external modems

Yes the Zoom USB 3090 modem is a fine piece of crap in a small container when it comes to Hyperthreading CPU's. When it is hooked up and connected to the internet I get 50k+ bps connectivity almost everytime. But, whenever the line dies for whatever reason, you have three possible outcomes/solutions: 1) unplugged the little [item], and throw it across the room, which I have done numerous times out of shear frustration, or 2) reboot the computer, which have had to do nearly every time the little [item] quits a connection, and you forget to use the Microsoft "Safely Remove Hardware" utility available as a tray icon, or 3) hope that you remember to use the tray icon mentioned above, and that it actually works as sometimes the computer hangs onto the connnection and refuses to let it go, and you are again left to reboot the computer just to logon to the internet again. If you do get the tray icon to work, then you need to also unplug and plugin the USB connection each time to power down the modem -- the whole process is drag!

One would think that you should be able to logon and logoff the internet without having to reboot the computer nearly every damn time. The people at Zoom Telephonics do not seem to realize that they have a little [item] of a modem here, and they don't seem to care either. I was duped into buying this modem which does not mean you should either. Don't buy this one ever unless you like squeeze toys that you can throw across the room.

On second thought, I rescind the single star and post a null instead.

I bought this modem after reading some positive reviews around the web (unfortunately I didn't read the reviews here). I heard a lot of people had problems with USR modems so I decided to go with this.

What a MISTAKE!

There are two Zoom 3049 v.92 modems out there. One is the 3049L (based on the Agere/Lucent chipset), and the other is the 3049C (the one I'm referring to) (based on the Conexant/Rockwell chipset). I just got the 3049, not knowing what was in the box. I wouldn't care, except that this modem is totally unreliable.

First, the one I got didn't come with a serial cable so be careful - some do and some don't. The serial cable cost another $15.

Second, the previous reviewer is absolutely correct - DON'T use this modem with WINXP and HT. The "real drivers" just crash WinXP upon installation. I emailed Zoom tech support, and they told me to get the beta drivers. These are beta drivers for Win NT and are grossly outdated, not supporting all of the v.92 features. They're beta, but they haven't been updated in a couple years. I tried them anyway. I connected at about 40k, and on special occasions, even 45k. Now I'm using the generic WinXP modem driver. It only supports v.90, but at least I can connect at speeds up to 49.2k.

Overall, connections are stable during good conditions, but when conditions get worse, it totally chokes. Sometimes it won't connect, connects at 23-31k, disconnects, or just stops downloading while remaining connected.

Could be my phone line. BUT, this is replacing an old v.90 (originally a 33.6k modem before upgrading driver) USR winmodem. I thought hardware-based modem would be better than a softmodem :( The old USR consistently connected at 50.6k though, and it could hold a connection better.

Doesn't look like the silly driver will ever be updated. If you're a gambling man/woman, give it a shot;)

I bought this modem after reading some positive reviews around the web (unfortunately I didn't read the reviews here). I heard a lot of people had problems with USR modems so I decided to go with this.

What a MISTAKE!

There are two Zoom 3049 v.92 modems out there. One is the 3049L (based on the Agere/Lucent chipset), and the other is the 3049C (the one I'm referring to) (based on the Conexant/Rockwell chipset). I just got the 3049, not knowing what was in the box. I wouldn't care, except that this modem is totally unreliable.

First, the one I got didn't come with a serial cable so be careful - some do and some don't. The serial cable cost another $15.

Second, the previous reviewer is absolutely correct - DON'T use this modem with WINXP and HT. The "real drivers" just crash WinXP upon installation. I emailed Zoom tech support, and they told me to get the beta drivers. These are beta drivers for Win NT and are grossly outdated, not supporting all of the v.92 features. They're beta, but they haven't been updated in a couple years. I tried them anyway. I connected at about 40k, and on special occasions, even 45k. Now I'm using the generic WinXP modem driver. It only supports v.90, but at least I can connect at speeds up to 49.2k.

Overall, connections are stable during good conditions, but when conditions get worse, it totally chokes. Sometimes it won't connect, connects at 23-31k, disconnects, or just stops downloading while remaining connected.

Could be my phone line. BUT, this is replacing an old v.90 (originally a 33.6k modem before upgrading driver) USR winmodem. I thought hardware-based modem would be better than a softmodem :( The old USR consistently connected at 50.6k though, and it could hold a connection better.

Doesn't look like the silly driver will ever be updated. If you're a gambling man/woman, give it a shot;)