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Compaq sent in an announcement about a free K56flex upgrade for the Presario 1680 laptop. For upgrade information for other Compaq models and other manufacturers, see the 56K Upgrade Guide.
Greg Simas received a 56K upgrade for his IBM Aptiva through the IBM Update Connector software program, which was included on his Aptiva 2162-S9C.
The LA Times has an article by Lawrence Magid about cable modem access in California.
Firmware updates
Hayes has beta 1.120 firmware for their Accura modems. Beta software is software that is being tested to identify bugs. Jason Kraemer got an email from Hayes regarding the current beta:
If you get the 1.120 beta code from http://www.hayes.com/56k/beta, it has been approved as the final code in our externals.
Derik DeLong spotted Diamond Multimedia's Macintosh 1.003 flash software.
Sean Ryan alerted me to NewCom 56K firmware updates (pick your NewCom modem from the list, then click the Download link). One unusual twist: one of the flash updates downgrades the modem to 33.6, in case you're experiencing trouble with 56K connects.
IBM has a software fix for glitches with their 56K Modem Internet Kit. The patch corrects the way Windows 95 Dial-Up Networking reports connect speed, and fixes a few minor problems with the QuickLink Message Center software.
Shane Leland noticed that Zoltrix has drivers, AT reference manuals, and a V1.120 firmware upgrade at http://www.zoltrix.com/modem.htm.
Jaton is guaranteeing free upgrades to the final ITU 56K standard.
A reader named Mark emailed Compaq about the 56K software upgrade for his Presario 8772, and got this response:
Compaq does not have the upgradable software available at this time. The software is scheduled to be released at the beginning of November for purchase.
New @ 56K.COM: the Modem Link Board
56K.COM now has a Modem Link Board with more than a hundred modem and telecommunications web pages. The real power of the system is that readers can add their favorite links using a fill-out form. The links appear instantly on the page, with no intervention from the webmaster.
The 56K.COM Modem Link Board uses Matt Wright's Free For All Links Perl script for the forms processing. Installation was easy. This is the first CGI program that I've gotten to work the first time. Customizing the script was easy once I realized I had to define my categories in the links.pl file.
Visit the Link Board and add your favorite pages. Harmony and Viva are two modem manufacturers that I know are missing from the list. The Modem Manufacturers board is also rather US-centric, and could benefit from having more international modem sites. If you have the URLs, post away.
P.S. The init strings and drivers page has two new sections: editing Mac CCL files and making Mac CCL files.
56K.COM is written and maintained by Les Jones. Artwork by Mark Maxwell. Copyright 1997 Softwords.
