Features Chart

Vendor

3Com

Global Village

Intel

Multi-Tech

Ositech

Silicom

Xircom

Model

Megahertz 10 Mbps LAN+56 Modem

3CEXM556T

(beta evaluated)

56K Fax/Modem/ Ethernet for Windows

(not evaluated)

EtherExpress PRO/100 Mobile

MBLA1656

MultiMobile Modem+Ethernet 56

MT5634ZLX/E

Jack of Spades

(not evaluated)

EtherModem56

SEM56/UTP

CreditCard Ethernet 10/100 + Modem 56

CEM56-100MD

Price (MSRP, single unit)

$329

$299

$389

$529

$399

$279

$379

Phone

(888) 906-3COM

(800) 736-4821

(800) 583-3373

(800) 328-9717

(888) OSI-TECH

(201) 529-1121

(805) 376-9300

URL

www.3com.com/mobile

www.globalvillage.com

www.intel.com/network

www.multitech.com

www.ositech.com

www.silicom.co.il

www.xircom.com/56

General features

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cables, connectors

1 LAN dongle,

1 XJACK socket

1 dongle "Clyde"

2 dongles

1 70-in. Y-cable

2 cables

1 dongle,

1 78-in. LAN cable

1 MiniDock or

2 dongles

- RJ-11 for modem

Female (XJACK)

Female

Female

Male

Male

Female

Female

- RJ-45 for LAN

Female

Female

Female

Male

Male

Male

Female

- Line activity LEDs

No

No

Yes

No

No

With SEM56/CMB

Yes

Power consumption

378 mA,

61 mA sleep mode,

power-saver modes

350 mA

490 mA,

power-saver modes

220 mA

350 mA,

50mA sleep mode

170 mA,

90 mA sleep mode

490 mA,

power-saver modes

Supported platforms

Windows 3.x, 95, NT

Windows 95; Mac OS

Windows 3.x, 95, NT; OS/2

Windows 3.x, 95, NT; OS/2

Windows 3.x, 95, NT

Windows 3.x, 95, NT

Windows 3.x, 95, NT; OS/2

Supplied software

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Diagnostic utilities

Modem test,

card diagnostics

None

Modem test,

card diagnostics

Card diagnostics

Analog and digital loopback

DOS Install Wizard

Modem test,

card diagnostics,

SNMP agent

- Fax; communication

RapidComm Data/Fax/Voice

FaxWorks/Data + Global Transfer Lite

None

Trio Fax Suite; Trio Data Suite

Fax Commniqué; none

Cheyenne Bitware

Delrina WinFax Lite; WinComm Lite

Documentation

QuickStart Guide,

On-Line User Guide

User Guide,

FaxWorks Guide,

On-Line AT Help

QuickStart Card,

User Guide,

56K Hints

Owner’s Manual

QuickStart Card,

User Guide,

On-Line Manual

Quick Install Guide,

On-Line Manual

QuickStart Card,

User Guide,

56K Hints

Modem Features

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transmission and control

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 56 Kbps type

x2ä

K56flexä

K56flexä

K56flexä

K56flexä

K56flexä

K56flexä

- V.34 (33.6 Kbps) and lower

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Error correction

V.42 LAPM, MNP2-4

V.42 LAPM, MNP2-4, 10EC

V.42 LAPM, MNP2-4

V.42 LAPM, MNP3-4

V.42 LAPM, MNP2-4

V.42 LAPM, MNP2-4

V.42 LAPM, MNP2-4

Data compression

All cards support both V.42bis (4:1) and MNP 5 (2:1) compression

Fax support

Class 1 and 2

Class 1

Class 1

Class 1 and 2

Class 1 and 2

Class 1 and 2

Class 1

Digital line support

Protects against

Protects against

Protects against

Protects against

Fully supported

by DPI (Digital Phone Interface)

None

Protects against

Cellular connectors available

AMPS

AMPS

None

None

AMPS

None

AMPS, PCS

Other modem features

Telephone answering

device

"Clyde" surge protection, Quick Release

Digital-loss select

Telephone answering

device, media player

Line signal strength and quality monitor

International usage

GlobalAccess,

Digital-loss select

Ethernet Features

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IEEE 802.3 10Base-T (UTP)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

IEEE 802.3 10Base-2 (BNC)

With 3CXEM556C

MSRP $379

No

No

With T2 Model

MSRP $569

No

With SEM56/CMB

Optional Cable

Available 3/98

IEEE 802.3u 100Base-TX

With 3CCFEM556

MSRP $419

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

Full-duplex support

Yes

Yes (20 Mbps only)

Yes (20 Mbps only)

No

Yes

No

Yes (20 Mbps only)

Network Operating Systems

 

- Windows for Workgroups

Yes

NDIS only

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

- Novell NetWare

Yes

NDIS only

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

- Microsoft LAN Manager

Yes

NDIS only

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

- Banyan VINES

Yes

NDIS only

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

- Artisoft LANtastic

Yes

NDIS only

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

- IBM LAN

Yes

NDIS only

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

- DEC Pathworks

Yes

NDIS only

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Other LAN features

Parallel Tasking

 

10/100 Auto-Sense

DOS LAN Monitor

 

Etherboost

Dynamic Pipelining

10/100 Auto-Sense

DOS LAN Monitor

Service and support

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITU standard flash upgrade

Free

Free

Free

Free

Free

Free

Free

Warranty

Limited lifetime

5 years

Limited lifetime

5 years

5 years

2 years

Limited lifetime,

software 2 Years

Money-Back Guarantee

1 year

Determined by dealer

90 days

30 days

30 days

14 days

30 days

 

By Lisa Phifer

 

 

From Internet World magazine, Volume 4, Issue 6, February 16, 1998.
Copyright Ó 1998 Mecklermedia Corporation, 20 Ketchum Street, Westport, CT 06880;
http://www.internet.com .
All rights reserved. Posted with permission.