rec.autos.simulators

by **Andre Warrin** » Wed, 03 May 2000 04:00:00

Last Sunday I had another IGPLC league race. Monza. Qualified 4th, and
after 8 laps I was in 2nd position, due to some accidents in front of
me which I could avoid fortunately.
I felt like standing on the Titanic, shouting I'm the king of the
world!, and then disaster struck, even worse than the Titanic
disaster:

I got disconnected.

Really, being punted out of the race by another driver sucks, making a
fatal mistake yourself is even worse, but a disconnection during a
league race really, really, really sucks.

I've got a cable connection. Fast, download speeds often exceed 150k,
but the connection is not stable enough for online racing.
Bart Westa recommended me to get a modem for racing online.

I have an analogue line, and don't have a spare slot in my pc for an
internal modem, so I'm gonna buy an external 56k6 modem.
But now I saw an external USB modem.

I've got 2 USB slots, one I use for my LWFF, the other will be used
for my modem. Normally this should not conflict, but I heard from
different sources that more than 1 USB devices sometimes do conflict.

Does anyone have experience with USB modems? Is it better to get an
USB modem than a serial modem, or doesn't it reallt matter?

Andre

by **Phil Flac** » Wed, 03 May 2000 04:00:00

I had the SupraMax 56k USB. I returned it within a week because it ate
around 60-70% of CPU resources. It was replaced with a nice ISA
hardware modem, so I can't offer any further guidance. Except that
Voodoo2 cards & USB modems seem to have conflict problems.

Be warned, because software modems are not always advertised as being
software modems. (grrrrr)

cheers,
Phil

by **Andre Warrin** » Wed, 03 May 2000 04:00:00

Thanks for the input Phil. I have 2 Voodoo II SLI cards, so I will
stay away from the USB modem then. Do serial modems eat that much CPU
resources too?
And now, the stupid question of the day: What is a software modem?

Andre

by **Phil Flac** » Wed, 03 May 2000 04:00:00

> Thanks for the input Phil. I have 2 Voodoo II SLI cards, so I will
> stay away from the USB modem then.

Alison's site has a bit on USB modems, and the voodoo problem (it might
be a PCI bus problem, I'm not sure).

It all depends on whether it is hardware or software (and I guess on how
well the drivers have been written).

A software modem (also known as WinModem, SoftModem, TotallyCrapModem,
...) makes the CPU do all the work (encoding, compression, error
correction, etc.). A hardware modem does all that itself - as a result
it has more chips than a software modem. There are hybrids, which use
the CPU for some things.

Buy a cheap Full Hardware modem, from a store that lets you return it if
it doesn't work right.

Phil

by **Simon Brow** » Wed, 03 May 2000 04:00:00

I always think of software modems as empty plastic boxes with just a wire
running from one end to the other :)

by **Dave Henri** » Wed, 03 May 2000 04:00:00

more like two cans with a string attached.
dave henrie

> I always think of software modems as empty plastic boxes with just a wire
> running from one end to the other :)

by **Todd Walk** » Wed, 03 May 2000 04:00:00

The easiest way to tell if it is a software modem is if it says on the
box that Windows is required. If it says that you must have Windows,
stay away from it.

TW

>> Thanks for the input Phil. I have 2 Voodoo II SLI cards, so I will
>> stay away from the USB modem then.

>Alison's site has a bit on USB modems, and the voodoo problem (it might
>be a PCI bus problem, I'm not sure).

>> Do serial modems eat that much CPU
>> resources too?

>It all depends on whether it is hardware or software (and I guess on how
>well the drivers have been written).

>> And now, the stupid question of the day: What is a software modem?

>A software modem (also known as WinModem, SoftModem, TotallyCrapModem,
>...) makes the CPU do all the work (encoding, compression, error
>correction, etc.). A hardware modem does all that itself - as a result
>it has more chips than a software modem. There are hybrids, which use
>the CPU for some things.

>Buy a cheap Full Hardware modem, from a store that lets you return it if
>it doesn't work right.

>Phil

Todd Walker
twalker294 at earthlink.net

by **don hodgdo** » Wed, 03 May 2000 04:00:00

Andre, I use a Best Data USB Modem alongside my LWFF USB with absolutely no
conflicts or slowdowns. My connection to VROC is very solid with only 1
disconnect since I connected the modem, over a year now.
--
don

[|]-(_)-[|]

by **Kirk Lan** » Wed, 03 May 2000 04:00:00

The worst thing ever invented. Also known as WinModems, SoftModems, or
LinModems in the case of the rare one that has Linux drivers as well. It's
a modem that just has the minimal hardware to connect to a phone line and
rather than use its own processor it bums a ride off of the main one. Saves
loads of money for both consumers and manufacturers but it absolutely sucks
for performance. I have two computers here, one with a 56K Winmodem
(Diamond SupraMax to be exact) and the other with a 33.6k realmodem, an old
ISA Zoom model. I don't get 56K service, so that doesn't matter. They're
all (well, I have a third PC, but it only has a 14.4 modem, what a POS)
networked together; guess which modem I use? The Zoom model. On this one
(best video setup - G200/V2) when playing GPL online not only do I get
higher framerates from ditching the modem in here, I also get 200ms LOWER
pings going thru a 10mbps LAN and the 33.6 rather than using this modem.

--
Kirk Lane

ICQ: 28171652
BRT #187

"Yeah you won't find me
I'm going MIA
Tonight I'm leaving
Going MIA
Getting lost in you again
Is better than being known"
-Foo Fighters, "MIA"

by **Don Hancock (** » Wed, 03 May 2000 04:00:00

>Buy a cheap Full Hardware modem, from a store that lets you return it if
>it doesn't work right.

It's my experience that "cheap" and "hardware" are not typically on a
modem's list of properties at the same time. MOST hardware modems are
$80US+. Many software modems can be had for less than $25.

Gunner

by **Phil Flac** » Thu, 04 May 2000 04:00:00

I spent 40 (=~$64) on a Dynalink ISA hardware modem. Very good
considering the rubbishy phone line I'm on.

Phil

> >Buy a cheap Full Hardware modem, from a store that lets you return it if
> >it doesn't work right.

> It's my experience that "cheap" and "hardware" are not typically on a
> modem's list of properties at the same time. MOST hardware modems are
> $80US+. Many software modems can be had for less than $25.

> Gunner

by **Simon Brow** » Thu, 04 May 2000 04:00:00

Also soft modems are often tiny little things, about a quater the size of a
proper modem, and just about small enough to flush down the loo, which is
where they belong :)

by **Andre Warrin** » Thu, 04 May 2000 04:00:00

Ok, I got the message now :)

Andre

On Wed, 03 May 2000 02:41:15 GMT, "Simon Brown"

>Also soft modems are often tiny little things, about a quater the size of a
>proper modem, and just about small enough to flush down the loo, which is
>where they belong :)

by **Brett C. Camma** » Thu, 04 May 2000 04:00:00

If you're not hosting, I'd suggest haunting the local computer swap
meet for an older modem. You should be able to pick up a full
hardware 33.6 modem card for a song. I know that in GPL this comm
rate is perfectly adequate for on-line racing.

Regards,
Brett C. Cammack
That's Racing! Motorsports
Pompano Beach, FL

by **Andre Warrin** » Thu, 04 May 2000 04:00:00

My cable connection used to be fine, I hosted races with more than 10
cars with a perfect ping, but the quality of the cable dropped big
lately.
How many drivers can join me if I host a race with a 56k6 modem?

Andre

>If you're not hosting, I'd suggest haunting the local computer swap
>meet for an older modem. You should be able to pick up a full
>hardware 33.6 modem card for a song. I know that in GPL this comm
>rate is perfectly adequate for on-line racing.

>Regards,
>Brett C. Cammack
>That's Racing! Motorsports
>Pompano Beach, FL