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AZTECH 56K USB Modem (UM9800-U) Review

Date: 16th June 99
by Matthew Fam Kai Liang

um9800box.jpg (11258 bytes)

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

- Other reviews
WaveCom 56K Modem Pro

 

AZTECH Systems, a long time brand that associated with the long history of sound card but relatively unknown to most Singaporeans that we do have another Singapore Brand other than CREATIVE that do us some pride in making quality sound cards and modems. AZTECH have ventured into the modem industry in 1997, 2 years from then we have definately seen a vast improvement on both design and built over the earliest modem like the AZTECH 56K Turbo model review last year. AZTECH have managed to built on the success of their 56K modem and came out several new variation of the 56K line with the added iMAC look and feel. Read on for more .....

In this review. We take a close look into AZTECH latest offering, the AZTECH 56K USB External Modem model UM9800-U. USB ??? Well, this is Singapore market first ever USB based external modem and it even eliminated the need for a AC adaptor and also with a faster DTE now due to the use of the new USB port over the ageing serial port. There are many innovation around this new generation modem which harboured many wonder features that the older modem lacks and need most. AZTECH even added colour to their modem to ensure that even iMAC users will like the modem through the use of USB port. More wonderful colours will be available pretty soon. Imaging a yellow, orange or blue colour modem on your desktop. Simply marvellous!

The new AZTECH 56K USB modem I have here spot a new turquoise green colour. Cool I must say that house the same look as the usual iMAC from APPLE. With just a small size of 120(L)x83(W)x25(H) mm and weighs a feather light of just 160g. It will allows you to place the device just about anywhere you preferred, how about above the monitor sitting like a WebCam ? DTE rate on this modem have increase to an incredible 460,800 Kbps via USB interface which are 2-3x that of the older high-speed serial bus port of 115,200Kbps or 230,000Kbps.

Modem Specifications

Manufacturer Aztech Systems (Singapore)
Modem External
Modem Firmware Version 2.20.00 (25 Feb 1999)
Modem Chipset ST7554 & ST7550
Data Mode Capabilities
  • V.90 ITU Standard
  • K56Flex 56K Protocol
  • V.34, V.32bis, V.32, V.22bis, V.23, V.21, Bell 212a, Bell 103, V.80 
  • IMA ADPCM
  • TAPI 2.0 Compliant
Data Compression V.42bis, MNP Class 5
Data Error Correction V.42 LAMP & MNP 2-4
Fax Mode Capabilities Class 1 fax
Voice Mode Capabilities Telephone Answering Machine Support (TAM) & DTMF Detection
Others Mode Supported VRPI and V.80 - Synchronous access for POTS video conferencing
Caller ID support (optional)

<<< Back to Review Page 1 - To Aztech's V.90 56K modem >>>

 

These are the contents of the box:

SOFTWARES BUNDLED

The Good

New Age USB Modem Research

USB or Universal Serial Bus is a new serial protocol for sending data between PC and its peripherals. Transfer rate is set at 12MBits/s maximum which is very much faster than the older HSS(High-Speed-Serial) port and support up to 127 device at the same time through hot-swap basis. It also consume a low 5v compared to the usual 9v used on the conventional non-USB modems  through USB power which source its power directly through the system. Eliminated the need to employ a external AC adaptor and save the trouble to search for a available power point.
Early mentioned the new 'Hot-Swap' title which actually refers to the new technology which allows plugging in and unplugging of your modem to/from the computer in Windows mode. There is no need for powering down of system to connect or disconnect your modem unlike to older 'Plug & Play' model. Until the release of Windows 2000 or Windows NT5.0 and the update the Windows 95 OSR 2.1 for proper USB support. Only Windows 98 operating system will be supported.

Aztech UM9800-U USB Ext

Featuring a truely idiot-proof product design for the use with only Microsoft Windows 98(or the SE version) and the future Windows 2000, with the help of the Quick Setup manual that comes with the modem, I could get a internet connection within ten minutes of installation (includes meddling with the software part of course!). Designed to be Hot-Swap, Windows 98 detected the modem immediately, especially now that its on the USB bus which are so easy to detect then ever. After searching for the various drivers and softwares found on the CD-ROM, the AZTECH 56K USB Modem was installed without much hassle. One great use of this modem is for those on the road like the insurance agents carrying a laptop wanting to surfing the net as the modem is a hot-swap model and therefore just plug-in and it is read for use to connect to the internet for hassle-free connection.  

AZTECH have included a V.90 firmware for this modem.The V.90 protocol, finalized 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 whom are 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 the only minor complains about this kit. Either I am too used to the 7 or 8 LEDs display flashing over my mind in the past which shows you whether the data are incoming or outgoing throught the LEDs. But now all was present was only 3 of them. A 'Power' LED indicator, a 'In-Use' and a 'Data' LEDs which shows if the modem is on, in use or receiving/sending data currently. Gone were to useful 'SD' and 'RD' on the usual non-USB modems which show exactly if data are incoming our outgoing instead of just a 'Data' switch.And of course a fax modem features does not just ends here, the 56K USB has the ability to send or receive faxes with a 14.4Kbps 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. As this is a new generation USB modem, the ROM memory normally found on conventional modems are now gone as the data are now kept through software. The driver provided by AZTECH are now available only in Windows 98 (Win 95 OSR 2.1 are not supported) as the others platform are yet to be available. Do note that Windows 2000 will definately be supported as promised by AZTECH, notice that close-up scan of the modem where you can look closer at the components inside the modem like the LEDs, transistors and capacitors. There are 2 models for the UM9800. Either UM9800-U or UM9800-W, UM9800-U comes with both the 'LINE' and 'PHONE' jack while UM9800-W comes without the 'PHONE' out jack.

Software for the modem? Of course AZTECH did bundled some fairly useful software for the modem, the auto-run disk house quite a large varity of software like the Internet Explorer and the QuickLink Fax/Data/Voice which is a little better than the 2 years old 'TRIO' provided to the others Aztech modem(guess this is the benefit of the first Aztech's USB modem). Just a little downside that they did not provide a brief explanation of the various software in the disk and what are they use for before I decided to install. The older EM6800 and below models all have a nice short paragraph to explain the software uses. Guess this can be improved on in the future update. 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. 


(The above AZTECH UM9800-U in actual size display)

Singapore Hardware Zone reveals the beauty behind as we explore into the depth of the modem. This modem is perhaps the rare one that house a ST Microelectronics (formerly known as 'SGS-Thomson') 'ST7554'+'ST7550' chipset on the modem, guess many of you of must have never heard of ST Microelectronics making a modem chipset. Do you? They are one of the leading semiconductor and technology company providing ADSL solution. Currently, they are one of the major supplier for ADSL solution.. The former SGS-THOMSON have always been a innovator in these multimedia chipset like to former tie up with nVIDIA to manufacture the 'RIVA 128' and the 'NV1' used to power 2D/3D graphics card. Everyone by now must have know about NVIDIA for its powerful RIVA TNT/TNT2 products. You can clearly see the front and back view of the modem(Sorry for the little bit of dark in the background). The 3 LEDs display flash lights and the back view which house the USB jack, the 'PHONE' and 'LINE' jack. Do note that UM9800-W model does not have the 'PHONE' out jack which does not give you the benefit of connecting to a fixed-line phone for use during the times when you are not using your modem for surfing or gaming.

backview.jpg (5789 bytes)
Front(left) and Back(right) view of the modem. Notice the white USB port on the right and the 2 phone jack(UM9800-U)

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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- Modem's benchmark scores -

ISP / Standards
Server used
SINGNET-I (V.90 / x2)
3Com Total Control
SINGNET-II (V.90 / K56Flex)
Ascend Hub
Pacific Internet (K56/V.90)
Ascend Hub
SINGNET Toll-Free
Modem Brand/Model AZTECH 56K USB  UM9800-U AZTECH 56K USB  UM9800-U AZTECH 56K USB  UM9800-U AZTECH 56K USB  UM9800-U
Dial-up Number 5379900 5379700 5379800 5371800
Connecting Rate(avg) 52.0Kbps (52000) 52.0Kbps (52000) 50.6Kbps (50666) 52.0Kbps (52000)
Connecting Rate(high) 53.3Kbps (53333) 52.0Kbps (52000) 52.0Kbps (52000) 52.0Kbps (52000)
Avg Download Speed* 51.0 - 52.0 Kbps 46 -52.0Kbps 43.3 - 53.0Kbps 46 -52.0Kbps
Avg Download Time* 78 - 83sec 77 - 81sec 76 - 120sec 79 - 89 sec
Max D/L speed(Netscape)* 5.3K 5.2K 5.0K 5.1K
LINE Speed (Avg) ^ 47 - 70.7 Kbps 45 - 68.0 K 43.5 - 58.5 Kbps 46 - 70.1 K
Speed Test Thermo (Avg) ^ 5.8 - 8.7K Bytes/sec 5.5 - 7.6K Bytes/sec 5.3 - 7.2K Bytes/sec 5.5 - 7.6K Bytes/sec

Benchmark Dialer/s Location : Toa Payoh (North N6,Singapore)
Phone number/s used : 35x-xxxx / 25x-xxxx

^ Test Your Internet Connection Speed through this webpage @ http://www.computingcentral.com/topics/bandwidth/speedtest50.asp

*Download File : Favorites Security Update For Internet Explorer 5.0 (492 KB) - http://fun.s-one.net.sg/fun/fes/search.cgi?keyword=q231452.exe
* Average of 10x repeat downloading @ various hours,timing of the day. On 'http' download option
Estimated Download Time for S-ONE users: 4 Seconds
Estimated Download Time for 33.6Kbps Modem users: 2.3 Minutes

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

AZTECH 56K USB scores rather well in connection rates. At a minimum of 52.0Kbps and a maximum of 53.3Kbps 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 competitive industry. The support you get should be rather good according to local dealers as very low RMA(return rates) are reported. The USB bus also eliminated the need of the AC adaptor as power is draw from system and the higher bandwidth using USB port.

The benchmark results are nothing much surprising. 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 Rockwell chipset based AZTECH modem dial into the ASCEND RAS,it is able to achieved better average connection rates of 50667bps compared to the 49333bps on the 3Com RAS. Downloading time were also reduced when using the ASCEND 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.

For the new AZTECH USB Modem product, they have recently included AZTECH's own Diagnostic Utility that will help user diagnose the modem in case they have difficulty connecting to the Internet.

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The Bad

Limiting to just one operating system, Windows 98 might dent this modem potential to sell extremely well. Many would wish AZTECH could offer this modem for iMAC or the new APPLE's PowerPC series just like the Iomega Zip USB drive which offer both Mac and PC support. Windows 95 OSR2.1(w/USB supp) users will only get to use their modem later this year when a update is available.

A little problem I have with these new generation modem is that they might be a little on the resource hogging as it tend to slow or causes skipping at times during dialing up process. The drawing of modem power source from the main power supply unit is also adding burden to the system power supply if your is a older 200v or 235v power supply with so many gadgets already drawing awesome power source. Nevethless this new gadget is still a remarkable product which are both stylish and fashionable for everyday use and sport a brand new outfit of green translucent colour. The 'Sending Data' and 'Receiving Data' LEDs are also solely from the display. Otherwise this will be such a wonderful product to be own...... And admire at when you are feeling low :)

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Test System Configuration

Processor(s) Pentium II - 532MHz (overclocked 400MHz)
Ram 64MB 100MHz SAMSUNG '-G8' PC-100 SDRAM
Motherboard ABIT BX6 Revision 2.0 (Bios : KU)
HardDrive(s) IBM Deskstar 8- 8.4GB
Operating System MS Windows 98 Build 4.10.1998
DirectX Version MS DirectX Version 6.1
Other software used Nil
Video Card(s) AZTECH VGS3D Savage 3D v0.128 (AGP)

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Conclusion

Featuring a ultra new bus protocol and added benefits like fast internal transfer rates and the exclusion of AC adaptor. 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.

AZTECH new USB 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. Making it achieving a 'Value For Money' Award from us, the bundled accessories like USB cables and installation software 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.

56kusb_box.jpg (7267 bytes)

 

<<< Back to Review Page 1 - To Aztech's V.90 56K modem >>>


MODEM RATING

Overall Rating (Out of a maximum of 5 Star)

Installation *****
Performance ****
Price ****
Software Bundle ***1/2
Material Quality ****
Overall Rating ****1/2

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Aztech Systems Limited (SESDAQ: AZTECH)

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Last updated July 18, 1999.

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