 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group The Modem and I Jean D'Andrea jda@melbpc.org.au |
Being an avid reader of PC Update, it became obvious to me that I was missing out on many of the better things in life by not being able to get access to the BBS. I decided to research modems.
First I visited the local library to see if they had anything on the subject. A check of the computer listings revealed one book. Unfortunately, someone had borrowed it in 1992 and it has not yet returned. No help there.
Back to PC Update; lots of articles and comments in nearly two years' back issues. I read my way through them and decided that modems were more complex than I thought. IRQ, Baud, bps, DTE, Protocols, - look at the number of problems that can arise! And that's before you've even got them set up.
Undaunted, I started pricing a few brands. A quick glance through The Age Green Guide was helpful. A very wide range of prices and brands, but which to choose?
Back to the trusty club magazine, and the recent Readers' Choice Awards. I decided to investigate the two prize-winning brands further. Several stores I visited did not notice my existence. I departed.
Arriving at yet another local electronics store, I fronted up to the salesman. After some discussion on modems, my brain began to suffer from technical-data overload.
"Internal or external type?", the salesman enquired. My eyes glazed over! Making notes of prices, speeds, and other important details I departed to recuperate.
Over the next couple of days much thought was given to the state of the bank balance. Finally, a decision was made: buy a modem. But which modem? The big decision was still to be made! I rang a friend who is more knowledgeable than I. Expressing a leaning towards an internal modem, due to a shortage of power points, I requested his opinion.
"Not worth the effort," was the discouraging reply, "they're too much fiddling around." A second opinion was needed.
Once again, back to PC Update, this time to the Dial Help pages. The Communications section looked promising. Now, which hapless person should I subject to my plea for help? I rang George Skarbek, (Thanks again, George!) who very patiently answered my questions and discussed the matter for some minutes. Receiving similar advice to that of my friend, the decision was finally reached. An external modem was chosen.
Being an impatient person I didn't wait for the club's special offer to be announced. I wanted my modem now. A Maestro 14400 Fax/Modem sits proudly on the work station and a not so proud bank account shrinks.
Can I make it work? Who knows, but watch this space!
Reprinted from the November 1994 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
