TITLE
    56Kbps Modems: Upgrade Options
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		24326
1/23/98
6/16/00
TOPIC

    This article contains the following questions (and answers) regarding 56K modem upgrade options:

      1. I would like to add an internal 56Kbps modem to my Power Macintosh G3 and Power Macintosh 6500 computers. How can I do this?
      2. What about the V.90 standard for a 56Kbps modem? Is there an upgrade/update for my modem?

DISCUSSION

    Question 1: I would like to add an internal 56Kbps modem to my Power Macintosh G3 and Power Macintosh 6500 computers. How can I do this?

    Answer: Apple currently does not offer internal 56K Flex modem upgrades for users with a slower speed internal modem or no internal modem. This includes the Power Macintosh G3 and Performa 6200, 6300, 6400, 6500, 5400, 5500, and 4400 series computers. If you have a lower speed internal modem installed, you would need to add an external modem as an upgrade.

    To use an external modem on the models with an existing internal communications slot modem, you must remove both the modem and the plastic cap covering the modem port. We would recommend having an Apple-authorized service provider do this for you.

    Apple has no plans to update the Apple Telecom software for the internal GeoPort modems or the external GeoPort Telecom Adapter beyond the existing V.34 standard (33.6Kbps) currently available. Apple Telecom 3.1.1 is available from Apple Software Updates sites, search for Geoport EM 3.1.1 . Apple Telecom 3.1.3 is on the Mac OS 8 CD in the CD Extras folder or it can be purchased from Apple Order Center .

    Question 2: What about the V.90 standard for a 56Kbps modem? Is there an upgrade/update for my modem?

    Answer: Until recently, there were two proposed standards for 56K modems--x2 and K56 Flex--and Apple included modems incorporating the latter of these two standards in some Power Macintosh 6500 and Power Macintosh G3 computers.

    In September 1998, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), one of the organizations responsible for defining international communication standards, approved the ratification of the V.90 standard.

    The V.90 update is now available for the Power Macintosh G3 and Power Macintosh 6500 computers described above. It can be downloaded from the following:

    Apple/GV 56K Updaters: " http://asu.info.apple.com/swupdates.nsf/artnum/n11206 "

    Note: Apple computers introduced since 1999 have had V.90 compliant modems installed, or have software updates available to update them to the V.90 standard.

Document Information
Product Area: Communications-Networking; Peripherals
Category: Modems & Fax Modems
Sub Category: General Topics

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