Diamond Smart One 56Kbps USB V.92 Controller-based Data/Fax Modem

by Best Data

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 9 x 2.8 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00009WQSG
• Item model number: 56USBPMAC
• Average Customer Review: 1.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,273 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 31, 2003

Product Description

Introducing the Smart One 56K USB Plus External Controller based modem. This 56k USB modem is designed to work with Microsoft Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, MAC OS 9.1 and above systems to deliver the fastest speeds possible and additional features like QuickConnect and Internet Call-Waiting. (Internet Call waiting drivers and application for Windows 2000 and XP only). The Smart One modem supports all the new standard V.92 features with the exception of PCM upstream.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Better Than Apple's Internal Modem, But..., June 17, 2004

By 

Scott Shannon (McKinleyville, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diamond Smart One 56Kbps USB V.92 Controller-based Data/Fax Modem (Personal Computers)

This has to be one of the worst external modems ever made for the Mac. It is, however, still an improvement over Apple's own internal modem, in that, once the Best modem manages to negotiate a connection, it stays connected. But getting that initial connection with the Best modem is often difficult, and dealing with the necessary workarounds can quickly tire one's patience. After having consistent difficulties with this modem when I first bought it, I tried to contact Best Support, but I never received a reply. So, I returned it to Amazon.com for an exchange. After receiving the second Best modem, I had exactly the same problems, so I concluded that the defects I was experiencing were probably generic to the model. The basic issue seems to be that the modem often fails to initialize properly. To reset it requires that you unplug the USB cable and re-plug it, sometimes over and over, until the device finally responds. The modem has the same difficulty in both OS 9 and OS X; the only difference I've noted is that, in OS X, it can take up to 15 seconds after issuing the Connect command for the modem to actually start dialing. I've had to unplug and re-plug the USB cable as many as a half dozen times sometimes to get the device to work. So why do I put up with it? Because, as I mentioned at the beginning, once this modem makes a connection, it stays connected, which Apple's own internal modem typically failed to do. In that sense, the Best modem is just marginally more tolerable. It's just a shame that this Best modem appears to be the only external modem that's now made for the Mac. Caveat emptor!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Best Modem better than imac internal modem, February 17, 2005

By 

S. Laird (Eagle River, Alaska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diamond Smart One 56Kbps USB V.92 Controller-based Data/Fax Modem (Personal Computers)

I bought the Best Data 56USBPMAC modem from my local Mac Store after having a lot of trouble with my imac flat panel internal modem (apparently the internal modem couldn't handle phone line noise).

The connection speed increased dramatically, from 27000 at best (sometimes the internal modem slowed down to 900) to over 42000. However, after a few days I started getting the error message that the modem could not be found, or the never-ending disconnect. I eventually discovered that after my computer had gone to sleep, I saw a light on the modem with the letter OH. I don't know what that meant, except perhaps "on-hold"? Anyway, I've tried reconnecting the USB plug into the back of the computer after the computer has been sleeping and before trying to connect, and that seems to have solved the problem.

That is a bit of a nuisance, but still tons better than the frustration with the internal modem disconnects and slow speed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Modem When It Works, August 21, 2004

By 

Ken Sternberg (North of Boston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diamond Smart One 56Kbps USB V.92 Controller-based Data/Fax Modem (Personal Computers)

The internal modem in my iMac died so I bought this one. Very simple to set up. But there seems to be an intermittant bug in the modem's software that causes problems with my computer (which is running OS 10.2.8). Without warning, the computer won't recognize the modem and I'll have to continually fiddle with iMac's network and modem settings.

Other times, when I disconnect from being online, the computer will hang in the disconnect mode and look like it's in the process of disconnecting even though it's no longer online. When this happens the only solution I've found is to reboot my computer, which is a pain.

Repeated emails and faxes to Best Data tech support have resulted in a total of zero responses from the company, so if tech support is important to you, avoid this modem.