USR/3COM 56k Internet Call Modem PCI with Voice (model # 5695) - a hardware modem?

[bidzina]

Administrator, move this post if it does not belong here I just couldn't find better place.

Here's the question: Is USR/3COM 56k Internet Call Modem PCI with Voice (model # 5695) - a hardware modem? Some say it's Winmodem -> http://www.idir.net/~gromitkc/20020502a.html

And is it any good? I read somewhere that it had problems with W2k, but I'm using Win98se.

Also, is it V.90 or V.92? or is it upgradable to V.92? Some sites list it as V.90 and others as V.92. USR site doesn't have any legible information of course

Thanks for help.

Bidzina

[Underclocked]

The modem requires Windows to operate. It's a winmodem. It's also no longer in production so I doubt it's v.92 or that an upgrade to v.92 will be issued but you would have to have one and run USR's upgrade wizard to be sure. The current Performance Pro modem is v.92 upgradeable as is the Actiontec Call-Waiting modem. Those ARE hardware.

[bidzina]

Thanks Underclocked.

The site here -> www.microtechcomputers.com lists it as a Hardware Modem. So does their listing on www.pricewatch.com That should be a mistake then right?

[Underclocked]

I suppose they could say that anything which goes into your computer is hardware but yes, that is a misleading description.
If you go to USR's website and check the various pci modems, you will notice that although they do not say "this is a winmodem", they certainly indicate the ones that are hardware based. Of course, I'm sure that's just an oversight on their part.

Here's one (at the top of the page) that has me confused. TeamExcess tries to identify whether it's a winmodem or not and I admire them for that effort but I think they are also confused on this one. The only drivers I can find would indicate it to be winmodem but the description says Lucent chipset. The driver references the Lucent Venus chipset which is found in hardware modems. ??????

edit: I just noticed that TeamExcess changed the picture of that modem since I cancelled my order for 5 of them. The one pictured earlier was definitely hardware based. I would imagine this one is a winmodem and is in fact based on a Motorola chipset instead of the claimed Lucent.

[bidzina]

Thanks Underclocked.

I almost bought it thinking it was hardware