BKCMDMRF.RVW  941021
 
"The Complete Modem Reference, 2nd Ed.", Held, 1994, 0-471-00852-4, U$34.95
%A   Gilbert Held
%C   22 Worchester Road, Rexdale, Ontario   M9W 9Z9
%C   605 Third Avenue, New York, NY   10158-0012
%D   1994
%G   0-471-00852-4
%I   Wiley
%O   U$34.95 800-263-1590 fax: 800-565-6802 800-CALL-WILEY
%O   jdemarra@jwiley.com aponnamm@jwiley.com
%T   "The Complete Modem Reference, 2nd Ed."
 
The subtitle for this book indicates that it is the "Technician's Guide".  It
most certainly isn't the user's.
 
Chapters one and two are oddly disjointed pieces covering general background,
plus topics such as how to use the Reference Diskette for an IBM PS/2 computer. 
Chapters three and four discuss modulation methods and standards.  These
chapters indicate that the book is old, with only token mention of the more
modern technologies.  The content is written in highly technical language, but
usually fails to give specific details of the actual protocols.  Chapter five
covers command sets (or, rather, one command set), error detection, and data
compression; six covers fax.  Seven looks at some older modems--not one is a
14,400 (although an illustration in the book does show one).  Most of the
features mentioned as buying points in chapter eight are quite common.  The
bulk of chapter nine is taken up with test indicator lights, without discussion
of how the tests are used; the actual troubleshooting section does have some
good points, but concentrates on hardware issues even when software is probably
to blame.  The final chapter lists the shareware on a disk you can buy from the
author.  (Other authors' shareware.)
 
Although this material is at too high a level for the average user, it may not
be particularly suitable for the technician, either.  The content is not
complete, nor particularly reliable.  The topics and direction are not what I
would recommend most to those having to diagnose, install or recommend modems.
 
copyright Robert M. Slade, 1994   BKCMDMRF.RVW  941021

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