SUPRA modem - review
By Chris Birch
Copyright (c) 1990 Apple Users' Group, Sydney
Republished from Applecations, a publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia.
Recently I was in the market for a Modem. My criteria were simple. It needed to be a 2400 baud modem, with 1200 and 300 capability. I didn't need software to drive it as I assumed AppleWorks GS would suffice. I wanted it to be an external modem and it had to support all the popular communications protocols. It also had to be cheap.
Applied Engineering's DataLink Express caught my attention in the "IIgs Buyers Guide". But I am very wary of AE these days as, in general, their products for the IIgs are not necessarily upwards compatible. The GS-Ram+ and RamKeeper spring to mind. They also have a bad habit of customising parts of the GS/OS so that their products will perform satisfactorily. The Vulcan HD's custom ProDos 8 is a case in point here.
There was scant information on the competition though. What I did notice was that "A2-Central" sold only one modem in their catalogue and it was the same modem "The Byte Works" offered with their products. "A2-Central" is THE premier Apple II publication and "The Byte Works" is THE publisher of the premier IIgs programming environment (ORCA). Good enough recommendation for me.
So off I went and ordered the SUPRA MODEM 2400. I made sure to request a IIgs cable because the modem, as it turns out, has an RS-232C interface which basically means it could be connected to virtually any computer. In fact it comes bundled with Apple Mac and Apple II software.
Now, how do I work the stupid thing? Armed with NO communications knowledge at all, I did the logical thing. I connected the modem to the modem port of my computer, using the cable provided. Plugged in the modem and switched it on. Turned on the IIgs and set the control panel to 2400 baud. I then booted AppleWorksGS and loaded the communications module.
I should point out that I did skim read the SupraModem manual to see if there were any warnings, etc. before blindly connecting the power. I did not bother reading up on the AWGS communications module though. All I did was examine the AWGS menu items. The "Hardware..." menu item had 1200 baud as default and I was intending to use 2400 baud (much faster) so I set the 2400 option. I didn't change the "Communication.." menu item as it seemed OK.
I then tried to logon to our venerable BBS (me thinks that if I say "venerable" then Cameron, the magnificent sysop, might upgrade my allowable logon time). It was at this stage that I concluded that things aren't as simple as they seem. SOME communications knowledge is required, even if you are using AWGS. Oh well...
Thankfully, the SupraModem is fully "Hayes" compatible and what this means is that you can send instructions to the modem so that it will behave in a certain way. Specifically, the instructions are known as "AT" commands because you type
a line of text commencing with "AT", chain some AT commands together and hit return.
The SupraModem comes with a very detailed manual describing all the AT commands, and where there are alternative settings possible, it informs you as to what the default setting is. All very clear and understandable.
In short then, to configure the SupraModem, IIgs and AWGS so that you can log on to any BBS without any trouble, you need to do the following:
* Go to the control panel and select 2400 baud. Uncheck the XON/XOFF item so that it says ON. Select buffering ON if you like. Ignore this step if you don't own a IIgs. Do whatever to your Modem port Cdev if you own a Mac and you have a modem port.
* Follow the instructions in Appendix E if you could possibly be using 1200 baud. This is a good idea as if the modem encounters problems at 2400 baud it will automatically switch down to 1200baud until such time as it is OK again to use 2400baud.
* Issue the command: AT x3b. This will ensure that the modem will not try to recognise a dial tone before it dials away your number. It will simply wait and then dial the number with the assumption that a dial tone is present. For some reason the modem does not recognise the Australian dial tone. It also ensures that if 1200baud rates occur, then CCITT communications protocols will be used. This is what the AUG BBS uses, although a switch down to 1200baud is unlikely.
* If you use AWGS then in the "communication..." menu item you should uncheck the tone dial option. Again the SupraModem has problems tone dialing (you can get it to work using more AT commands though...) but is quite happy with pulse dialing. Check on the XON/XOFF option as, although not necessary, it is always a good idea. Leave everything else AS IS!
From the time I unpacked the modem to when I successfully logged on to the AUG BBS a little over an hour had expired. Credit must be given to the designers of AWGS for a very user friendly communications package. Credit is also due to Cameron Brawn, the AUG sysop, for not replying sarcastically when I rang him up after only having spent 15 minutes trying to get the modem to work. I suggested that there might be a problem with the BBS. NO? Hmmm, perhaps I could read the modem manual then...
I should point out that although the SupraModem does not have the market presence of the AE modem, it is just as fully featured. Like the AE modem it can store multiple phone numbers and multiple configurations (like the one above). It supports the full range of baud rates up to 2400,
has 8 LEDs on the front to inform you as to the modem status, error messages in WORDS as well as codes, lots of call progress and dialing features, bells and whistles.
Also bundled with the modem is communications software to allow you to logon to America On-line, Dow Jones, Official Airlines Guide, CompuServe and GEnie on-line services with free connect time. All totally useless here in Australia. The exception is CompuServe, who have recently arrived in Australia and who I'm endeavouring to track down.
The only bad feature with the supraModem is that you will have to spend an additional $10 or so to connect your phone to the modem as it conforms to the US modular phone connection standard. The adapter and cable are easily bought from an electronics store. Total cost into Australia was $240, including all incidentals.
The other inconvenience is that the supplied transformer is a 120VAC to 9VAC unit. Again a different transformer can easily be bought, although I have my system configured to 110V so this was not required.
To purchase the modem simply phone a mail order company. Have your credit card handy. "Programs Plus" have a line for overseas customers and you never get put in a holding queue (not so far anyway). This always happens to me if I ring Applied Engineering. Their number is 0011, 1 - (203) 378-3662. Call around midnight or at breakfast time. They are in Connecticut and seem to have extended trading hours. The first call may take a little time as they feed in all your details to the computer, but future calls will be a breeze.

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