyxel modem

Mac-micro

The easiest way is to use the Macintosh for your recordings. CoMa converts the file into the ZyXEL format. See previous chapter

Input local phone

A telephone receiver can be connected directly to the line entry of the ZyXEL for recording of answering texts. You have to speak into the loudspeaker (!) though (adjustment: local phone). The quality is very bad.

Input line

The recording is better if you connect a telephone parallel to the modem (input line) and speak into the mouth piece of the telephone receiver. If you have a german TAE box you have to connect the pins as shown below. We do not know exactly how to do this with american western plugs or the english plugs. But we think nobody will take this option because it is much easier to work with the Mac-microphone! If not: Try out!

Pin 5 to Pin 2

Pin 6 to Pin 1

Once you have done use the command "Record" in the pull-down-menue "File". Recording starts when the LED with the marking RXD on the ZyXEL flashes, or the recording bar is displayed on the monitor. Either speak the text into the telephone or into the externally connected microphone. You finish recording by pressing +"." key.

The file selection box opens and you can enter the name of the file.

Replaying the recorded calls.

The Zyxel can replay the recordings in three different ways:

Line 

The telephone receiver of a connected telephone  will be used for replay. You will need a modified telephone cable, so you can listen to the calls without the disturbing dial tone. You can overcome this by dialling a single number (i.e. 7), however this is the least satisfactory method.

modem speaker 

The ZyXEL has got an inbuilt mini-loudspeaker but the replay of sound is not very good. It is better than the above method, but...

Mac speaker 

This is the recommended version. Replay is made via the Mac speaker. If you have connected the audio outlet to a stereo it is even better.

Smarty 14.4 TI and19.2 TI (Dr. Neuhaus) 

Recording with the Smarty Modem

You can choose two variations for input. We recommend  to use the microphone on the headset. Activate "Micro" in the pop-up-menu. You find a matching connection at the back of the cover for the headset.

Replay of recordings

The replay can be made as well via the headset. Use the adjustment "Modem-speaker" of the pop-up-menu "Output".

Recognition of DTMF tones (tone dial method)

The recognition of tone dial is a problem in these appliances. The modem can only recognise these signals in recording mode in the actual firmware version. The remote polling of personalised messages or the use of remote inquiry is not satisfactory.

These modems are not suitable for the functions Voice-on-demand and Fax-on-demand of CoMa Professional in this way.

Cybermod by Dr Neuhaus 

This modem was a real surprise, all functions worked at once. The evaluation of the compression algorythm for data conversion was without problems. Replay can be made with excellent quality via the Mac. Recordings are made easily with the Mac microphone, the missing microphone on the modem is therefore irrelevant.

But one problem has to be mentioned: It works with the old fax standard class 2! So the polling request is not used! Fax polling is only lidded possible!

The Creatix LC144 VF (LC 288 VF) 

These modems are a cheap alternative to the Zyxel. Recording and replay are realised easily because a microphone and loudspeaker are easily installed. The microphone and loudspeaker can be bought cheaply if you do not allready have them.

Here are the sound resolution that are possible:          Extension of the file

ADPCM2 1,8 kByte/s  (works with 19200 bps)        

(.RO2)

ADPCM3 2,7 kByte/s (works with  38400 bps)         

(.RO3)

ADPCM4 3,6 kByte/s (works with  38400 bps)         

(.RO4)

Recording with the Creatix modem

The creatix modems of the range LC....VF have got an inbuilt microphone which lets you record easily. Use as input-adjustment the entry "Micro".

Replay of recorded messages

Connect a mini loudspeaker to the modem and activate the menu point "Modem-Speaker" in the pop-up-menu "Output".

The quality is quite sufficient with a walkman-loudspeaker, it is better in any case than ordinary answering machines. Replay via the Mac loudspeaker is possible too. CoMa converts the rockwell sound-file at once!

Silence recognition 

All Creatix modems have got a problem with the silence recognition unfortunately. The silence is not recognised in a quite clear telephone line even in the setting "most sensitive" and the recording is not stopped after the caller has hung up.

Make sure that you enter an acceptable time in the field "max. record time". Something between 60 and 120 seconds should be ok. If your telphone is digital the "busy-detect" will help you here. The digital net sends an engaged tone 5 seconds after a caller has hung up and this is recognised by the modem and will make it return to "on hook".

ELSA microlink 28.8 TQV (TKR Tristar) 

Modems at the best price/achievement relation are the appliances of the  Microlink TQV range. The modems are sold by the company TKR under a different name but are equal. They achieve 28800 bps in data mode, with compression they can make it to 57600 bps.

As in the Creatix modem the processor is by Rockwell. Three appliances are on the market as in Creatix.

Recording

These modems have got an inbuilt microphone on the front part which should be used for recording. Use the adjustment "Micro".

You have to find the right distance to the modem yourself. If you are to close to the microphone the quality suffers.

Replay

Your only choice is replay via the inbuilt loudspeaker of the modem, but the sound is not too bad due to the metalic cover. Replay via Mac loudspeaker is also possible.

Problems:

This is the same as Creatix with the silence recognition problem. Shortly this will not be a problem for 100% of UK, due to the engaged signal being transmitted at call end by the digital networks. The advice given for Creatix silence recognition applies here.

USRobotics Sportster 14.4 VI (28.8 VI) 

This modem has got only one recording mode which does not offer good quality at all.

Recording

Two ways are possible. The easiest is via the inbuilt microphone (on the front of the appliance). Adjust Input "Micro". You can also use the telephone receiver of a telephone connected to the same socket as the modem. Select "local phone" in the pop-up-menu for this.

To record with the local phone lift up the receiver and start recording with the command "Record" from the pull-down-menue "File". Speak after the free tone has finished.

Replay

For replay you can use the loudspeaker of the modem. Activate the menu point "modem speaker" in the pop-up-menu "output".

You can also use the receiver of the telephone if it is connected to the same socket. The adjustement would be "local phone".

Problems

The modem cannot recognise data calling tone in the voice operation,  and therefore can only be used for fax and answering machine. The mailbox cannot be operated. A further bug: the firmware does not evaluate the number of ring tones correctly.

It also cuts out at the end of the recording if the DTE speed is adjusted higher than 19200 bps. You can easily live with the low data transfer rate because a data connect is not possible anyway.

And again: silence recognition does not work. Don't forget to think of the "max. recording time".

ZyXEL Elite ISDN 

This is a miracle of modern technology. This modem contains a confusing large number of parameters which can bring tears to the eyes of the uninitiated. Our programmer was near a nervous breakdown and in tears more than once. Be not surprised if it does not work at once! On the other hand the modem offers you a lot (if you need that sort of thing).

Recording

You can choose all possibilities for recording. There is a problem with recording via the local phone if after 15 seconds the engaged tone starts. We do not recommend this method. The best is a microphone connected into the relevant socket.

Replay

You can choose all options again, even the inbuilt loadspeaker offers an acceptable quality, but the external loudspeaker system is recommendable as well.

Problems

The machine is complicated.

The modem passes the MSN after the first ring only.

There must be still a bug in the firmware. The MSN specific announcement will only function if the computer is switched on at the first ring tone.

Be aware that the firmware for the ISDN part in version 2.04 and for the analog part in 1.13 still exist. In these versions the modem works quite well.

ELSA/TKR Microlink ISDN 

This modem works analogue and digital (ISDN). The price/performance relation is very good. There is no possibility though to record via the  modem. 

You have to use the mac-micro and convert the file in the record-box into a Rockwell voice file. 

Modem with self-mode (stand-alone-mode)

Now we want to tell you how CoMa cooperates with the new modem with a self-mode. The following shows how you can adjust the self-mode functions with CoMa.

Please make shure you have chosen the right modem-typ in Preferences/General. If not, you get a error message and some of the dialoque-boxes shown here will not be displayed.

     U.S.Robotics 56k Professional Message 

This analog modem has a flash memory of about 2 MB. It can receive fax and voice-messages without a computer. With CoMa you can load the fax pages into your computer and handle them there.

With CoMa Voice and a running computer you can use the hole functionality of the communication manager!

If the modem works with a running computer you record the announcments as descrived in chapter 3.6. You can only use the modem microphone and the inbuild speaker. But both sounds very good, so this is not a problem!

All incoming calls and fax are entered in the calls-list. By double clicking an entry the voice-message is played via modem-speaker, the fax is displayed on the monitor. So this is no news. If you let the modem work in self-mode the handling differs from here!

        Record of the OGM (outgoing message) in self-mode

The modem can record a outgoing message of max. 15 seconds. You habdle the recording via modem button as discribed in the modem manual.

        Playback of recorded calls in self-mode

You can start the playback via modem button or with the CoMa dialoque "Self-Mode-Control".

This dialoque has to be used for reading the modem memory and to adjust some modem parameter.

 

You see here at once some important data of the modem listet. The number of the stored Files, how much memory is left and how many new files there are.

        Load all messages

All files are send to the computer.

        Load new messages

Only not seen fax pages or new messages are transmitted to the computer. All files are entered to the calls-list and can be handled from there as normaly in CoMa.

        Clear modem memory

This function erases the hole memory. You can not erase a singel file.

        Adjust modem-clock

Whenever you switch off the modem, the inbuild clock has to be set again. You get the actual modem time displayed everytime you open this box.

         Self-Mode

With this button you activate the self-mode. If the self-mode is deactivated the the PWR/MEM LED will show a permanent red light!

        record and playpack of outgoing messages for self-mode

With the buttons Record/Play you can have control over the outgoing messages via computer. You can start the recording and playback from this box.

        Update status

You can get the modem status again if you use this button. This might be of interest if the dialoque box was open while a message came in.

        Edit Parameter

With this dialoque you can set the main modem parameter.

        Handle voice

This button activates the answering machine for self-mode use.

         Receive fax

This button activates the recceiving of fax pages in self-mode.

        Answer after

This shows the numbers of rings befor the modem takes the line.

        Tollsaver

If a message has been recorded the number of rings the modem takes the line is minus two rings. If you use the remote control you can find out if there is a message at all.

        Record voice-message

Set here the maximum record time. With the button "Audio monitor" you activate the speaker while a record is made.

        FaxID

This number is displayed to the calling faxmaschine if the self-mode is active. Without self-mode CoMa shows the ID from "Preferences/Fax".

        Remote control PIN

With the button you activate the remote control. To use it you have to set a 4 digit PIN.

         Elsa MicroLink Office 

this modem offers the most comfortable way of having a modem with self-mode. You don't have to switch the self-mode on or off, the modem does this by itself watching the DTR-line. Is this line active (the computer is turned on) the mode disables the self-mode. We apology for the dialoque boxes made in german! But we don't know if this modem is sold in a englisch spoken country. Please tell us if you want a localized english version!

CoMa goes a bit farer, only when the automatic receive is switched on, the DTR-line is set active!

If the caller number is transmitted to your modem, CoMa writes it into the caller-list and you see who tried to talk to you.

Like befor, the box for the self-mode offers the most important data to you.

The number of the stored files, how much memory is left and how many new files there are.

        (Alle Nachrichten laden) Load all messages

All files are send to the computer.

        (Neue nachrichten laden) Load new messages

Only not seen fax pages or new messages are transmitted to the computer. All files are entered to the calls-list and can be handled from there as normaly in CoMa.

        (Modemspeicher löschen) Clear modem memory

This function erases the hole memory. You can not erase a singel file.

        (Modem-Uhr stellen) Adjust modem-clock

The Elsa MicroLink Office has a inbuilt clock with battery. You only have to adjust the clock one time. Even if the modem is switched off, the time is stored!

        Update status

You can get the modem status again if you use this button. This might be of interest if the dialoque box was open while a message came in.

        (Parameter ändern) Edit Parameter

With this dialoque you can set the main modem parameter.

        (Abheben nach) Answer after

This shows the numbers of rings befor the modem takes the line.

         (2 Klingelz. früher....) Go Off-Hook 2 rings earlier...

This enables or disables the tollsaver funktion. If a message has been recorded, the modem goes two rings earlier off-hook as set in the pop-up-menue above.

         (Abheben, auch wenn der Speicher voll ist) Go Off-Hook even if 
          modem-memory is low

Modem goes off-hook even if the memory in your modem is low. the caller maybe heres only your announcment and no message can be recorded.          

            (Anrufbeantworter) answering machine on/off

This button enables the answering machine in self-mode.

             (Nachrichten aufnehmen) record incoming messages

The Elsa modem offers you the possibility to have the modem active but only the announcement is played. This is a very usefull feature if somebody is on holiday or the shop is closed.

               (Max. Aufnahmezeit) max. recording time

Set here the maximum record time. With the button "Mithören während der Aufnahme" (Audio monitor) you activate the speaker while a record is made.

              (Mitschneiden von...) record of a conversation

You are able to record while you are talking to somebody. This button starts the recording.

                (Fax-Empfang) Fax receive

This button enables the fax receive. If the button is off, a fax-calling-tone will be ignored and no fax can be received.

                Fax-ID

This number is displayed to the calling faxmaschine if the self-mode is active. Without self-mode CoMa shows the ID from "Preferences/Fax".

                (Automatischer Empfang...) automatic fax receive while talking

You can never know what is on the line if the telephone rings. The Elsa MicroLink Office is able to listen to the line after you went off-hook. If a fa-calling-tone is detected the modem takes the line and receives the fax. Genius, isn't it?

                  (Fernabfrage) remote control

You activate the remote control with this button.

                  Passwort Password

Put in a four digit password.

                   (Fernkonfiguration) long distance konfiguration

If you activate this button your mode can be configured from distance by calling it. Read the modem-manual for more details about this function.