Get connected! (Aztech MDP3858-SPE)

Member Name: The Duke

Product:	Aztech MDP3858-SPE
Date:	28/02/01 (290 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good quality, lots of features, software CD

Disadvantages: Clashes with ISA devices, have to print own manual, customer service lacking

I bought my modem from CCL Computers about 2 years ago. At the time, it cost me approximately £35 which was good value those days, especially for a "hardware" modem i.e. it uses on board chips do do the signal processing as opposed to "software" modems which use software i.e. your processor to do the same.

When people think about modems, they usually have a picture of themselves logging onto the Internet and browsing, or sending e-mail. Few people actually use the extra facilities that are available to them. The Aztech modem is capable of sending faxes, being an answering machine or a phone and, with the help of a soundcard, can record your phone calls! For the purposes of this opinion, I’ve only used my modem to send faxes, and for normal Internet use, although I am intrigued by the other possibilities.

It supports the usual standards these days: V.90, V.34 etc. with features for the other uses - tone or pulse dialling, full duplex speakerphone, automatic fax/modem switch, TAD connectors for answering machine etc.

I unpacked the modem, and was quite surprised to see just the modem, the driver CD and a flimsy piece of paper labelled the start-up guide. “Where’s the manual?” I asked myself.

So, I opened the case of my computer, earthed myself, and picked up the Easy Start Guide. If you’re used to inserting components into your computer, then you’ll not really need to look at this, simply find an empty PCI slot, and slot in your modem. Turn on your computer, insert the driver CD, and away you go.

The driver CD, as is the norm these days hold much more than just the drivers – for a start, it’s where the manual resides in PDF format. There’s also a lot of other software there to enable you to get the most out of your modem, like fax software. The software and drivers installed with no problem (and if you only plan to use the modem for internet use, t
here’s no need to install the extra software.)

For the first few months, I had some real problems with sound on my modem – the modem itself operated perfectly, but with certain pieces of software (usually games) sounds became corrupted, even after the game was finished, usually prompting either me turning off my speakers, or a reboot. This was eventually traced to a clash between my IRQ allocation between my ISA soundcard and the PCI modem. Upgrading the soundcard to a PCI model banished this problem however.

This is where my only problem with the modem arises – Aztech were practically useless when I was trying to solve this problem. E-mail addresses were practically impossible to come by, and I ended up with some poor girl in Germany trying to help me even though she spoke poor English (and my German is non-existent!). Even though Aztech had an office in London, they were even less help than the poor German lass.

I have to say though, that since upgrading my soundcard to a PCI one, the modem has been a joy to use, and good value at £35. If you have a modern PC, and are looking for a modem, then this is one I would go for, or at least whatever the up to date version is. However, if you have an ISA soundcard, I would advise trying another modem (or upgrading your soundcard first).

Summary: