Global Village Teleport 56k Fax/Modem
Boca Research Inc.
Estimated Price: $140
http://www.globalvillage.com
I’ve been using a Global Village modem for many years now, having started out with the 2400 Bronze modem that came with my first Mac. I updated to the blazing fast (!?) 14.4 Gold II and then to the 28.8 Teleport Platinum when I felt that I was spending hours and hours (and at times I was!) sitting here trying to download or upload files pertaining to My Mac or to anything else. I was very happy using the 28.8 modem, it allowed me to do what I needed done in a reasonable amount of time… but when the new 56k modems came out, I started to wonder, “is it time to upgrade?”
I’ve held off as long as I could but when the chance arrived to evaluate a 56k modem, how could I say no? Before I did anything with the new modem, I made sure that I saved all the connection information from the modem control panel and saved it as a text file. Going through the files, I saw that my average connection speed was 26400 bps, and that was no matter what I ever did to try and improve the connection speed, it never worked. I added the 56k modem to my system, changed nothing else and added nothing else except the Teleport software. My connection to my ISP was immediate with no problems at all. When I checked my access connection speed files, I found that my speed had increased to 38-42,000bps. Not shabby at all! Downloads seem to fly in and sending files out was definitely a lot quicker.
The Teleport 56k modem supports both the K56flex and V.90 protocols. The modem can auto-select either V.90 or K56flex mode and adjust appropriately. It comes with GlobalFax software and is able to sense the difference between fax and voice calls permitting the user to use one phone line to accomplish multiple missions. Faxing is capable of 14k,400 bps send and receive. I wish that I could tell you that the fax software does what it is supposed to do but I have yet to have to fax anything anywhere in all the years that I’ve been using a modem. Maybe I should start a business or something?
It continues to amaze me that people still don’t bother to read the instructions to try and make sure that the installation and the operation of the software is correct. Installing the Teleport software was quick and easy, and I encountered no problems whatsoever. The Teleport software installs a Menu bar status indicator to let you know what the modem is doing. I normally don’t use it, instead I just glance at the green LED connection indicator to let me know that I’m connected and ready to do what I want. A lot of Mac users don’t even install the software and instead just utilize the TCP/IP and OT/PPP capabilities of the Mac software to connect to the Internet. Whichever way you connect, you shouldn’t encounter any problems.
Another good point of the Teleport modem series is the fact that the unit itself is compact and can be placed either horizontally or on-edge, permitting the unit to be placed where space allows. The green power-on and connection LEDs let you know that the unit is functional and connected, so no guesswork is involved.
System Requirements
Macintosh with 68020 processor or later, System 7.1 or later, minimum 4MB of RAM, minimum of 8MB of hard disk space and standard analog phone line. (Caveat included: Modem is 56k capable, however, phone line conditions or regulations may limit download speeds to 53Kbps or less.)
Summary
The Global Village Teleport 56k modem does what it is supposed to and does it well. Since installing it I’ve encountered none of the broken connections or failures to connect that I’ve had so often in the past. In all cases the modem has performed flawlessly and I’m very pleased with it. Highly recommended.
MacMice Rating: 4.5
Russ Walkowich
editor@mymac.com
Websites mentioned:
http://www.globalvillage.com
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