[Duo2400] USR 56k Sportster external modem problem

[Stephen]

If I remember right the Duo 2300c only has a 56K serial
port; most other Macs have a 115K port. When I was using
my GV 56K with the 2300c, I had to modify the vendor modem
script slightly so that the maximum attempted serial port
rate was around 56K. Though this didn't slow the modem
down (it was gracious enough to step down automatically)
it would throw lots of error messages.

I'm not sure if this is pertinent with a USR modem.

Stephen

>R. McFarlane made a statement:
>I too can vouch for both Supra and USR/3com external
>modems. I have two
>2300c's and a 270c and my external 56K USR modem works
>great!
>R. McFarlane
>
>If anyone has the time and inspiration to think about
>my situation...
>I have some questions about using the USR 56k modem (a
>Sportster) with my Duo 2300c. I'll try to describe
>things completely to give the best information
>possible.
>
>I built a hardware handshaking serial cable per the
>3Com/USR website. I downloaded a driver file
>(usrara.hqx) from 3Com/USR which after unstuffing is
>called "U.S. Robotics High Speed" and installed it in
>the extensions folder. (There is NO subfolder called
>"Modem Scripts"). The 2300c is running OS 7.5.3, Open
>Transport 1.1.2, TCP/IP 1.1.2, and Netscape
>Communicator/Navigator 4.01 with Mac PPP.
>
>Express Modem software is also installed for the
>internal 14.4 modem (that works OK when selected). In
>Express Modem control panel I chose OFF when using the
>56k external. I also did not select "Use internal
>modem instead of modem port".
>
>The 2300c also has a control panel for config PPP
>which allows me to select the external modem and to
>set an initialization string, etc. I set the string as
>recommended by 3Com for hardware handshaking. When I
>opened Netscape, the USR 56k Sportster dialed,
>connected and the TD & RD lights were going like
>crazy, but the actual speed to download a file or web
>page was much slower than the 14.4k modem. In fact it
>would not even load one page that loaded fine with the
>internal modem.
>
>When I did this, the drivers for the express modem
>were still in the extensions folder.
>
>It seems like there should be some way to select the
>type of modem I am using other than just internal or
>serial port external. (maybe I'm just  used to higher
>level software). Is it enough just to have the correct
>driver in the extensions folder? Or do I need a
>software update of some kind to either the OS or Apple
>Remote Access or PPP? (In order to choose the correct
>modem/driver)
>I can't tell which ARA I have. If it is 1.0 the 3Com
>site said the modem driver might not work with ARA
>1.0. I'm not sure if ARA is used for the internet or
>if it's just to access a remote LAN. It seems that it
>isn't used unless Appletalk is active, which it isn't
>when using the modem.
>
>Anyway, if you have any suggestions, fire away!
>
>Art in Silicon Valley