reviews - Fabio Montoro

~REVIEWS
Jeff Ash urst tests the WS2000
T
HE WS2000 from Miracle Techno logy is a functional-Iooking unit
measuring 155 x 160 x 68mm. The
test model was a version 7 example,
and had a beige ABS outer casing with
1ront and rear panels in matt black.
Modem contrais and status indicators
are mounted on the lrant panel, while at
lhe rear are connection parts, power in,
line out and -an on/of( switch. A Ring
Equivalence Number (REN = 1) is
quoted in accordance with current 8T
practice . This and other legends are
marked clearly in white on the matt
black surfaces.
User selection of operating mode of
this mul ti-standard unit is by three
rotary contrels in the Iront pane l. These
allow selection between:
.1200/75 V23 and 300/300 V21 speeds
.300 fu ll duplex orig/ans, 600 or 1200
half duplex
.0n/oU line
Each switch has duplicate function .
The speed selector is also used in the
'300' position when working at 600 or
1200 half duplex ; the mode seleclor has
a V231est setling ; and the oU-line position doubles as the ' local test' setting
for checking modem functions .
As the positional combinations in
use are difficult to convey with clarity in
words, Miracle Technology prefers to
use a .picture in its instruction manual.
For each application described , a bold
block diagram of the front panel is provi ded with switch settings shown
clearly.
Before leaving the contrai area of the
Ircnt panel, I must mentian that around
the mode selector are marked, in a less
prominent red , the positions for selection of 8ell frequencies , although these
are not used in the green sticker units
approved for connection to 8T apparatus . For use with non-8T systems, the
modem can be modified to operate on
both CCITI & Bell frequencies. (No
multi-standard modem has been
awarded the BABT seal of approval
wilh its Bell options operable.)
To the left of the frant panel is lhe
status area , with tive red LED indicators marked, from top to bottom :
Power, Tx Data , Rx Data, earrier and
On line .
Sludy of the business end (the rear
pane I) reveals just what a serious
piece of equipment this is.
Thoughtful deslgn , excellenl performance
Plnno. Signal
1
Protective ground
2
Transmitted data
Received data
3
4
Request to send
Clear to send
5
Data set ready
6
Signal ground (Com mon
7
return)
Data carrier detector
8
Data terminal ready
20
Ring indicator
22
able things like the Commodore 64/
Vic20 to be interfaced to the WS2000.
With this extension fitted , two devices
can be connected to the modem simultaneously .
Fin ally, an accessory port in the form
of a 5-pin DIN socket sits to the left of the
array. This is for future expansions,
said to include a battery back-up pack
and an acoustic coupler.
A nice touch, and one which I feel is
indicative of the obvious thought and
attention to detail in this design , is that
each port has the first and last pins
numbered as part of lhe legend.
In use, the WS2000 lived up to the
expectations that the casing and
manual had generated . I found it useful
to have the bank of status LEDs , either
to confirm that things were happening
as they should or, more importantly, as
an aid to fault-finding -like whe n a wire
pulled oH my RS423 DIN plug .
Altogether an excellent modem . The
WS2000 I tested was lhe standard
manual version, bul my appetite is now
whetted to try a software contralled ,
auto-dial and auto-answer example of
the same machine.
Table 1. RS232 wirlng for lhe O conneclor
The se rial interface employs a 25-pin
D connector wilh 10 pins wired according to standard
RS232 recommendations (table 1). Df these signals,
the 5-pin DIN port of the BBC micro's
RS423 interface handles pin numbers.
1, 2, 3, 5 and 7.
Alongside the serial port is a 20-p in
use r port, through which the modem
can be operated under software control
when the appropriate hardware exlensions are fitted . A software control kit,
an auto-dia l kit and an auto-answer
board are available. In addition, provis ion is made for a TIL port to be
added to the panel to enable unspeakSCM
Price including VAT
NIgbr.le
BT green slicker
prolocols: CCln V21 (BTG)
CCITT V23 (Preslel )
reverse V23
1200 half-duplex
600 half-duplex
Bell
originale and answer modes
selftest
aulo-d ia!
•
••* ••
•
•
•• ••
•• •
•• •
• •
E
auto-answer
E
lelephone sockel
sized lo lelephone
onloll swilch
overalt raling
Preslel
SCM
4
7
8
8
5
32
•
•
•
PAC
Prulek
• •
•
••
•
••
••
••
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
••
••
E
E
•*
Br spprovs l Bppfied lor
Nlgbf.le
lelemud
Pru!el
Prole.
B
6
B
7
5
4
4
6
26
8
5
4
4
PAC
7
3
2
5
5
4
6
32
9
2
4
7
18 /40 x 2 17/40)( 2
30
WS2000
ê99.95 r149.45
•
E: optionsl extrss
Table 2. The lacllltles oHered by each modem
ease 01 use
docu menlallon
range 01prolacals
range ollealures
averall useability
TeIBmod
ê149.95 ê136.85 ê84 .95 ê"3.85 ê59.95
WS2000
7
6
9
9
7
38
Table 3. How lhe)' scare oul of a posslble 50 polnts (8coustlc coupler. out of 40)
,
ACORN USER AUGUST 1985
Modems
Th e Modem 7000 by Micronel is dedi ·
will be announced when finished , 8t a counlry and setting s for lhe USA Bel l
cated to lhe Commodore 64 and ha s a
price yet to be announced. With a three lones as well. A look ai lh e back of lhe
separa te cartridg e which plug s ;nlo th e
week delivery time 11 seems to be a
mod em reveals a 'user parI' which
winner, but until I see Dne on my desk
allows total externai control Df lhe modo back of the micro. Thi s cont ains th e
wilh l ighl s a'flashing, I will wilhhold a em by another computer. Software to
software to run lhe mod em, bul costs
verdict.
do th is is available from Miracle Te ch·
(50. If l he lime laken in loading you r
Dne modem which stands out trom
nolog y.
communications software could be bet lh e crowd is lhe Portman Multispeed,
te r us ed, then this cartridge all ows Vou
wh ich as lhe nam e suggests is not
lo ju sl plu g in and log on. Th e modem
li m iled lo 300 baud. 1200.'75 and 12001
cosls no, 50 fo r a tot al of only (120 vo u
1200 baud are ther e toa , but lhe price Df
Th ere is also a us er pari which is . are ready to 51art communicating .
(224 could be a lillle of! puttin~. Espe· inlended for fulur e expansion of lhe
Fo r those bus y people with even les s
tim e 10 spend on the proeess of goin9
cially when fa ced with lhe ne xt item on Ieq uipment , including an acousti c cou ·
lhe lis!.
. Ipler and a battery back up pack. Ali Ihi s on line, Ihere is always lhe OSL 2123 AO
from Jaguar. This has an au to-dia I fa eilTh e M inar Miracles World Standard lar only (149 . AI such a low price, wilh
2000 modem. Th at's quite a name, but such a full specification . lhe only won - ity, 50 Vou ca n eon ta el bulletin boards or
other se rviees very easily with just a few
Ih en irs quile a produc!.
der is Ihat lhe Olher modems sell ai alI.
keystrokes, leavi ng th e modem ilself to
Jt 's lhe only one of lhe item s unde r Included with lhe mod em is a decent
dial the number for Vou . Vou get what
review to offer not only the three com- manual and a li st of bulletin board
moner speeds, but also 600 baud for this numbers in places as far removed as th e Vou pav for though, and this is refleeted
in th e price of (286 . I'd ralher pay less
USA, Sweden, Germa.ny. and Bri slo l.
and dial m yself, bul maybe I'm jusI a
skinflin t.
Th e Buzzbox is a competen! thoug h
Jimited performer; th e Answercall
MM100 modem is sleek ; lhe Steebek
machines are able enough , but ralher
large. 8UI na ne of lhese modems offer
very muc h ai lhe price.
If on e manufacture r ean produ ce a
producl like lhe Minar M ira ci es WS2000
ai such a rid icu lously low price I hen 5 0
can lhe olhers. Most people would be
prepared to largo some of lhe injecled.
high grade plastic easings in return for a
grealer specification ai á realist ic pri ce.
The modem markel looks sei for a big
shake up in lh e new Vear, cr some of
\'IHAT MICRO?
these products will sink without trace.
8 y law any ele ctri cal device conFEBRUARY 1985
necled to Te lecom equ ipment mUSI
have one of two stickers. If a piece of
equipment is approv ed il bears a circplar green 5ticker . If il is not apprOVl
red sticker states thal use with Te lec
I
equipment i5 an offence.
E
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xpanslon
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