From: "Rene Debets" <[email protected]> Subject: RE: h/w modem Vs. s/w modem
Lawrence, I have done approvals for a software modem during the last year and a half and have found no objections what so ever against the concept by approval authorities. No eyebrows were ever raised. We have no such thing as an eprom on our board. We have the modem running on our own DSP, but the code is delivered on a CD and gets installed, together with all the other functions (VGA/MPEG1/MPEG2/AUDIO/TV), on the harddisk. The interface itself is jumperable and it is a card you stick into your PC. No questions were ever asked about what we do to prevent the user from changing jumpers. Duane is right about being very careful on how to approach this, just this one point seems to be experienced differently. We even have the added problem that our DSP handles all the functions mentioned above while the modem is running. Strangly enough nobody ever investigated load dependency even though we extensively explained to them how the product works. Best regards, Rene Debets ---------- From: [email protected] on behalf of Duane J. Marcroft Sent: Friday, November 07, 1997 7:00 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: h/w modem Vs. s/w modem Lawrence, I spent a good part of last year designing a DAA dongle for a softmodem. Going through approvals in 15 countries was a period of ulcer development. A soft modem will always cause more apprehension than a chipset based modem. Most PTT's consider softmodems to be infinitely programmable and they worry softmodem could be configured for used in an un-approved mode. Approvals are a mine field at best. A softmodem definitely increases the problems and time to get approvals. To eliminate some problems do the following: 1. If you don't have prior experience do not attempt approvals on your own. 2. Choose a testing house and/or consultant very carefully. Ask for references. 3. Obtain quotes from several testing houses. 4. Stress only approved softmodem code will be shipped to that country. 5. Country configuration cannot be changed by user. 6. Stress softmodem code is in EPROM or Flash which prevents user intervention. 7. If DAA is a dongle, dongle it must be fixed for that country. i.e. dongle is identified by softmodem for use in that country only. 8. Australia, France, Japan and South Africa require most attention. Good Luck, Duane Marcroft Modem Designer and Telecom Consultant > Hello All, > > In general, in terms of telecom testing, will there be a lesser or >more > stringent testing requirements on software modem as compare to >hardware > modem? > > On telecom standards apply to h/w & software modem, are there the >same? > > Your inputs are much appreciated. > > Regards, > Lawrence > Hewlett Packard Singapore > > ====================================================================== > Software Modem is: > A modem implemented entirely in software. Software modems rely on the > computer's processor to modulate and demodulate signals. > ====================================================================== >
