#SupraFAXModem V.32bis
69 messages in this thread
All,
I am using the latest beta-version of the SupraFAXModem V.32bis. Supra
Engineering gave it to me on Saturday and It works great!! I believe the
product magager will approve this version for max production which means
huge piles of the new modem will start shipping in about two weeks.
Alan
Alan, is there fax software yet? And what are the other specs?
Ron
Ron,
We have fax software. It's called SupraFAX and it is really slick stuff.
You normally send a fax by printing and the fax driver replaces the normal
print driver. An application is also supplied that you can send and view
faxes from. It provides a fax phonebook, cover pages, custom letterhead,
and signature.
The SupraFAXModemV.32bis supports 14,400 bps and slower speeds for data and
fax, MNP 2-5+10 and V.42bis which provides error correction and data
compression. The modem hardware is capable of voice mail and caller id
with a low-cost firmware upgrade and application software.
The SupraFAXModem V.32bis costs $399.95 without software. The Amiga
package includes A-Talk III data comm software as well as the fax software,
and a cable- all for $479.95
Alan
Alan,
479.95 eh? Will the fax software be available separately? I have (and
dislike) Atalk, and I already have a cable.
-larry
Larry,
I do believe you will be able to purchase the fax software by itself.
Kenny
Supra Tech Support
I saw an ad in Computer Shopper that advertised your new modem for $239.
Unbelieveable. I presume that doesn't include software? Is that going to
be a typical street price for these modems, or was it just an advertiser
hoping to milk sales by advertising a product that isn't out yet?
Meanwhile, can you re-post Supra's "sysop special offer" in the Amiga area?
I think I read it in one of the IBM areas.
The ad you saw must be for a V.32 (not V.32bis) unit without software. I
have heard that some mail order companies have raised the price to nearly
retail although their ads show a much lower price. Since the products will
be in short supply for months, I expect most mail order firms to do the
same.
I don't have the sysop offer on my HD but as I remember the SupraFAXModem
V.32 is $199 and the V.32bis is $249. These are generic modems without
software or cable. The Amiga bundle is about $40 more. Anyone ordering
must supply full BBS info and we only sell one modem per line.
Alan
$239!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come ON, the SYSOP offer is $249!!!!! Boy, I have heard of progress but
this is ridiculous :-)!!!!
– via Whap!
Scott:
you're confusing the V.32 bit modem (mailorder $239) with the v.32bis modem
(mailorder $309). There's a big difference.
Michael
….from the north coast
Michael,
I can't remember the gist of the message you are replying to, I'm
sorry. I THINK it was that someone had suggested that the v.32BIS had been
quoted at $239 mail-order but maybe you are right and it was just the v.32.
I was quoted a price of $249 EACH for TWO v.32bis modems from Supra. The
total after all was said and done was to be about $510. I DID say I ordered
under the Sysop deal didn't I??? If I didn't, I apologize for any
confusion. I know I am very excited about the upcoming delivery and think
that Supra is going to sell a WHOLE BUNCH of modems at these prices!!!
– via Whap!
>>> …I apologize for any confusion."
JST:
No need… yes you did say you ordered under the SysOp deal… I just
wanted to make it clear to 'regular' consumers that there is a dsitinction
between a v32 v42bis modem and a v32/v32bis v42/v42bis modem and that the
prices you were talking about are not available to us normal folks through
mailorder houses. Sorry if _I_ confused you.
Because these messages are public, for everyone to read (and MISread!), I
didn't want to have folks peeved at Supra when they can't get the V32bis
modem for $249 <envious smirk>.
Michael
….from the north coast
The voice mail aspect of this is fascinating. I'd guess it works like
this: you pick up the phone and activate the software and it can record
your outgoing message. Then, when someone calls, the modem can recognize
DTMF touchtones and pass them to the software. And then it can digitize
the incoming phone call and record it to disk. (I realize all of this has
to be powered by host software, of course.)
The caller id portion (future upgrade) is also fascinating.
Ron
After sorting through a year's worth of phone bills for tax purposes, I'm
about as happy with the phone company as I am with the IRS. My state's
"public service commission" is worried about caller ID, and we'll probably
never get it. Why not give people the option to turn it off, the same way
the phone company devotes resources to things like whether I have call
waiting or touch tone service or call forwarding? Another multi-million
dollar idea I've had – a device that plugs in-line with the handset on any
phone. It's a computer and modem-like device with a few buttons. As easy
to program as a FAX machine, you enter your name and address and phone
number. It can send it as a pleasant series of tones. The other end has
one of these devices and displays the info when received. Higher-end
devices could print it as a label. I look at my phone bill and think, at
least 60 percent of these three-minute calls are that long because I had to
spell my name, company name and phone number to a secretary who has no
clue, doesn't care, or can't find a pen. And day before yesterday, I'm
plowing through the messages on the Syndesis answering machine, and if I
didn't have an ear for Spanish, Japanese and Southern accents, I couldn't
have taken down the names and addresses. With one of these gizmos, you
could record all the details in about five seconds – error-free. And why
can't the phone company show a human name or company name on the itemized
bill? Again, this could be optional, but I think most people wouldn't mind
having their name appear on other people's bills. Why, if I have three
phone lines, do they only deliver one phone book? Why are phone calls
taxed so heavily by local, state and federal governments? To help protect
the monopolies?
End of rant. Sometimes, you just have to get it all out of your system.
🙂
Well said! 🙂
BTW, Caller ID is mainly opposed by the abusers of people's privacy. If
they 1. allow a person per call to block their number from going out, and
2. allow receivers to automatically block all 'blocked' callers from even
ringing (telling the caller what's happening), and allow a few very
carefully selected callers to block but get thru (special hotlines, police,
etc), we'd be fine.
Ron
They send you only one phone book? How did you arrange that? I have two
lines and each six months I get:
2 Dallas white pages
2 Dallas yellow pages
2 Dallas business pages
2 Ft. Worth white pages
2 Ft. Worth yellow pages
2 Arlington phone books
I'm staggering under the weight!
Betty
John,
Guess what…you already have caller ID. You just can't access it.
That's the basis of E911 (Enhanced 911) service.
Everytime you dial the phone, your phone number is super-imposed on
the line.
Don
Don, in NY our 'beloved' consumer protection 'head' has decided that we
shouldn't be able to know who's sending us harrassing phone calls; we might
violate the rights of the harrassers.
Ron
If I can break in here, I probably am one of the ones that they would like
to not have call ID. I will sign up as soon as it becomes available and
the first Tele-marketing group to call me during supper will be put into
speed dial and called constantly! If any of these people are listening, I
DONT WANT ANY PORTRAITS MADE, I DONT NEED MY CARPETS AND UPHOLSTRY CLEANED,
I LIVE IN AN APARTMENT SO I DONT NEED MY YARD SPRAYED, AND IF YOU WANT ME
TO GIVE TO YOUR CHARITY, I ONLY RESPOND TO MAILED REQUESTS!
I really cant wait for this service to come online!
Bill <grin>
– via Whap!
Sorry, Bill, they've got that option covered, too — many of these
boiler-room callout places have incoming calls blocked on their lines.
Regards, Whap!penned… Pat Cummings @Oxxi
(310) 427-1227
I don't have caller ID, but I have call return. That lets me return the
phone call from the last person who called. Whenever a telemarketer says
something rude, I just call 'em back and ask them not to do it again…boy,
are they ever surprised!
Steve
Bill,
Don't forget the guys calling to sell cemetary plots, siding, roofing,
vacations….
wmc
Ron,
There are good reasons on both sides of the issue.
Don
Don,
I can't think of any good reasons to not allow caller id. -sja
Steve,
A and B (husband and wife) break up. A is a jerk and gets their
thrills calling B at 3 in the morning. B changes their phone number to
prevent that, but some contact must occur to set up visits with the kids.
B calls A to set up a visitation and A now has B's new phone number and the
harassment (from a phone booth of course) starts up again.
A beats B, B goes to a safe house, and the next morning calls A to
tell them he/she is leaving. A now has the safe house number.
Just like magazine subscriptions, soon phone number lists…based
on demographics would become available and the number of unsolicited sales
calls would skyrocket since phone shops could target specific audiences
rather than the current shotgun approach.
For example, Colorado now has a law against *unsolicited* computer
generated phone calls (computer generated to say your order is in are
ok…it's considered a "wanted" call). That's why we get so few of that
type of phone call here. With demographically based phone lists…real
people could do the dialing, already knowing your name (and probably
address), and also probably your interests, income and so forth.
Unlisted or unpublished numbers would be come meaningless.
Don
Properly handled, caller id is good. It is possible, and I think
mandatory, that proper safeguards be set up to protect legit callers. If
someone doesn't want me to have their phone #, they should be able to block
it; but I should have the choice of automatically rejecting their call.
People calling hotlines, etc need protection as well.
Problem in NY is that Kessel only sees one side of the issue. You don't
stop something like caller-id, you properly handle it.
Ron
Actually, Ron, there is a perfectly good reason for this. The people who
make the rules don't want the harrasers to stop. THey want to wait for the
phone company to develop a device they can sell you that will give you that
information on a screen, and theability to program a get lost message for
your "non-approved" callers. That way the phone company makes more money,
their stocks go up and the rule makers get richer while helping the
economy.
In the long run it will be cheaper to get an unlisted number. (Terrible to
have to pay to be left alone – isn't that like a protection racket???)
wmc
Wayne, we HAVE an unlisted number. It doesn't stop the callers, since most
of them are doing a rotation program to hit ALL possible numbers…
Regards, Whap!penned… Pat Cummings @Oxxi
(310) 427-1227
Pat,
It doesn't matter if your number is listed or unlisted, if they're
using a rotation device or not. If you call anyone…then that anyone has
your number. That's one of the objections to the caller ID service.
You call some company for some information, they now have your
phone number and they then turn around and sell it to a "phone shop".
Don
Pat,
Notice how when you nicely tell them to get lost on the phone, the gimme
groups send you a thank you for your pledge note with an amount filled in?
I send those back with no stamp and a nasty note inside telling them to
take me off their list. It seems to be working.
wmc
Wayne –
In addition to Pat's response: it also won't stop the folks who picked
your particular sequence of numbers at random, and kept them around because
they felt you were a good "mark". Just a couple of weeks ago, some young
kids managed to erase my outgoing answering machine message by random
dialing (I couldn't believe it either, 'cept I had proff it happened 8^) ).
I have one of those machine that one can program remotely from a touch-tone
phone. The kids randomly dialed my number, then after it answered again
randomly hit my entry code, then hit the number that says "rerecord the
outgoing message". I called my machine later that day (at that point I had
no idea it had been changed) and was surprised to hear some little kids
saying "Hello?". I hung up and dialed back, and the exact same thing
happened, at which point I deduced that they'd erased my message. It was so
wierd that I coudn't get upset, I just laughed.
Harry
I like the one with the recorded message talking to my message machine and
pausing for replies!!
wmc
I don't want an unlisted phone, but I don't want harrassment phone calls
either. The New Jersey bell ads say it very well; caller-id can be a real
help.
Ron
I just KNOW the phone comapnies are going to figure out how to get
more money out of the harrassed instead of the harrassers.
Why not make a special directory of everyone who doesn't mind being
solicited by phone. Those people can pay to be listed in that
directory. The rest of us will be off-limits by law! That avoids
all the privacy issues/cost issues of caller ID, unlisted numbers and
bizare telephone hardware to protect against harrassment. That way
those who want to participate in the telemarket can pay for it. wmc
John:
Here in Conn we already have Caller ID—but you've got to be a business
that has lotsa fone lines. Northeast utilites uses it on their customer
service lines. It's automatically tied in to their computers, so while the
phone is still ringing, your account is already being called up on their
screen. They claim that it saves them a tremondous amount of time.
They do have a policy to not answer the phone as "Good afternoon, Mr.
Dowgewicz." That's kinda unnerving.
You'ld be amazed how widespread caller ID is already. Many business that
have 800 numbers are already connected.
Southern New England Telephone has a request in to offer the service at
$6.50 per month. Callers would be able to disable the ID by entering a
code. I haven't heard what they'd do with dial phones though. For some
reason they still charge more for tone service, although it's cheaper to
provide than dial.
Just be glad that picture phones are still $1,500
Paul
They charge more for tuch tone 'casue touch tone provides more capability
to the customer, therefore more value.
The _cost_ of making something or providing a service has nothing to do
with its _value_. For example, the _cost_ (in terms of sheer hours)
associated with my programming (or attempting to program) a graphics file
format intergchange utility would be astronimically higher than the _cost_
of John Foust programming the same utility.
I can assure you that his would be _far_ more valuable :).
?|^] Ray Lewis
You pretty much described how it works. The modem can do ADPCM
compression/decompression. This reduces the serial data rates and the RAM
requirments. At a 2:1 compression it sounds great. 3:1 and it gets a bit
unnatural sounding.
Alan
Congrats on finally finishing it. It sounds very nice. Could you compare
it for me to Complete Fax (4800) which I now use on my BB? If and when I
get a chance to upgrade my modem from the Supra 2400 I have now I'd prefer
to go this route; I would no longer need the Complete Fax board and would
free up a slot.
Do you have a brochure to send?
Ron
Ron,
Did you want us to mail you a brochure via U.S. Mail or Email? I am not
faimiliar with the complete fax. Have you heard about our Sysop specials?
Alan
I true wouldn't want Atalk if I were buying modem and fax software.
Ron
Alan,
As long as YOU brought up the subject of upgrades, I would like to know
about future upgrading of the SupraFAXmodem to 19.2 KBaud, which other 14.4
KB modems are sounding off about. I can't give a specific name of another
modem but it has been mentioned here. I have 2 of your modems on order
(v.32bis etc.) and hope to receive them soon. Can you elaborate on this
'firmware upgrade' that gives voice mail and caller id? That sounds pretty
neat!
– via Whap!
Scott
Intil the standards committee votes, we are not going to make any promises.
Right now no one knows what 19.2 is going to do, how it is going to work,
etc. People would only be making guesses about it, as I understand it we
are about a year from getting anything firm on this also.
The modem has the hardware to support caller id and voice, but doesn't know
"how" right now. We were waiting for a standard for the voice, but that
has been pushed back by the standards committee again. Once something gets
worked out by them then Supra will offer a rom upgrade that will support
the standard.
And right now the caller ID is still illegal in several states and I don't
know what is going to happen with it.
Kenny
Supra Tech Support
Just a question, will this new crop of modems support an upgrade to these
new goodies (call ID, voice-mail, etc.) or will we have to buy another new
modem?
Bill
– via Whap!
Bill,
The SupraFAXModemV.32 and V.32bis can do Voice and Caller ID with a
low-cost ROM upgrade.
Alan
Alan,
I came home from AmiExpo after hearing your (or someones) speil on the FAX
modems and software bundle. I was told it would ship the following week. I
called your marketting number. Marketting said no such product existed or
was announced. I told them I got it from a Supra rep at the expo. They
connected me with a young lady who informed me that the hardware and
somftware would not be available for at least 6 months.
What gives!!! Excuse my french, but what in hell's good is product that
can't be ordered?
wmc
Wayne,
I missed the Ami-Expo so I was not the Spieler. I arranged for 80
SupraFAXModem Plus's with quick printed GP Fax manuals to be send to the
Ami-expo. All were sold within two days
/gxznu
after the show
The other 800 people wanted to buy the SupraFAXModem V.32bis which will not
be available until Mar 10.
We are now out of the prelim manuals for the GP Fax software and will not
resume shipping SupraFAXModem Plus's until the final manual is printed in
about 10 days.
Unfortunately, Our Sales/Customer support people are often not as up to
date on very new products as our tech-support staff. Our company has grown
fairly rapidly and our internal communications systems our not quite up to
our high standards.
Please be patient with us. I promise you that you will love your next
SupraFAXModem.
Alan
I take it from your reply that I could call at the end of March and
order the v.32bis Fax modem with the Amiga software bundle (ATalk
III, Fax software and something else I don't recall)?
Alan….
How about selling me your beta-version now???? <GRIN>
Paul
Plymouth,England
Paul,
Wait two more weeks and we can send you one.
Alan
Alan,
I have one on order from Safe Harbor so I will get one when my turn
comes……unless you can send them one with my name on it!!!! only kidding
;-).
Paul
Paul
Plymouth,England
Alan:
Will the new Supra V.32bis faxmodem be chip upgradable to the new 19.2K
standard when adopted? There is talk of going to this faster protocol in
the latter part of '92 or early '93. I'm just curious. I got impatient
and bought the Zyxel modem which is chip upgradable but probably paid a
premium for doing so, unless as you indicated, the mail order outfits will
be charging list for your modems. Several of my friends would like to know
whether your modems will be upgradable as they are all on the modem upgrade
path.
George
George:
Since you have the ZyXel, have you tried the AFAX software (uploaded here)?
It was wriiten with the ZyXel in mind. If you can check it out and report
back, I know a lot of folks would appreciate hearing your impressions.
(see file AFAXDM.LZH, Lib 5)
Michael
….from the north coast
George,
I assume you are refering to the V.fast standard which is currently in
committee. Currently the committee is discussing speeds of 25Kbps or so
with a multi dimensional trellis coding scheme. Many options have been
discussed and I suspect many more will be before a draft proposal is
finished. I suspect it will be close to a year before this occurs.
Since V.fast is not defined, I can't say whether we can upgrade the
SupraFAXModem V.32bis easily or not.
I believe that any manufacturer that promises V.fast upgradability is
making a promise they likely will not be able to keep.
Alan
Ditto on what George said re: AFax.
wmc
Alan:
Thanks for the good news. Can you verify that Supra HAS indeed licensed the
Aussie Fax software for the Amiga for distribution with the v.32bis fac
modem? Is it the same package that is here in the library (lib# 5) called
AFAXDM.LZH?
Michael
….from the north coast
Michael,
The FAX software shown at AmiExpo is MUCH nicer than the AFAX thing
recently posted here. It's of Australian origin as well, called GPFax. They
were selling it with the 2400 bps data/ 9600 FAX modem, which was already
shipping at the show.
The software looks really nice. Converts IFFs to and from the IFF FAX
format. To create a fax, just convert an IFF or text file to FAX format, or
select the fax driver as your printer in Preferences. I forgot to ask about
ARexx support (ack). The stuff they were showing looked REALLY good.
Denny:
That's the first I've heard that the Amiga FAX software (GPFax) is
available now. Good news.
I'm curious if you have seen the AFAX package and compared it to GPFax, why
you say the GPFax is "MUCH" nicer?
AFAX lets you convert IFF's and include them with text…then just hit the
SEND button. Currently it doesn't allow direct printing from an
application. AFAX also sports a really nice spooler… you can just keep
hitting SEND and let the spooler figure out what to send and when, or you
can tell it to send you one NOW, and all others after 11:00pm (or
whatever). You can set up aliases like USERGROUP=Joe, Bob, Ray, GAIL where
if you send a fax to USERGROUP it will automatically send the same fax to
each individual indentified in the alias (as long as the individual name is
also aliased to a fax #). Neat stuff.
More… More…MORE I want more information!!
Michael
….from the north coast
Micheal,
I don't have a lot of details, as I just saw the GPFax software demo'd at
AmiExpo. But it looks to be a more integrated package–not a ton of
commands all over the place lik AFax. Really nice interface.
I hope to have the modem and software for review in about two weeks–I'll
post an impression here when I get it. (I also plan to test it with the
AFax software, to see if it works.)
"…not a ton of commands all over the place lik AFax."
Denny:
The AFAX interface is very staright forward. All those 'commands' are what
give it a lot of user configurability (?) and they are all embedded in a
simple config file that need be set once, and then forgotten.
I hope you get your SupraModem & GPFax soon and post some impressions!
Michael
….from the north coast
Denny,
How does GPFax compare to the ClickFax software?
-sja
Steve,
On first impression, it looked similar to ClickFax in capability–EXCEPT I
don't know if it does ARexx. ARexx could be REALLY handy with Fax software,
so that could be a big difference.
I hope to have both Supra/GPFax and ClickFax in at COMPUTE for evaluation
sometime in March–I'll be better equipped to make a comparison after I've
had a chance to really use both.
Well, _when_ the Supra fax modems are finally released maybe Black Belt
will concur that with the new pricing of the hardware they'll no longer be
able to compete and will release their ClickFax software as a standalone.
-sja
Depends on the fax software… we're sure interested to see what Supra (and
GVP) will be putting out. We've put a lot of work into ClickFAX, and odds
are it won't die as a product unless these new programs are extremely good.
We have a wait and see attitude about it. Been doing a lot of waiting. :^)
–Ben
Michael
We have sold them, so I'm assuming we have licensed it. I don't know if it
is the same package as what is in lib# 5. I don't think it is exactly the
same though because they had to do somethings special that we wanted.
Kenny
Supra Tech Support
Kenny:
Will your (Supra's) fax software work with your 9600 baud S/R FAX-2400 baud
data modem?
Michael
….from the north coast