[cctalk] Re: RS232 - parallel modems!?

On Mon, 10 Feb 2025 at 23:48, Rick Bensene via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote: Er, is it possible that you are mixing up modems with Ethernet adaptors? Xircom was well known for parallel-port Ethernet adaptors, such as seen here: https://www.ardent-tool.com/Xircom/Xircom_Pocket_Adapters.html I supported several and they worked very well, even with Linux. With an ECP/EPP+ port they could be quite fast. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_port#EPP_and_ECP Sure, many companies did. Xircom was far from alone. Most had dongles. Indeed one of the only type II cards that _didn't_ were 3Com XJACK cards. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XJACK (!) Far more. I am not sure I ever saw one that slow. 28.8 was normal, 33.6 briefly, and the one I used longest was 56K. For me the nifty device was their RealPort range which needed a type III slot: https://docs.rs-online.com/04a6/0900766b8002b85f.pdf They also did very clever "Realport 2" cards which could be mirrored, one inserted upside down, so you could insert 2 of them into a pair of type 2 slots in one physical type 3 slot *with one running upside down,* for 2 x full-sized connectors. https://www.ebay.com/itm/312549616539 Xircom was also one of vanishingly few companies to offer working USB drivers _for Windows NT 4_ -- an OS that did not support USB. https://forums.scotsnewsletter.com/index.php?/topic/7054-usb-on-nt4/ -- Liam Proven ~ Profile: https://about.me/liamproven Email: lproven(a)cix.co.uk ~ gMail/gTalk/FB: lproven(a)gmail.com Twitter/LinkedIn: lproven ~ Skype: liamproven IoM: (+44) 7624 227612: UK: (+44) 7939-087884 Czech [+ WhatsApp/Telegram/Signal]: (+420) 702-829-053