[plug] wanted: 56k modem

[Bernd Felsche]

Michael Holland <myk at myk.id.au> writes:
>On Tue, 13 Jun 2006, Kai wrote:

>> Yah but afaik they sacrifice performance and reliability because the
>> modem relies on the computer (software) to do all the work, where an

>Is that still a problem? PCs are so much faster now, that a significant
>load 5 years ago would be trivial now. And is Linux multi-taking not good
>enough to run a soft modem?

Modem control is too menial a task. 

Depending on the depth of control required, the interrupt rate could
be higher than a general-purpose system can easily sustain. You want
to do FFT in real-time?

The really, really dodgy (cheap) modem chips require stupid amounts
of control. The better ones are basically the same hardware as in a
standalone modem, sans RS232 interface and require nothing more than
a driver for a virtual serial port.

That still leaves the infernal modem as a direct connection to one
of your domestic lightning conductors.

But lightning can also zap a mainboard over a serial line. It just
takes a much harder "hit".
-- 
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