Re: Getting the status of a Portmaster (fwd)

Brian Elfert (brian@citilink.com)
Tue, 11 Jun 1996 22:14:56 -0500 (CDT)

On Tue, 11 Jun 1996, Jacob Suter wrote:

> USR is overpriced - rockwell chips are GREAT, its the crap that is put around them (the
> isolation transformer and the surge supression especially) is the problem. A good
> high-end Rockwell-based External 28.8k is about $150/each, and work as well as a USR of
> $225.

Yes, USR modems are priced a bit higher. I'm paying $265 a port for the
USR Total Control MP/16 product. But, the reliability is worth the extra
cost. I know a couple of ISPs who have, or are, converting to USR due to
various problems with the cheapie modems.

>
> Plus USR has a little problem with reliability, the newish models seem to fry a lot.

Yes, the Sportsters have some reliability problems. I would never use
them for an ISP. An ISP should use the Courier or Total Control products
instead of sportsters.

I had a whole batch of Sportsters with the 10/18/95 ROMS. They quit
answering the phone after a few hours.

Brian