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There was a problem with the cable modem listings for the U.S. and Canada, such that no ISPs could be entered. The problem is fixed, and you can now add ISPs to the Cable Modem ISPs area.
Clifton Sharp notes an FCC ID Look-up page, which allows you to search using either the Part 15 FCC ID, or the Part 68 FCC Regulation Number. This is a convenient way to find out who made a no-name modem. For more about no-name modems and FCC databases, see the February 23rd news here at 56K.COM.
Zoom is shipping volume quantities of V.90 modems.
3Com has an x2 Troubleshooting Guide for ISPs.
Speaking of troubleshooting, here's a page with all the answers to computer problems.
Macworld has reviews of fourteen 56K modems, including models from 3Com, Boca Research, Diamond Multimedia, E-Tech, Global Village, Hayes, Logicode, Viking, and Zoom. Author Rik Myslewski gets bonus points for correctly noting that x2 modems are limited to 53K in the U.S. due to FCC regulations, but that K56flex modems are not. See the Primer for more info.
Advertising Age has a fascinating article on the 56K modem market. Among the high points:
The Sydney Morning Herald discusses the merger of Australian modem makers Banksia, NetComm, Simple, and Avtek into Sirius Technologies, a conglomerate that accounts for 60% of modem sales in Australia.
Acer Open is moving their Web server. The new URL is http://www.aopen-usa.com/.
We have an update on the fate of Amquest:
Regarding your message about "another modem manufacturer bites the dust." This is not exactly correct regarding AMQUEST. AMQUEST went through a reorganization and sold the product line, intellectual property, trademarks, website and other assets to a much larger company called KDS USA Corporation (Website www.kdsusa.com). As part of the transition, the modem website went down and a new website is going up for the modems. KDS USA markets the modems under the AMQUEST name and currently sells Rockwell based K56FLEX product upgradable to the ITU standard.We expect the website to be up shortly (perhaps with a different name) with emphasis on modems. In the short run we are without a website.
Thanks
Robert Norman
V.90 upgrades
ArchTek expects to have V.90 upgrades in the second quarter of 1998.
Bay Networks has announced V.90 upgrades in the second quarter for both its K56flex and x2 access concentrators.
Of course, V.90 upgrades won't do you any good until your ISP also supports V.90. American Information Systems claims to be the first Chicago ISP to offer V.90. The company is beta testing new equipment from 3Com.
3Com deactivated the www.usr.com Web server a few weeks ago. The 3Com/USR 56K line test page has moved to http://www.3com.com/56k/need4_56k/linetest.html. However, I don't recommend using it to determine if your phone line will support 56K connections. The 3Com line test is a long distance call, which is routed through circuits which may be significantly better or significantly worse than your local lines. The only reliable test is to borrow a 56K modem and try it with a local ISP that supports the same technology - either K56flex or x2.
Who made this stupid modem?! (part 2)
Last week I talked about using FCC ID numbers to find out who manufactured a no-name modem. Doug McClure, an engineer at InfiNet, tried it and found a slight complication:
Just wanted to mention a quickie about using the FCC's equipment authorization database to identify modems. Most modems, in addition to having a Part 15 ID number, also have a Part 68 ID number. I found that out when I tried looking up my USR Courier for the fun of it. The FCC number listed on the bottom of the modem is the Part 68 number, and EAD doesn't catalog those. I had to look in the modem's manual to find the Part 15 ID number and look up the modem in the EAD.
Doug has a good point. Some electronic devices list the Part 15 FCC ID, while others list the Part 68 FCC Registration Number. Here's how you can find the manufacturer using either one. To avoid playing favorites, I'll use something other than modems for the examples.
Part 15 FCC ID
My mouse has a Part 15 FCC ID: GV364210. You can look up that ID in the FCC Equipment Authorization Database mentioned on Wednesday. The database returns one listing for a device - identified as a mouse - manufactured by Kensington. Interestingly, a search for a Gravis GamePad (FCC ID HYN345-0002-XX) returned two listings.
Part 68 FCC Registration Number
My laser printer has a Part 68 FCC Registration Number: B3QJPN-30042-FA-E. The first three digits - B3Q in this case - are unique to each manufacturer. You can search the FCC Equipment Authorization Database for ^B3Q to find all products listed for that manufacturer. The database returns 155 listings, all of them for Brother Industries, Limited. If you were really determined you could dig through the 155 listings to find the exact product, but the manufacturer is really all you need. The other information isn't very informative.
Now I know the manufacturer. What next?
Once you know the manufacturer, you can check the 56K.COM Modem Manufacturer's Link Board to see if the company has a Web site. If the company isn't listed there, you could try to find their Web site through a search engine like AltaVista or InfoSeek.
One final note. The company that made the modem isn't necessarily the company that's responsible for technical support. For instance, if the modem came with a computer, the computer manufacturer may be responsible for supplying technical support, software drivers, and firmware updates.
56K.COM is written and maintained by Les Jones. Artwork by Mark Maxwell.