Re: Getting the status of a Portmaster (fwd)

Tony Shepps (toad@pond.com)
Thu, 13 Jun 1996 17:09:43 -0400

>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.

Our MP/16s experienced a 100% failure rate. There was apparently something
wrong with the power supply, something in manufacturing I think it was; and
the lower 8 modems would suddenly, spontaneously die. Their LEDs would go
red and that was it. 8 lines where there no longer was a modem.

Sometimes power cycling would fix the problem temporarily, sometimes it
wouldn't. This happened to 7 original MP16s or so and also to every
replacement rack we got. We have now changed all the USRs out with Hayes.
The connectivity doesn't seem as good, but at least they don't suddenly all die.

--
Tony Shepps  |  toad@pond.com  |  Fishnet SysAdmin & utility infielder