If you need high-speed data communications but are wary about committing to V.34, V.32terbo's 19.2-Kbps performance may be your best choice. This AT&T-championed specification (it's not a standard formally adopted by any standards body) has been supported by a number of modem vendors over the last 18 months. V.32terbo modems are not only less expensive than their V.34 counterparts, the lowest-priced models cost as little as $30 more than 14.4-Kbps modems.
The throughput results for this group varied widely. The fastest one- and two-way speeds among the V.32terbo modems (Zypcom's Z32t-SX at 4618.1 and 4619.8 bytes per second, respectively) were more than twice as fast as the slowest in the throughput score (Archtek America's Smartlink 1914AT/BAT, at 2259.1 and 2229.5 bytes per second, respectively).The Zypcom modem's impressi
ve speed even outperformed three V.34 modems in the two-way tests and six of the V.34 modems in the impaired-line scoring.
All the runners-up in the Best Overall category transmitted data one-way at a speed that was greater than 4300 bytes per second, about half the rate of the V.34 modems. Over the impaired lines, the modems were still able to maintain about one-third that rate.
Rankings for This Category
Performance 75%
Features 15%
Ease of Use 10%
For the best balance of speed and reliability...
BEST OVERALL
Zypcom Z32t-SX
This modem's one- and two-way performance speeds are virtually indistinguishable. It also handles the impaired lines at almost 2000 bytes per second, a much smaller decrease than we measured in competing products. The modem supports Hewlett-Packard spoofing on leased lines, which makes it easy to use in a mainframe environment. The Z32t-SX offers clear status lights a
nd an on/off switch that's on the side (rather than the rear), so you don't have to reach into a handful of cables to reset the modem. The major disappointment is its documentation: There is no index or glossary, and the vendor does not supply a quick reference card. Although it is in the same speed class as the V.32terbo modems, the second-place ZyXel modem uses a proprietary protocol to achieve its quick transmission rates. Its interoperability score for faster-than-14.4-Kbps communications is indicative of modems using proprietary chip sets. Although its features and documentation are merely average (it doesn't support spoofing or leased lines), its throughput scores were a mere 3 percent slower than the leader's. Its impaired-line performance was just about equal.
THROUGHPUT (BYTES PER SECOND)
PRICE ONE-WAY TWO-WAY IMPAIRED LINES
BEST Zypcom Z32t-SX $419 4618.1 4619.8 1970.5
RUNNER-UP Z
yXel U-1496E Plus $499 4467.3 4466.9 1965.7
RUNNER-UP Penril DX V.32terbo $895 4303.2 3870.1 1859.0
RUNNER-UP Multi-Tech MT1932ZDX $299 4316.0 2990.8 1504.2
INTEROPERABILITY (%)
EASE
OF MAXIMUM
CALL ANSWER FEATURES USE DTE*
BEST Zypcom Z32t-SX 31 27 #### ### 115.2
RUNNER-UP ZyXel U-1496E Plus 0 0 ### ### 57.6
RUNNER-UP Penril DX V.32terbo 35 31 ### ### 57.6
RUNNER-UP Multi-Tech MT1932ZDX 38 31 ### #### 115.2
Key
Ease of Use:
Poor #
Fair ##
Good ###
Excellent ####
* Kbps.
Want 19.2 Kbps at V.32bis prices?
LOW COST
Multi-Tech MT1932ZDX
Multi-Tech improved more than just the modem's performance when it upgraded its V.32bis model to V.32terbo. This model posted the fastest one-way transmission speed for the under-$300 group. A new manual is more complete than the one that comes with the V.32bis product.
THROUGHPUT (BYTES PER SECOND)
PRICE ONE-WAY TWO-WAY IMPAIRED LINES
BEST Multi-Tech MT1932ZDX $299 4316.0 2990.8 1504.2
RUNNER-UP Cardinal MVP192E $229 4078.1 2715.1 1635.3
RUNNER-UP ATI 19200 ETC-E $199 3811.4 2385.6 1165.9
RUNNER-UP Archtek Smartlink 1914AT/BAT $219 2259.1 2229.5 1617.3
INTEROPERABILITY (%)
EASE
OF MAXIMUM
CALL ANSWER FEATURES USE D
TE*
BEST Multi-Tech MT1932ZDX 38 31 ### #### 115.2
RUNNER-UP Cardinal MVP192E 38 35 ### ## 57.6
RUNNER-UP ATI 19200 ETC-E 19 23 ### #### 57.6
RUNNER-UP Archtek Smartlink 1914AT/BAT 35 27 ### ## 57.6
Key
Ease of Use:
Poor #
Fair ##
Good ###
Excellent ####
* Kbps.
Need the fastest "terbo" for moving data?
DATA ONLY
Zypcom Z32t-SX
The Z32t-SX can send and receive data faster than any modem in its class over a normal telephone connection, and as fast as any 19.2-Kbps modem over impaired lines. Using its proprietary protocol, the AT&T Comsphere can achieve data transfer rates of 4400 bytes per second. The Comsphere is also the only modem in this class with an LCD and menu setup. These menus make it easy to change defaults and are particularly useful for vertical applications (e.g., kiosks and automatic teller machines) or mainf
rame applications where a PC is not readily available.
THROUGHPUT (BYTES PER SECOND)
PRICE ONE-WAY TWO-WAY IMPAIRED LINES
BEST Zypcom Z32t-SX $419 4618.1 4619.8 1970.5
RUNNER-UP AT&T Comsphere 3800 $795 4448.4 4260.6 1960.2
RUNNER-UP ZyXel U-1496E Plus $499 4467.3 4466.9 1965.7
RUNNER-UP Penril DX V.32terbo $895 4303.2 3870.1 1859.0
INTEROPERABILITY (%)
EASE
OF MAXIMUM
CALL ANSWER FEATURES USE DTE*
BEST Zypcom Z32t-SX 31 27 #### ### 115.2
RUNNER-UP AT&T Comsphere 3800 27 35 #### #### 115.2
RUNNER-UP ZyXel U-1496E Plus 0 0
### ### 57.6
RUNNER-UP Penril DX V.32terbo 35 31 ### ### 57.6
Key
Ease of Use:
Poor #
Fair ##
Good ###
Excellent ####
* Kbps.
BYTE BEST: V.32Terbo
