Customer Reviews

Zoom 3095 USB Mini External Modem - USB - 1 x RJ-11 Phone Line - 56 Kbps

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I got this for someone who acquired a MacBook Pro but is still on dial-up. (Recent-model MacBooks don't have internal modems.) It was literally plug and play. A big relief! Didn't even need to load any software. It's been a few weeks and there have been no problems at all getting online.

One side note: It needs to be plugged into the actual USB port vs. a USB hub as the hub isn't going to have enough power for it.

I bought this modem to use on my Mac Mini running OS X Snow Leopard.

This Mac Mini computer does not have a built-in modem. I wanted to fax from my computer.

The modem came with software, but it is not needed. Just hook it up to the computer's USB port and plug in the phone line, and you're good to go. The computer automatically recognized it as a USB modem, and I was able to fax successfully with no problems. Highly recommended!

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One foible noted as time passes: I am using FaxStf Pro software to fax. Virtually every time I update my Mac OS Snow Leopard software, then Faxstf can't find a modem. Experience has taught me to unplug the modem from the USB port, leave it off a couple minutes, then re-plug it. Then check system prefs for print/fax (be sure you're not set to receive faxes in the system prefs), check network prefs under "advanced" to be sure you have selected the "Universal 115k" driver, then re-boot--and then re-open the Faxstf software and try again to reset the modem. This usually will enable Faxstf to get back up and running.

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2nd update: I now read that this modem also works with Lion OS because it is 64 bit, unlike the Apple modem which is 32-bit.

I'm using this on 2 different Win XP computers. I have sent and received faxes through a Vonage (VoIP) telephone line and a regular tele. line. No special settings were needed. I'm using the windows faxing tool (printer) that is part of XP.

BTW - I opted to only install the modem's driver and did NOT install the optional software that allows "call waiting" calls to be answered when dialed into the internet.

When I used it for a dial-up internet connection, it got a 44kpbs connection right off the bat...which was great for the place from which I was dialing.

When the line rings at my place, a little box pops up saying to click here to answer this call if it is a fax. (too bad no caller ID info appears...) but it does receive the faxes just fine.

Limitation I've discovered... if a receiving fax machine is an answering machine that says to "push * to send a fax"... you can't send it that way very easily. It is better to have the person answer the call at their fax machine then they push the send/receive button for the fax to start going. Then fax goes fine.

Also, I was hoping that my DELL All-in-one 942 would see this external modem and thereby enable my AIO to send faxes like it is supposed to do. So far, I've not been able to get the AIO to see this modem and activate the AIO's faxing feature... I'll keep trying. (I get a "no modem detected" message from the AIO.)

Other info:

the two lights are OH (Off Hook) and Data (blinks as sending/receiving data)

The modem has no built in speaker. It uses the computer's speaker to play the classic modem beeps.

Sending of faxes is silent.

The box also contained a two wire phone cord.

After installing the new Mac OS Lion, I lost the function of the Apple USB modem that I was using. I ordered the Zoom 3095 USB modem and replaced the Apple product. Of importance: pay no attention to the installation instructions included by Zoom; they include copying a modem script file to your computer which is not necessary. Go to the support section for their modem and there you will find easy to follow installation setup instructions in PDF format.

Once installed, the Zoom modem works great. Zoom needs to update their installation and setup instructions with an insert for OS Lion users.

I purchased this Zoom modem after the AT&T 3G card in my Dell XPS laptop would not work in the very rural part of Alabama where I live. The AT&T store told me later that they have no towers in my area. The laptop connect card was very slow and not dependable, turning off every few seconds and taking forever "searching for network" to turn on.

This Zoom product is about three times faster in connecting to the internet than the AT&t 3G card and the Zoom software was easy to install. Unfortunately, my service provider MSN does not support the Zoom feature that allows the user to answer phone calls while online. Still, I highly recommend this Zoom product if you are stuck having to use dial-up.

The unit was easy to install and worked well as a 56K data modem under both Windows Vista and Mac Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6). FAX mode was not tested. We needed dial-up access to use for one location that we visit only twice a year. Our travel computer is a dual boot Macbook Pro with both Snow Leopard and Windows Vista OS available. I decided to install the modem under both OS.

Installation on the Mac side consisted on plugging in the modem, letting the Mac find it, and filling in a few setup blanks under System Preferences.

Installation under Windows Vista required first running the provided CD (to install drivers), shutting down the PC, then plugging in the modem, restarting the machine, and filling in a few setup blanks.

The written and on-screen instructions were clear and easy to follow for both the Mac and the PC. An important thing to remember for the Windows installation is to run the CD before plugging in the modem. The written instructions are clear on that.

Instructions are provided for Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, ME, and 98, as well as Mac OS X 10.5, 10.0x-10.4x, and OS X 9.x. It installed fine under Mac OS X 10.6 using the 10.5 instructions (basically do nothing :-)

The modem performed equally well under both Vista and Mac OS X 10.5, connecting to and using a dial-up ISP at close to 56K rate. We have not tried to use the FAX features. I can recommend the unit as easy to install and use under Vista and OS 10.5+. I expect it will work equally well for other NT based Windows OS as well as Mac OS X from 9.x to 10.6, but cannot speak from personal experience.

We bought the 3095 fax/modem based on the reviews and features. Since Microsoft removed the fax utility from their Vista Home editions, we only wanted a Vista-compatible product with fax software included, which the 3095 has...technically.

After installing their Communicate!, we discovered it was only a 30-day trial edition. I called customer support and was told the program cost $78, almost double the modem's price. To me, this would be like buying Office and being told Word really costs extra. If Zoom is advertising software as included, it should be honest and let customers know it's a trial edition. Vista users would be better served looking elsewhere if they don't already have fax software installed.

My apple USB modem was no longer recognized when I moved it from my old imac to my new, current generation imac. I looked online and read about 64 bit vs. 32 bit. Supposedly the Apple Modem should work under 32 bit. Try as I might, I couldn't get the old Apple USB modem to be recognized by the new iMac.

It was with some dread and anticipation that I plugged the Zoom USB modem into the new imac. All of a sudden there was a selection in the Network preference panel for the new USB modem. I was able to set it up to receive and send faxes with PageSender quite quickly.

The only thing that is not what it had been on the older imac is that I can no longer hear the modem dialing. There might be a way to tweak things to get the sound back, but this is only a small loss from the old setup.

I had purchased this Zoom USB modem for use with my new 2011 13.3" Macbook pro as emergency backup for when my broadband internet is down. Install is as easy as plugging it in, going to network preferences, and entering your information. When I first set up the modem, I was getting extremely slow connection speeds, frequent disconnects, and was about to return the modem. Before doing this however, I decided to do a little research on the net. I discovered that other people were also having problems, due to the Apple magnetic power plug that is standard on this laptop. My solution was to use a 3 foot M/F usb extension cable that I had lying around to get the modem away from the power plug, and the modem now works like it should. I hope this helps someone else if they have this same problem.

Update: To increase speed, select generic, then dialup device, under modem name in network preferences. I was still getting random disconnects when I selected Zoom as the modem type, which the manufacturer suggests in their instructions. Zoom needs to update their instructions to reflect this

I purchased this product because new computers do not come with dial-up modems. It connects me to the internet 5x faster than internal modem did. Very easy to install. Works great with windows 7. Price is very resonable.