Winmodems (was: Re: [svlug] Modem Install)

[Marc MERLIN]

On 13 Sep 1998 01:13:07 -0700, Rick Moen <rick at hugin.imat.com> wrote:
>Quoting Ray Olszewski (ray at comarre.com):
>
>[Winmodems]
> 
>> He's right, of course (in a Linux context), but can anybody explain the
>> details (or point to an explanation somewhere)?
>
>The _UART_ has been omitted from a Winmodem.  That's the key chip in a
>standard serial port, the Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter.
>Instead, the manufacturer furnishes a Win16 VXD "modem engine" module 
>that _emulates_ the missing circuitry.

Isn't the DSP missing also? My understanding was that all the encoding and
decoding had to be done in software.
This is very expensive CPU-wise (but good for intel since by saving $20 on a
modem you'll feel obliged to spend $200 (or more) on a CPU upgrade)
It  requires knowledge  of rather  complex algorithms  covered (I  think) by
patents and available (I think) only under NDA.

The ignorance  of people  will kill  computers (it  has already  created PCs
afterall)

Marc
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