Review: Actiontec USB Call Waiting Modem
(1845 total words in this text)
(1990 Reads)
At
first glance, ActionTec's new V.90/K56Flex-based USB modem seems
like any of the other USB modems that have flooded the market. The USB
Call Waiting Modem ($129.95) does have one unique and compelling
advantage of, as its name implies, allowing for better handling of
incoming voice calls. Measuring in a mere 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 1", the
modem does not take up much space on the desktop. For the
aesthetically-inclined, the modem is housed in an agreeable purple-beige
enclosure. Unlike some external modems that provide an abundance of
external LEDs, the Actiontec USB Call Waiting modem has only three
LED lights: OH (off hook), DX (data transfer), and MR (modem ready). This
is acceptable since most people look at the LEDs to tell whether the modem
is on and transferring data.
The installation process is literally plug-and-play: insert one end of the USB cable to the modem, the other end to a free USB port on your PC, supply the drivers, and the modem is ready for action. It is interesting to see that upon finishing the installation of the modem driver, the MR LED on the modem lights up, indicating that power has been delivered to the device. Power to the modem is supplied via the USB cable, eliminating the need for a separate power block. This feature, along with the modem's small size, makes the modem suitable for notebook computers.
The
call-waiting capability is quite cool and very useful. To use it you
need to have the call-waiting service from your local telephone
company. Actiontec offers its own Call Waiting Utility to set
up the feature. When there is an incoming call, you can either have
the modem ring or hang up. You can also opt to disable the call
waiting notification feature all together.
It is interesting to see how the data transfer does not stop (the DX LED light continues to flash) as the modem rings to signal an incoming call. You can either ignore the ringing, which will stop after about five rings, or simply pick up the phone and start talking. Actiontec claims that, depending on the ISP, you can talk for about seven seconds before the modem will hang up its connection. My testing shows that this is about right- the modem loses carrier around five to seven seconds after picking up the phone. However, you can actually put your caller on hold, finish your work online, then logoff and resume the conversation. Cool. On a side note, if you (or someone else) inadvertently pick up the phone while the computer is still online, the connection is not affected and the modem will continue to transfer data.
It seems that originally the 56K USB Call Waiting Modem was supposed to be able to support separate voice mail boxes, but unfortunately Actiontec decided to scrap the feature due to a world-wide shortage of 4 Mb flash chips. When the shortage is over, Actiontec does have plans to incorporate the answering machine capability into the USB Call Waiting Modem. The regular, non-USB versions of the modem do support voice mail, however.
Performance was excellent. Connection speed averages around 45 to 46K, which is about average for 56K modems. What matters more, however, is the Lucent-powered 56K USB Call Waiting Modem's stability. During the test period that lasted several days, the modem never once inexplicably lost carrier, which bodes well for long download sessions. Other 56K modems I have tested cannot claim this feat. In fact, my Boca 56K external TidalWave Voice modem, apparently very sensitive to line noise, hangs up once every few hours despite having call-waiting disabled.
What the Actiontec USB Call Waiting Modem does not excel at is documentation and software bundle. The "User's Manual" is a thin 28 page leaflet. This is sufficient for such an easy to use and simple device, though users can benefit from a more comprehensive trouble-shooting section and Frequently Asked Questions. The software package includes Bitware 3.30.11 Voice/Data/Fax communications software, as well as CompuServe 2000 and America Online CDs. It is not a very satisfying bundle since you can get the same software by buying a cheap $30 56K modem.
Actiontec offers an impressive 5 year warranty and unlimited technical support on the 56K USB Call Waiting Modem. The company even has a website up dedicated to its line of call waiting modems. Actiontec also provides Linux drivers for its line of modems, so after Linux kernel 2.4, which supports USB, is released, it is likely that Actiontec will make Linux drivers for the 56K USB Call Waiting Modem available.
At an estimated selling price of $129.95, the 56K USB Call Waiting modem is not cheap. Those of you on a tight budget may want to opt for the internal PCI version of the modem, which costs less than $100. The external serial-port version sells for $119.95. The USB version does have the advantage of being compatible with Macs that have USB ports, and its small size and ability to hot-swap make it suitable for people who have both desktop and notebook computers. So despite the price, the 56K USB Call Waiting Modem, with its terrific call-waiting feature, hassle-free installation, and commendable performance, is an excellent buy.
| What's cool: | Call-waiting feature, no need for power supply block, excellent performance, small footprint |
| What's not: | So-so manual and software bundle, a bit expensive |
Performance:
8.5/10
Features:
8.5/10
Ease of Installation: 10/10
Price:
7/10
Manual & Software Bundle: 7/10
Warranty & Support: 9/10
CC Rating: 8.5/10
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