AZTECH V.90 56K External Modem (UM6800-U) Review

Date: 22th June 99 by Matthew Fam Kai Liang

- The Good - The Bad - Test System Configuration - Conclusion - Rating - Other reviews

AZTECH Singapore, a long time brand that associated with the long history of sound card, but relatively unknown to most Singaporeans though. AZTECH has ventured into the modem industry in 1997, 2 years from then, we have definitely seen a vast improvement on both design and built over the earliest modem like the AZTECH 56K Turbo model review last year. AZTECH has managed to catch on the success of their 56K modem and produce several new variations of the 56K line with the trendy iMAC look and feel. Read on for more ..... In this review. We take a close look into AZTECH's current modem model EM-6800 based on the TI chipset (Texas Instruments) which could be found in all 3COM/USR modems. So are we getting a USR performance out of this modem which cost 30% cheaper than the USR modems?? The new AZTECH V.90 56K modem I have here spot a new turquoise green colour. Cool, I must say, spotting the same look as the usual iMAC from APPLE. AZTECH did take the effort to modify the design a little to make it even more trendy. DTE rate on this modem have increase to an incredible 230,000 Kbps through high-speed serial bus port. However, with the current serial port, we are only limited to just 115,200 Kbps.

 

These are the contents of the box:

• (1) AZTECH V.90 56K External Modem

• (1) CD-ROM Installation Disc with Multimedia Communication suite software

• Easy Start Manual
• (1) RJ 11 Telephone Cable
• (1) Serial Cable
• (1) Phone Cable
• (1) Power Adaptor
  

SOFTWARE BUNDLED

• TRIO DataFax Voice Software (for Win9x & WinNT)
• MICROSOFT Internet Explorer v4.0x
• Some Internet Software
• Plus some games and accessories softwares

The Good

Modern Modem Design

Formerly, AZTECH shipped the EM6800 models out which are only available in the normal white colour casing. Surely it is not very attractive to look at (after all, it is a 2 year old design). Now with a touch of a colour, this modem is repacked and back for some action in local modem market scene. You can find both colours of your choice available at your nearest vendor or order online through AZTECH Shopping Mall. The first generation EM6800 sport only a 1 or 2MB ROM while the new version with turquoise colour have expanded to 4MB. This increase of memory is said to enhance the modem ability to process and store data faster, since data to and from your modem will have to pass through the ROM for decoding and encoding purposes before transmission. So, how does it stack up in the real world performance?

Featuring a truely idiot-proof product design for the use with most operating systems in the market, including the popular Win95/98 and Win NT 4.0,with the help of the Quick Setup manual that comes with the modem, I could get a internet connection within 20 minutes of installation (includes meddling with the software part of course!). Designed to be Plug & Play, Windows 98 detected the modem immediately. After searching for the various drivers and softwares found on the CD-ROM, the AZTECH V.90 56K Modem was installed without much hassle. I will definitely advise users to print out the manual provided in the installation disk as it highlight some very important issues on installation and troubleshooting.

AZTECH has included a V.90 firmware for this modem.The V.90 protocol, finalised in September 1998, puts an end to the K56flex/x2 compatibility issues that have kept consumers confused for over a year. The V.90 standard is the result of a compromise among the x2 and K56flex camps in the modem industry. Most modem manufacturers jumped the gun and began offering V.90-compatible modems in spring 1997.Today, any 56K modem you buy contains either native V.90 code or is flash-upgradable to the standard.
AZTECH ensures that you will be able to surf at 56K speed using the latest code and fully backward compliant with Rockwell's "K56Flex" 56K protocol.It is also nice to know that AZTECH is the first manufacturer in Asia to adopt the V.90 ITU-T 56K standard.If you are among the few AZTECH 56K modem users having only the 'K56Flex' codes on your modem, kindly visit AZTECH website to download the latest V.90 firmware now. This will ensure that the modem will work with any local ISPs (Internet Service Providers) regardless of what server they are using.

The overall LEDs display found on the AZTECH modem are very useful for me. There are altogether 7 LEDs on the panel,

AA : Auto Answering
CD : Data Carrier Detect
RD : Receive Data
SD : Send Data
TR : Terminal Ready
CS : Clear To Sent
OH : Off Hook

The more useful ones are mainly the 'CD', 'RD' and 'SD' LEDs which will be handy if you upload/download any program as you can observe the completion of the process. Some modems have just a few display LEDs, might not be enough for me and the power users. You need to have the exact information if your connection is working properly or the line is experiencing some problem, this can easily be observe through the LEDs. And of course a fax modem features does not just ends here, the 56K Turbo has the ability to send or receive faxes with a 14.4Kbps (class 1 & 2) fax capability. With the accompanied software bundled with the modem,you can easily access to your friends or send and receive faxes for your company directly under your control.

The modem also doubles up as an answering machine. Installing the bundled software as it integrates all of your communications activities (fax, voice, and DOD) into one simple interface. It is the most comprehensive, easy-to-use PC based fax solution. With the full selection of fax, voice mail, speakerphone and document-on-demand communication features imaginable.Fairly easy to use and setup for novice.

There is a quick reference hardcopy manual for you to setup the modem. As for full installation and technical details, you can always refer the the CD-ROM which contains a 29-pages detailed manual. (courtesy of AZTECH Singapore for the evaluation of this product.) 

Singapore Hardware Zone reveals the beauty behind as we explore into the depth of the modem. This modem sport exactly the same TI chipset(model:00178600) chipset as my current 3COM/USRobotics 56K Fax modem. The flash version is exactly the same, suprised suprise! In Singapore's local market, the older EM3850 external model which uses 'ROCKWELL' chipset are already vanish on shelf, but all current internal modems AZTECH manufactured are either a 'ROCKWELL' or 'LUCENT' friendly ones. The green translucent overall gave this modem a better feel than the white colour design and also opening at the rear end of the modem to allow better air flow. Though this is a minor issue, you can always feel that the modem heats up after hours of use. This is solely missing from the older plain vanilla design ;( 

 

Singapore Hardware Zone's Exclusive BENCHMARK

- Refer to 'Test-Bed' table for equipment used in this benchmark.

Singapore Hardware Zone exclusive "BENCHMARK" corner is just right here. We whipped the full potential out of this modem.Cracking out the juice of the chipset to satisfied your desire. Let us now take a closer look.

We made use of SINGNET's extensive servers of Ascend Max 4048(Code: 6.10/Rockwell formware v2.084) and 3Com USRobotics Total Control Hub(Code: 3.1/3Com Firmware) plus the PACIFIC INTERNET's ASCEND Max 4048 hub(Code: 5.x/Rockwell firmware) to do our benchmarking. These two servers are the reasons why you have been enjoying 56K connections in Singapore all the while.We dial into SINGNET and PacNET's 4 different dial-up numbers,which are :

1) SINGNET's Toll-Free Dial-up Line (Tel: 5371800) - Ascend Server
2) SINGNET's V.90 & K56Flex Line (Tel: 5379700) - Ascend Server
3) SINGNET's V.90 & x2 Line (Tel: 5379000) - 3Com Server
4) Pacific Internet V.90 & x2 Line-2 (Tel: 5379800) - Ascend Server

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- Refer to 'Test-Bed' for benchmarking equipment -

AZTECH modem scores rather well in connection rates. At a minimum of 52.0Kbps and a maximum of 54.6Kbps on the SINGNET's Ascend RAS dial-in numbers.Downloading speed are on par with big guns like the USRobotics 56K modems.What is outstanding would be the extremely affordable price-tag on the modem but perform at such speed that cost about 30-40% cheaper than the big guys there. AZTECH have once again show us that they are seriously putting in effort to earn a living in this modem industry. The support you get should be rather good according to local dealers as very low RMA(return rates) are reported.  Aztech's EM6800-U are truely a silent babe with outstanding performance that matches the more illustrious 3COM/USR 56K Fax modem which are about S$50-60 more than the EM6800-U. From the benchmark results, one can easy mistaken the result with the USRobotics modem. I am extremely pleased of its overall performance. AZTECH have rise to the ocassion to produce such competitive product from a relatively unknown brand to an achievement today(Aztech's is a 4MB ROM based modem while USR's are unknown). Just image a McLaren pit against a Ferrari in the Formula-1 race. Truely amazing!

The benchmark results are nothing much suprising. We tested the modems using two of the most common remote-access servers (RASs) used by ISPs and businesses, an Ascend Max 4048 with Rockwell digital modems and a 3Com Total Control with 3Com/U.S. Robotics chip sets. Both were upgraded to the latest V.90 code. Generally, the Rockwell/Lucent chipset based modems performed better with the Ascend RAS, which may be explained by the RAS types used by modem vendors for their own internal testing. The 3Com modems performed better with the 3Com RAS--not an unexpected result.

A must thing to note is that when purchasing a modem. You must also ensure your ISPs(either Pacific Internet,SINGNET or Cyberway) have the right type of RAS on their side. Notice that SINGNET have 4 different dial-up numbers which deployed the ASCEND RAS on the '5371800' and '5379700' dial-up line and 3Com RAS on the other 2 numbers. The benchmark scores also reflect that when the TI chipset based AZTECH modem dial into the USR TotalControl RAS,it is able to achieved better average connection rates of 54666bps compared to the 52000bps on the ASCEND RAS. Downloading time were also reduced when using the USR(3COM) RAS.

SINGNET offer such unique 2 RASs for its customers. Being the fact that it tested both of the 'x2' and 'K56Flex' technologies earlier in the year when it held the public trial.Cyberway also offer 2 different dial-up numbers for its customers whom have a 'x2' or 'K56Flex' chip. Although all are V.90 compliant sometime back.It shows how important if you were to dial into the correct RASs as to obtain the best connection and downloading rates. Pacific Internet is the only exception as 3Com's USRobotics modems or the Texas Instruments based chipset modem will have lower connection rates and downloading speed. Due to the fact Pacific uses ASCEND RASs only on their servers.

Although all of Singapore's Internet Service Providers have flashed their servers to be in compliant with the ITU V.90 standards,end users' side modems are still holding the same chipset that powered modems sold last year or so. What V.90 offer is a common standard. Not the best in connecting or downloading speed, it just ensure your modem works everywhere around the world and not just any 'x2' or 'K56Flex' support. In searching for the highest connecting rates and fastest download speed. You have to buy a modem that suit the ISP's end server.

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The Bad

I went scouting around for some interesting software in the installation disk, Aztech like many modem manufacturers, bundle FREEWARE basically to allow end-user to know what software can be useful for their daily needs by providing trial versions. Once the user feel those software are useful, they can basically download or order directly to the Software company. An example is the 'NETMEDIC' software which you can download from Vitalsign to provide 30 days of trial use which shows log data, actual realtime transfer rates and many more information about the modem and your internet connection.

One point AZTECH need to consider is maybe the addition of a proper hardcopy manual rather than the thin few pages of quick installation guide. A small manual just like its PCI-368DSP soundcard manual will be a very appealling piece of information to read. Overall, this modem do not sport much bad points and many areas are improved from the past faults....

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Conclusion

Conclusively, EM6800 is a top stellar performer that will do well in any test against like of DIAMOND/Supra 56K modem or the 3Com competition. This does prove to be a winning combination with the stylish new turquoise colour (or the conventional colour if you preferred) does perform fairly well on the benchmark compared to the competitive models from AZTECH itself and industry giant 3COM/USR. And of course having the benefit to use the same chipset do help a little too. While the current Diamond and USRobotic serial based products are still having a plain vanilla colours. You can of course grab a piece of colourful art for yourself. Worth every bucks of your cash for sure!

AZTECH new V.90 56K modem will be a force to be reckon with in Singapore's modem market with their new funky colours and very competitive connection speed and raw performance of the modem, the bundled accessories like cables and installation softwares with it ensure that you can connect to surf the net right away. Unlike big brands like 3COM/USR which does not supply the needed cable.

Since analog modem's speed technologies are already on the maximum horizon, this would probably be the last ever analog modem you would ever owned.

 

 

MODEM RATING

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Aztech Systems Limited (SESDAQ: AZTECH)

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Last updated July 18, 1999.