These are in no particular order.
- Older design: The Cisco AS5200 uses a much older design, and uses
standard Rockwell chip based Microcom modems. When you look at the
status output of the modems it shows standard modem control signals and
everything. I hate analog modems, I want a truely digital solution not
a box that shoves analog modems like I currently use into a small box
and wires them together. See the e-mail Megazone sent about the design
of the AS5200.
- ISDN STAC compression: The AS5200 does ISDN STAC compression through
software which many people say slows down the main processor a lot when
doing ISDN STAC compression. The PM3 will soon have an add-on card that
gives it hardware assisted compression with its own processor.
- Runs warmer: The AS5200 blows air throughout the chassis to keep the
modems semi-cool: it blows warm air out the front. It uses ~170 watts
of power whereas the PM3 runs _very cool_ and only uses ~70 watts of
power.
- Limited flexibilty: The PM3 and AS5200 both have six slots in the back,
but the AS5200 can only take their 12-port modem cards. The PM3 can
take 8 or 10-port modem cards, and soon also other types of cards
(ethernet/wan/etc. i've heard). ...to clarify the AS5200 has three
"double-wide" expansion slots, each of which takes a carrier card which
then takes two modem cards.
- How swappable modem cards: The modem and T1/PRI cards on the AS5200
aren't even hot-swappable - you have to turn the entire unit off to
upgrade/swap out cards. In the PM3 you can hot-swap the modem cards
with no problem (thanks Livingston! good for upgrading.. I remember
wanting this on the PM2's so badly:>).
- Price: Cisco recently discounted their AS5200 25% bringing the price
down to a "low" US$28,000 whereas the PM3 has always been just under
US$17,000 (both prices for the max. of 48 ports).
- The AS5200's dual channelized-E1 card only does ISDN PRI. For
standard channelized-E1 you need an external converter (which you can
order for free(?) from Cisco). For some reason the Chan-T1 model
doesn't have this draw-back. The PM3 supports Chan-T1/E1 and T1/PRI
E1/PRI with no problems and no external converters.
- If I am figuring this right, the processor is slower in an AS5200. This
may not matter for what it's worth but hey.. the AS5200 has a 20Mhz
68030 which I believe is equal to a 386 33/40Mhz chip, whereas the PM3
has a 486 66Mhz chip.
- The motherboard in the PM3 is swappable just like the modem cards by
sliding it out the back. This allows you to upgrade the RAM and plug in
an expansion card (such as the one for hardware assisted ISDN STAC
compression).
- With the AS5200 you have the choice between managed and unmanaged modem
cards. Someone told me that their Cisco rep. told them that the managed
stuff is just added money for little gain. I have no idea what the
difference is - you seem to be able to see everything you need to with
the unmanaged ones, so what are the managed? Are they worth getting?
"no one may ever know.."
That's over ten reasons, I'll shut up now. =)
On Mon, 19 May 1997, Shaun Rossiter wrote:
> Can anyone give me any reasons for getting the PM3 over the 5200? All
> comments appreciated.