The 2400etc - Internal 2400 Baud Modem With MNP Copyright 1989 David Batterson ATI Technologies Inc. in Canada is a manufacturer of high-performance communications and graphics boards. It makes the VGAWONDER card, among other products. Its newest product is the 2400etc, a 2400 baud modem with MNP (Microcom Networking Protocol). The 2400etc is made both in internal and external types. This review covers the internal modem. What is MNP anyway? MNP is a hardware protocol, as opposed to a software protocol like XMODEM, YMODEM, etc. It not only provides error-checking, resulting in 100% error-free transmissions, but speeds things up considerably. The 2400etc has MNP Class 5 data compression. Though only a 2400 baud modem, this compression feature allows the modem to actually achieve over 4800 baud throughput. MNP Class 5 uses two methods: Adaptive Packet Assembly and Data Phase Optimization. Data is sent in packets. What Adaptive Packet Assembly does is to monitor the phone line during transmission. If it detects that the line is mostly error-free, it automatically increases the size of those packets. Likewise, if there is line trouble, the packet sizes are decreased. MNP also eliminates much "administrative information," by use of the Data Phase Optimization. In addition, the 2400etc uses a single chip Digital Signal Processor. All of these work in harmony to provide the highest possible speed, with zero errors. However, the modem you are calling must also support MNP protocol for it to work. The 2400etc automatically detects whether that modem has MNP, and will fall back to MNP levels 4, 3, 2 or 1 as necessary. If it finds that the receiving modem doesn't support MNP, it operates as a normal modem. In this case, your maximum speed is 2400-bps throughput, and error-checking is done by your software, not by the modem itself. Supplied with the modem is the excellent MIRROR II software (the Crosstalk clone), customized for the 2400etc. Once you install the board (selecting COM 1, 2, 3 or 4), you proceed with the easy software installation. At that time, you select either MNP or non-MNP operation. This can be changed at any time. MIRROR II supports a new YMODEM setting, so that you indicate whether the remote modem has MNP. This is done using the /y or /n switches in your command. For instance, you might use the command: "RY BATMAN.ARC/y." For non-MIRROR II users, that means you wish to receive file BATMAN.ARC using YMODEM, and MNP is used by both modems. It's best to find out ahead of time if the modems you'll be calling have MNP. For example, if you call a BBS which doesn't have an MNP modem, you'll get a delay. The manual says about 18 seconds, but it seemed to take longer with one BBS I called. The delay is caused because the modem is trying to establish an MNP link. If it doesn't find one, it connects as a non-MNP modem. If the delay bothers you, then don't keep the MNP installation. I was unable to find any MNP modems to call locally, so I reinstalled the modem in non-MNP mode. You can also change the MNP setting, using the "AT" commands. In this way, you can call one modem with MNP, and another without MNP, without running the installation each time. The command "AT&F" selects non-MNP, and "AT&F1" selects MNP mode. The 2400etc has several diagnostic tests, each of which is explained in the manual. If you have any trouble, just run these and look at the onscreen responses you get. I had no problems with it. At a suggested list of $239, the 2400etc internal MNP modem is a good value. Remember, you'll save on long distance costs if the modem you're calling has MNP capability. Transmission speed will be double that of a regular 2400 baud modem. As more MNP modems are installed, many users will be able to enjoy faster uploads/downloads, and lowered phone bills. For more information, contact ATI Technologies Inc., 3761 Victoria Park Ave., Scarborough, Ontario, CANADA M1W 3S2; 416-756-0718; FAX: 416-756-0720. ----- UPDATE August 26, 1989 The new version of the 2400etc/i modem now supports the CCITT v.42 standard: LAP-M (Link Access Procedure for Modems). LAP-M is the "primary protocol" for v.42 modems, with MNP as the "Annex A" (secondary) protocol. All registered owners of a 2400etc modem bought between May 1 and August 1, 1989, will receive a free v.42 upgrade. The upgrade is a new EPROM which replaces the one on your 2400etc modem. This is a very generous offer from ATI, and not one you would generally receive from a U.S. company. Upgrades outside that period cost only $20. That's very reasonable. The new 2400etc/e [external] v.42 modem has a suggested retail of only $299. This is reportedly the lowest-priced v.42-compliant modem available at this time. # David Batterson writes articles and reviews about modems and the online industry. Contact him via MCI MAIL: DBATTERSON.