July 1994 / BYTE Lab Product Report

Hands-On Testing: 26 Modems: Faster Than 14.4 Kbps	Is faster better even when standards are in flux? We stress-test 26 high-speed modems to identify the best for today's business applications - by Helen E. Holzbaur
The Best V.34 Modems Rankings for This Category Need the highest speed? Looking for a high-speed bargain? If only data is required...	If you use long-distance telephone lines to set up network bridges, remotely control PCs, or access leased lines, you should consider one of these 28.8-Kbps modems.
V.34 Versus V.32Terbo	While standards continue to be worked out for high-speed modems, their potential benefits are clear.
How We Tested	Our performance tests subjected the modems to eight kinds of data transfer tasks and seven telephone-line conditions.
Impaired Lines: Crash T ests For Modems	The three lines introduced different impairment conditions.
BYTE BEST: V.32Terbo Rankings for This Category For the best balance of speed and reliability... Want 19.2 Kbps at V.32bis prices? Need the fastest "terbo" for moving data?	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.
Portable Modems High Speed For The Road	Good things sometimes do come in small packages. We tested three fax modems that have broken the 14.4-Kbps barrier.
Over the speed bumps	Two modem vendors have taken different routes to break throu gh the 38.4-Kbps Windows transmission barrier.
The Hayes Optima 28800 V.FC + Fax	The Hayes Optima 28800 V.FC + Fax comes with an accelerator card that boosts the DTE from 115.2 to 230.4 Kbps through the serial port.
The Microcom DeskPorte Fast and Travel-Porte Fast	The Microcom DeskPorte Fast and Travel-Porte Fast come with a parallel-port alternative: Using the Microcom drivers, which redirect the data flow, the parallel-port interface provides for data transfer rates of close to 115.2 Kbps.
Tired of cryptic LED labels	Tired of cryptic LED labels that refer to obscure functions like HS, DCD, OH, SD, and RD?
Roll Call Of Modems Tested

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