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- V.42 What it is, what it is not.
- -
- V.42 is a CCITT Recommendation adopted in April of 1988 that
- standardizes the way high speed modems which use asynchronous-
- to-synchronous conversion techniques check for errors. V.42 is
- actually a compromise standard that combines two error correction
- protocols (MNP Class 4 and CCITT LAP-M) into one standard. The
- compromise became necessary because of an incompatibility between
- MNP and LAP error correction techniques. Even though MNP has
- become the defacto standard for error correction during the 1980's
- with almost a half-million installed units, a second standard for
- error correction technique, called LAP-B, was introduced. LAP-B
- proponents proposed that it become the international CCITT
- standard. In its wisdom, the CCITT did not throw out MNP, but
- instead accepted both MNP Class 3 & 4 and LAP-M (a modification
- of the LAP-B proposal) as the alternatives in the V.42 standard.
- -
- However, V.42 is not a way to provide compatibility between LAP-B
- based modems and the large base of MNP modems already installed.
- Also, V.42 does not have any provision for using MNP Class 5 or 7
- Data Compression in the LAP-M mode. To use MNP Class 5 or 7 Data
- Compression, you must operate your modem in the MNP mode of the
- V.42 Recommendation. Some day there may be a CCITT V.42bis
- Recommendation that will address data compression needs, but until
- then, the only way to get the increased throughput of data
- compression is with MNP. Simply put, V.42 is another method of
- Error Correction only and will not effect maximum throughput
- capabilities over clean lines.
- -
- As of this writing, there have been no foreign or domestic modems
- manufactured which support LAP-M Error Correction which do not
- also support MNP Class 3 and above. For this reason, exchanging
- modems now to gain V.42 compatibility would only provide another
- method of error correction, and not additional throughput. Not
- really a wise investment if you already have an MNP compatible
- modem.
- -
- LAP-B and LAP-M refer to error-correction protocols only and bear
- no relationship whatsoever to similarly named "Lap" top computers
- and associated "Lap" top devices. Please do not confuse the terms.
- -
- Portions of the above information was excerpted from the
- MultiTech Systems Product Update, "CCITT V.42 Error
- Correction" dated January 1, 1990.
- -