>Excuse the off topic question but it seems to me that someone on the list >(while discussing the former Newer Tech modem) stated that hardware >limitations restricted a docked Duo (2xx-2300?) from being able to fully >utilize a 56k modem. I would like to know more about this since I need to >upgrade my 33.6 GV Teleport (external) soon. Has anyone had success >connecting with an external modem at rates higher than 28.8/33.6k? I would >hate to invest in a new modem and still be limited to the same connection >rate. Seems pretty on-topic to me. Modem connection speeds are negotiated by modems, so the speed of your connection will depend on your phone lines, the type of 56k equipment your ISP has, and other hard-to-factor factors. ;) You're probably referring to the serial port speed limit on the Duo, which I believe is also 56k (57600 bps), although it might be 115200 bps on the 2300. This means that the modem won't be able to effectively make use of its own data compression. This isn't such a big deal, because modem-level compression isn't all that great a thing anyway; it increases transmission latency (the time it takes to buffer and send a packet), and doesn't really compress all that much data in most people's real-world experience. PPP-level compression is a better way to go overall, but the best versions of it aren't in Apple's (or Microsoft's) PPP stacks yet. If your Duo's serial port runs at 57600 bps, turn off modem compression and you'll be fine. If it runs at 115200 bps, you can turn compression on or off as you wish (experiment and decide which way you like it best for your usage pattern). A 56k modem with 4x compression can theoretically fill twice that much, but in practice you'll never see 4x, and rarely see 2x. In fact, at least one popular (though cheap and crappy IMO - the Sportster) 56k modem has a serial port that itself only runs at 115200, as do many PC serial ports. -- Marc Sira | [EMAIL PROTECTED] "If you can't play with words, what good are they?" ---------- Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net! A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables. FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/DuoListFAQ.shtml> Be sure to visit Mac2400! <http://www.sineware.com/mac2400> X-Router | Share your DSL or cable modem between multiple computers! Dr. Bott | <http://www.drbott.com/prod/MIH120.html> Midwest Mac Parts <http://www.midwestmac.com> | After-market parts for Macs. Fix your ticking dock for $59 w/ trade-in of PS. 888-356-1104 PowerBook Guy is | Click here! Everything PowerBook! | http://www.powerbookguy.com
