---------- MODEM NEWS ---------- 56K Upgrade ----------- The test batch of K56FLEX modems is performing well, so on December 18 we ordered enough new modems to upgrade all of the access servers on 410-296-5500 to K56FLEX. We also ordered an additional access server equipped with K56FLEX modems. Given the usual delivery time of four to six weeks, this means that by early to mid February our 410-296-5500 modem pool will consist of 368 modems, all of them K56FLEX. Please note that these are K56FLEX modems, not X2. K56FLEX and X2 are two incompatible technologies currently used to build 56K modems. If you have an X2 modem you will be able to connect to us at 28.8K or 33.6K, just as you are probably doing now, but no faster. 33.6K is the fastest speed possible between a K56FLEX modem and an X2 modem. If you are shopping for a 56K modem, we recommend that you buy a K56FLEX model. This will give you the highest connection speeds possible with our K56FLEX modems. New ITU 56K Standard -------------------- The International Telephone Union (ITU) is expected to approve a draft of a new industry-wide 56K standard at its January 26 - February 6 meeting in Geneva. Several of you have asked how soon after that we plan to upgrade again to the new ITU 56K standard. That's hard to say. What the ITU will be approving in January is only the current draft of the new 56K standard. Final approval of the new standard will not occur until September 1998, and there is a good chance that minor changes will made between January and September. Even so, several modem manufacturers have announced that they will begin producing new modems (and upgrades for their K56FLEX and X2 models) based on the draft standard by Spring of 1988. Whether those new modems and upgrades actually conform to the final standard will not be known until the final standard is approved in September. If not, the result could be chaotic. This is exactly what happened several years ago when the ITU approved the draft of what eventually became the V.34 (28.8K) standard. Many manufacturers built modems based on what they guessed the final standard would be. These were called "V.FC" or "V.FAST" modems. There were many incompatibilities between brands, and most V.FC and V.FAST modems turned out to be incompatible with the final V.34 standard. Some manufacturers provided V.34 upgrades for their V.FC and V.FAST modems, but not all did. A lot of owners found themselves with modems that were not compatible and not upgradable. Many industry watchers expect the same thing to happen with 56K modems based on the ITU's draft 56K standard. This makes it risky for any ISP to upgrade to the draft standard, so most will probably wait until modems built to the final 56K standard become available. Our access servers are made by Cisco Systems. The modems used in them are made by Microcom. Both companies are major players in the commercial ISP market with reputations for reliability to protect. Neither company has made a public statement on the subject, but a conservative approach would be consistent with their past performance. They tend to wait until the dust settles on new standards rather than issue premature upgrades that may have compatibility problems. My best guess is that they will not release an upgrade based on the draft standard, but will wait for approval of the final standard in September. This means our modems probably will remain K56FLEX until after the final standard is announced in September 1998. Therefore, we recommend the following if you plan to purchase a 56K modem before then: o Select a K56FLEX model. This will make it compatible with our K56FLEX modems, and will allow you to connect to your BCPL Internet account at speeds higher than 33.6K. o If you select a modem built to the ITU 56K draft standard, make sure it also conforms to the K56FLEX standard. Otherwise you may not be able to connect to our K56FLEX modems any faster than 33.6K. o If you select an X2 modem, be aware that an X2 modem cannot connect to our K56FLEX modems any faster than 33.6K. o Buy the best you can possibly afford. Modems are a classic example of "You get what you pay for". If you buy a cheap modem, you get a cheap modem. o No matter what you buy, make sure the manufacturer guarantees that it can be upgraded to the final ITU 56K standard. o No matter what you buy, bookmark the manufacturer's Web site in your browser and visit it often to see if downloadable "flash" upgrades are available. 56K is still a moving target, so it is unrealistic to expect the best possible performance and compatibility if you don't keep up with the upgrades provided for your model. o If you're not a risk taker, or if you don't want to deal with the potential need for frequent flash ROM upgrades, stay with your current 14.4, 216.6, or 33.6 model until modems built to the final ITU 56K standard become available. You will still be able to use your old modem here even after ours are all upgraded to K56FLEX. All 56K modem makers will build to the final ITU standard once it is approved next September. Many will also provide free or low-cost upgrades to the final standard for owners of K56FLEX, X2, and ITU draft standard models. That will finally put us all on the same playing field. Until then, it's likely to be a tough game to follow. To stay up to date on 56K modem issues, bookmark http://www.56k.com in your Web browser and visit the site often. It has late breaking news from the ITU standards front, lots of information on 56K and how it works, and links to many other sites with useful news and information on 56K modems. ------------------------------------------------------------------- All System News is archived at http://www.bcpl.lib.md.us/sysnews.html (or enter "sysnews" at the UNIX shell prompt) If you have questions about this message or about anything else related to your BCPL Internet Account, please contact the BCPL Help Desk. Phone: 410-887-3297 FAX: 410-887-2091 E-Mail: help@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us Visit our Help pages at http://www.bcpl.lib.md.us/help.html (or enter "help" at the UNIX shell prompt)