Wish you were in Jamaica?


The Review Menu
Yellow Fade
56K USB Modems
August 20, 1999
by Misha Sakellaropoulo
Global Village 56K USB Modem
  2 stars
SRP: $99
Global Village
Teleport USB 56K
Pros: good faxing software
Cons: very poor performance, some connection problems, incompatible with many USB PCI cards
Viking Components 56K USB Modem
  3 stars
SRP: $99
Viking Components
56K External USB Modem

Pros: good performance with K56flex script, attractive case with small footprint
Cons: poor v.90 performance, connection problems


Best Data 56K USB Modem
  3.5 stars
SRP: $99
Best Data
Smart One USB 56K Modem

Pros: solid performance, bundled with FAXstf
Cons: performance still not on par with serial modems, some connection problems


    While the iMac, PowerBook G3, and upcoming iBook all ship with built-in 56K modems several current PowerMac G3 configurations do not. The latest PowerMac G3s have a slot for an internal modem, but users who would prefer an external option can find various choices with USB modems. Unfortunately, the technology isn't quite there yet.

Matching Modems

Viking    All three of the modems that we evaluated come in plastics that compliment Apple's translucent plastics. Both the Global Village Teleport USB and Best Data Smart One modems use each company's respective standard design but with translucent ice plastic. The Best Data modem goes one step further with a piece of translucent blue plastic covering the status lights. Curiously, the plastics of our Best Data modem had a sticky feeling to them. Viking Components' modem is the most liberal when it comes to design; the vertically oriented modem has a design as striking as the PowerMac G3 and matches it perfectly.

    The benefits of USB technology can be noticed immediately as none of the modems require an external power supply; the USB cable powers the modem. The modems do draw a fair amount of power and require them to be plugged directly into the back of the G3 (not through the keyboard) or through a self-powered hub. Both the Best Data and Viking Components modems had no problem functioning with a USB PCI card, but the Global Village modem was only functional when used with XLR8's USB card which provides more power to the USB bus than most PCI cards.

Performance Blunders

Teleport    The biggest problem with 56K USB modems is that they simply do not function at that speed. While they connect at respectible speeds--49Kbps-52Kbps--transfering data is much slower. Our 56K US Robotics serial modem was able to download a file from one of our T3 connected servers at 6.5K/sec and above, essentially the maximum any 56K modem can handle.

    The Global Village Teleport USB modem, while connecting at similar speeds, struggled to manage even 1-1.5K/sec downloading the same file. The performance is noticeable accross the board, not just with FTP transfers. For all practical purposes the modem performs like a 14.4K modem. Global Village has released an updater that supposedly fixes the slow PPP transfer rates but we experienced no improvements when using the newer file. Possible workarounds, such as changing the connection Automatic from PPP also had no effect on transfer speeds.

    Other problems with the Teleport USB modem arose when using it with a USB PCI card. Often times hot plugging the modem in would cause the Finder to crash.

    The Viking Components modem would also connect at good speeds but transfer files far slower. Using the v.90 modem script it was possible to get transfers at up to 2k/sec, but that's far less than one would expect from a 56K modem. The Viking Components' modem also has a 56kflex script which forces a connection using that protocol. When we forced a K56flex connection transfer speeds were greatly improved, ranging from 5k/sec-6ks/sec; still not as fast a serial modem but far more respectable. Of course, your ISP must be able to suppor the K56flex protocol in order for this to work at all. The Viking Components modem did however have a problem actually connecting. Often times it would be unable to connect to host which would require a redial. Although we experienced similar problems from time to time with the other USB modems, it occurred more frequently with the Viking modem.

    The Best Data Smart One 56K USB modem was the best performing in our evaluation. Apart from being able to connect at good speeds it was also able to maintaing data transfers of 5k/sec-6k/sec using the standard v.90 protocol, making the difference between a serial and USB modem minnimal.

Software

    All three modems come bundled with different fax software. Global Village bundles its GlobalFax software while Viking licenses MacComCenter and Best Data uses FAXstf. While FAXstf is often regarded as the best fax software for the Mac (Apple bundles it with the PowerBook G3) all three pieces of software are more than capable of sending, receiving, and managing faxes.

Final Word

    If you're a PowerMac G3 owner in need of a modem we recommend sticking with an internal solution, 56K USB modems simply do not perform as well as they should. If you must choose an external modem Best Data's offering is not only the most affordable but also the best performing. tr




The fastest and highest quality MP3 encoder for the Mac.
Download a free trial today!