Linelink 144E Modem Review

Subject: Mini-review of $99 LineLink 144e Modem Date: Fri, 17 Sep 93 15:39:28 -0400 From: MacFarland Hale <MacFarland.Hale@heckle.mitre.org> OK, here's the mini-review I promised. Hope it's of use to some of you. Perhaps if I can get the couple of questions I ask below answered I can write a more complete review (is TidBITS interested Adam and Tonya?). Warning! I'm no modem expert! Just a somewhat well-informed modem user - I know just enough to be dangerous. :-) ......................................................................... MacFarland Hale machale@mitre.org The MITRE Corporation (617) 271-3703, FAX (617) 271-2352 202 Burlington Road, MS K331 "All opinions are my own - but feel Bedford, MA 01730-1420 USA free to share them if you like..." ......................................................................... The LineLink 144e modem is being sold by MacWareHouse for $99 (plus $3 overnight shipping, at least in the US). Their number is 1-800-ALL-MACS (international 1-908-370-4779). The part number is BND 0249. The following is a mini-review based on a couple nights use. I reserve the right to make errors and glaring omissions whenever I feel like it. :-) One thing to note up front is that MacWareHouse is NOT offering a 30 day money back guarantee, but does provide a 90 day warranty. The LineLink 144e is made by Technology Concepts, Inc. (TCI) which is a subsidiary or division or something of Prometheus who is better known in the modem world. TCI's number is 1-800-477-3473 or 1-503-692-9600. The modem's specs, according to a data sheet I got directly from TCI are as follows: Physical characteristics: External modem Data speeds: 300 bps/CCITT V.21 and Bell 103; 1200 bps/CCITT V.22 and Bell 212A; 2400 bps/CCITT V.22bis; 9600 bps/CCITT V.32; 14400 bps/CCITT V.32bis Data compression: CCITT V.42bis; MNP-5 for 2:1 Error correction: CCITT V.42 (LAP-M); MNP 1-4 Operation: Full or half duplex Dialing: Rotary or touch-tone compatible Data commands: Hayes AT command set Phone connectors: Two RJ11C/RJ13 phone jacks Requirements: Mac Plus or higher, System 6.0.4 or higher, System 7 savvy Package includes: MAcKNOWLEDGE (I received version 1.06MW), Macintosh hardware flow control cable, coupons for on-line services (I received a standard freebie startup kit for CompuServe only) Technical support is being provided by MacWareHouse (1-800-925-6227), which concerns me a little since the sales folks, at least, didn't have most of the above specs available. In fairness, though, I didn't call the tech support number at all so they may (or may not) be good. In addition, MacWareHouse is including a free copy of Accu-Weather (Software Toolworks, Inc.) which appears to use a subscription dial-in account to produce full weather maps on screen. It looks like it may be interesting, but I haven't had time to play with it yet. As shipped, the modem doesn't do faxes, but TCI sells MaxFax softwar…