How do you know if you have a winmodem or not?

[Rex Guinto]

I have a Digicom Systems DI 3635 Pci modem. I have searched everywhere to see if it is but I am still not sure. Thanks

rex

[Raven]

Well usually it says on the box, but sometimes some companies screw you over by not telling you. So if you want to get one be sure to ask what kind of modem it is.

-Raven

[Raven]

Well usually it says on the box, but sometimes some companies screw you over by not telling you. So if you want to get one be sure to ask what kind of modem it is.

-Raven

[Rex Guinto]

I doesn't say on the box, it says its a faxmodem. However it has the characteristics of a winmodem.

[AndreBranco]

what is a winmodem ??


[This message has been edited by AndreBranco (edited 08-23-99).]

[Susan]

If your modem is more than 3 months old, there's a great chance that it's a winmodem - since it's PCI.

If there are no jumpers on the card, that it surely is.

A winmodem is one that can only be used in a Windows OS

[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 08-23-99).]

[TigerStrike2]

If your modem sucks, its a Winmodem.

[Susan]

LOL!

[DavidX]

A winmodem, or "soft" modem, uses software to perform some of the functions that a standard "hard" modem performs in physical components on the board itself. A soft modem therefore requires more power from the CPU.

Nevertheless, it can be difficult to detect the difference at first glance. Some hard modems are PnP (no jumpers) and some soft modems come with software to allow them to run in DOS (despite the generic term "Winmodem"). Most PCI modems are soft modems but not all. As Susan points out, some of the newer PCI modems are hard modems.

If the specs specify that the modem requires a Pentium 133 or higher, then it is certainly a soft modem.

The safest way to tell for sure is by looking at the board. Soft modems normally have only one large chip. Hard modems have more.

[DavidX]

EDIT~ (double post)

[This message has been edited by DavidX (edited 08-23-99).]

[DavidX]

EDIT~

[This message has been edited by DavidX (edited 08-23-99).]

[Carl Uman]

Not sure if this is true for all winmodems but I have an extra icon in the Control Panel called "Winmodem". If you have one of these or something similar then you have a win modem. Don't mistake the stardard "Modems" icon for what I'm talking about.

Unless you plan on running something other than windows 9x or higher then you shouldn't have to worry about it. Besides as stated earlier non-winmodems have more hardware on them so they will cost more.

Carl

[Carl Uman]

ops double post. Didn't think it posted because I got an error the first time.

[This message has been edited by Carl Uman (edited 08-27-99).]

[smunzli]

winmodems do not work in dos?

[Death To Mel]

Yes, smunzli is correct.

[Comtech]

With a couple of exceptions.
Rockwell HCF winmodems will work in "DOS mode", if set up properly.
I know, not true DOS, but they work with DOS applications.

[chipbgt]

I got a question, since you all have me worried about this "soft" modem that i have..whats a good "hard" modem for under 100 bucks? and do you suggest internal or external?

[Zacko10000]

Cost is the other way to tell, if it was cheap then it is probably a winmodem.