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WinModems

WINMODEM Frequently Asked Questions

With a WinModem or controllerless modem, your computer software handles almost all modem related tasks, including data compression. The greater the load you have on your system (ie. the more programs you are running) the less CPU time your computer will have to devote to the modem. You may get better compression and transfer rates by closing background programs. Generally speaking, these modems have a poor performance record and are not recommended by The Computer Works.

The following are articles supporting The Computer Works's statements regarding Winmodems

 

The Main Difference

The differences between WinModems and Hardware Modems are many, but according to Timothy C. Barmann of Cybertalk, the main difference is this:

These modems are fundamentally different than standard modems. In simplest terms, WinModems are like regular modems that have been lobotomized: some of their brainpower has been removed. To save money, modem manufacturers such as U.S. Robotics and Diamond Multimedia have designed modems that have fewer chips and rely on your computer's central brain, the CPU, to do much of the work.

High-demand on processors

Some WinModems may demand more of the processor than others. A frequently-asked-questions document by one modem maker, Royal PC, says that its Windows-only modem takes up to 50 percent of the CPU's cycles on computers that use the Pentium 100 Mhz CPU, when used to connect to the Internet. That means that while your browser is trying to draw a Web page on your screen, your CPU is split between trying to do that and trying to process the data streaming in from your phone line.

By contrast, a traditional modem operates independently of your processor, so your PC can devote most of its attention to displaying Web pages.

Requires perfect operating conditions

The WinModem requires both a computer with a high processor speed, as well as a perfectly clear phone line. In most cases, that is not entirely possible.

Read what EZ-Net has to say about the WinModem:

Winmodems/Softmodems seem to operate best in places with very little or no noise in the phone lines and in newer computer systems with a great deal of excess CPU resources. Unfortunately, these optimal line conditions usually exist only in cities. Most of the phone lines in the areas that aren't in the city are far from optimal and cause a great deal of problems for Winmodems/Softmodems. These problems include slow connection speeds, dropped connections, and not being able to connect at all.

If your internet connection suddenly disconnects, and does this often, your problem may be that you have both a WinModem, as well as a low-end CPU. Our suggestion for this is to either limit your open applications in order to lower CPU usage, or purchase a new Hardware Modem.

WinModem Troubleshooting

Make sure it is installed correctly
If you are a The Computer Works customer, we will check the installation of your modem at no cost.

Check your Network Configuration settings
If you are unsure about how to do this, call our office.

If you are experiencing problems with your WinModem we will gladly take a look at it and attempt to alleviate some of the problems. There are no real fixes for these modems - we can only try to work around the problems.

We do sell replacement modems and will install them for free.