V92 Modem

[Victor Odhner]

Tom Achtenberg wrote:
> Wrong.  Some external modems are indeed
> winmodems.  Mostly the cheaper ones.

Please elaborate -- what does this mean?

First of all, are these serial-port modems?
I'm assuming that they are.  If USB, then
the concept of a Winmodem might make some
more sense ...

I understand Winmodem for an internal card.
Where a decent internal modem contains its
basic functions internally, including the
V92 stuff, a Winmodem uses the CPU and some
inscrutable proprietary secret handshakes
to perform the modem's functions.  Thus if
you don't have the right kind of driver,
you're outta luck.

But an external modem, hanging off the
serial line -- if it's a Winmodem does it
mean simply that they have obfuscated the
commands for initializing, dialing, etc.,
so that you can't make it work without
doing some wiretapping to learn their
unconventional protocol?

Or do they make external modems that are
supposedly V92, yet have the V92 functions
actually performed inside the PC?  That would
be tacky beyond words ...

Vic