TBBS 2.2 - Does TBBS Support V.32terbo, V.FC, and V.Fast Modems?

Contact:   eSoft, Inc. (Makers of TBBS)
           15200 E. Girard Ave., Suite 3000
           Aurora, CO  80014
           (303) 699-6565      Voice
           (303) 699-6872      Fax
           (303) 699-8222      BBS
           support@esoft.com   E-Mail

DOES TBBS SUPPORT V.32TERBO, V.FC, AND V.FAST MODEMS?
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Modems are currently available which support a modulation technique commonly 
referred to as V.32terbo.  (The misspelling comes about from being a variant 
of "ter" which means "third of a series" -- V.32 being first, V.32bis being 
second.)  These modems offer a carrier rate of 19,200 bps when connected in 
V.32terbo mode to another V.32terbo modem.

By late 1993 or early 1994, V.FC modems will be readily available from various 
modem manufacturers.  These modems, based on a Rockwell chipset, operate at 
carrier speeds up to 28,800 bps -- double the speed of previously state of the
art V.32bis modems (which operate at 14,400 bps).  

By late 1994 or early 1995, the V.Fast (working name) standard should be 
approved by the ITU-T (formerly the CCITT).  When this occurs, modems should 
begin to emerge which support the standard.  At this writing, the final speed 
capacity of V.Fast modems has not been finalized.

TBBS can support all of these modem types with maximum throughput.  (Details 
are given below.)

eSoft believes that V.32terbo modems are a largely unimportant contribution to 
modem technology, considering that V.FC modems operate at higher speeds and 
will be commonly available at attractive prices, most likely by the time you 
read this.

V.FC, although an interim, proprietary solution created and offered by 
Rockwell, is well positioned to emerge as the preferred solution.  Many major 
modem manufacturers have stated their commitment to V.FC, including Hayes.  
Additionally, Rockwell has stated that V.FC equipped modems can be upgraded to 
the full V.Fast specification when it's finalized.  V.FC offers full 28,800 
bps support, as well as a variety of fallback speeds when telephone line 
conditions can't support the full 28,800 bps speed.  

V.Fast has not been finalized at this writing.  Although some modems are 
claiming to offer V.Fast support, they are interim solutions (much like V.FC 
is an interim solution) and are proprietary to the particular brand of modem 
claiming V.Fast support.  Until the specification is finally approved by the 
ITU-T, eSoft does not recommend purchasing a modem claiming V.Fast support as 
such a modem would only communicate in V.Fast mode with a modem of the same 
make (whereas V.FC is supported by a variety of vendors). 

By November or December of 1993, when the the Hayes V.FC capable modems are 
released, eSoft will make available a patch which allows TBBS 2.2 to operate 
at interface speeds of either 57,600 bps or 115,200 bps.  These interface 
speeds are necessary to support the higher carrier rates these types of modems 
offer.  The patch will be optional, and provided via the customary UPDATE 
program and UPDATE.BIN file patch distribution and application method. 

eSoft's testing indicates that most TBBS applications can offer the full 
benefit of these modems using a 57,600 bps interface rate.  Our testing futher 
indicates that high speed computer hardware (Pentium based PCs, or high speed 
486 machines) that employ high performance disk sub-systems (such as caching 
disk controllers and SCSI hard disks) can even accommodate 64 simultaneous 
lines operating at 57,600 bps with less than 10% performance degradation, a 
feat no other communications platform currently in existence can offer!

eSoft will be releasing more details about these modems and interfacing them 
with TBBS as such information becomes available.

- END -
TBBS0067
Rev. 10/93

Copyright (C) 1994 eSoft, Inc., All Rights Reserved.  Permission granted
to distribute this file in its entirety, without modification, to any
interested party.  Any other use requires the written permission of
eSoft, Inc.

IMPORTANT:  The information herein is subject to change without notice.
Please call or write to confirm factual information of importance to you
or your organization.

