Thinking of buying one of these?....
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"Features" of this typical HSP "Windows" modem

  • Contains a 'DAA' chip (digital interface to phone the line) - and not much else!
  • Requires Pentium 166 MHz+ or AMD K6 200 MHz+ or Cyrix 6x86MX PR200+
  • Requires special Windows drivers which make that processor do the work of all the "missing" components!
Think again!
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No CPU requirement -- no extra CPU usage -- provides data "ready to go"!
Features of the Sportster 840  PC 00084004
  • 14-bit Codec: D/A and A/D converters turn sound into bits & vice-versa.
  • MOV: Metal Oxide Varistor protects against electrical surges on the phone line.
  • Isolation transformer: Isolates the computer from the phone line.
  • Relay: Connects computer to phone line; on the Sportster it also disconnects the phone.
  • Transducer (marked "Loud!") - large "dynamic" on Sportster - small "piezo" on others.
  • UART & Controller: handles serial communication from PC.
  • IRQ/COM Jumpers: Lets user set interrupt and I/O address.
  • FLASH ROM: 256KB - Electronically erasable to facilitate upgrades.
  • Static RAM: 64KB hi-speed (< 15ns) - so your CPU's cache RAM isn't tied up.
  • DSP: 92Mhz Digital Signal Processor (the "guts"!) - so your CPU itself isn't tied up!

To cut costs, most of the above are eliminated entirely from many "Windows" modems!

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Copyright © 1999 Steven G. Greenberg.  All Rights Reserved.