TrendNet (not to be confused with "Trend Data", who make
antivirus/security software...) make a pretty full line of
USB-to-whatever adapters that are reasonably priced -- I've used their
USD-to-Ethernet regularly and their USB-to-Serial (what you'll need)
occasionally.  I invested a little extra in a 9-pin crossover connector
since a few f the devices I need a serial connection into are wired "the
other way around".  (The technical terms are DTE and DCE, and such an
adaptor is often called a "gender-mender".)
  Even with the crossover, I'm pretty sure it came to less than $30 -- I
probably found them on Amazon or eBay.

  Of the four laptop-style computers I use, only the oldest (by far the
slowest) has a serial port -- and I think it also has a modem built in
that I've never used.  I did get a USB modem for my netbook, but there
has almost always been wifi and/or ethernet anywhere I needed to use it.

David Gillett


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Phone modems
From: Joyce A <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, March 15, 2011 5:17 pm
To: [log in to unmask]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to set that computer up at my elderly 
cousin's house, where I am staying every other night, so I can 
communicate from there. I will have to plug one of these two "cards" 
into it; will probably use the Diamond. There are no serial ports on 
it; it's all USB connections and some others I know next to nothing 
about. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Joyce in SE Ohio

On 3/14/2011 5:16 PM, Hachmeyer, Mr. Paul S. wrote:
> Joyce,
> Just to add something to Robert's info, I do have one of the external modems that he is referring to. Mine (at least) requires a serial port on the computer for the connection, which is 9 pins sticking out of the computer. Whether other versions connect with other cables, I don't know. The two modems you have are probably internal cards and will connect to your phone line with a standard phone cord. But if you decide to go external, make sure you have the proper connection available on your new pc.
> Paul Hachmeyer
>
> Robert Lendrim wrote:
>
>
> Hi Joyce,
> I would guess that the word "accelerated" is just a marketing term of no importance.
> I recall using telephone modems in the early days and a lot of frustation was involved. Various companies were pushing their own technologies and a universal standard did not exist. Eventually the V.90 standard came into use and that made things much better.

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