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Complete listing of June 1996 reviews
By James E. Powell
For the ultimate flexibility in PC Card modems, check out the SafeJack PC Card from Angia Communications. The modem offers 28.8Kbps V.34 landline and direct-connect cellular fax modem support, and then some.
I installed the card in an Epson ActionNote 880CX under Windows 95, and it was instantly recognized. The card includes a SafeJack connector-a small black plastic connector that plugs into the PC Card and has two RJ-11 jacks. Plug the phone cable from the wall into either of the jacks, and optionally connect a telephone to the other jack. You can remove the SafeJack connector, and in its place use the Direct Connect cable ($59 additional) to connect with your cellular phone. I connected the card to a Motorola Micro TAC cellular phone (cables for AT&T, Ericsson, NEC and OKI telephones are also available), made a change to the modem connect string in my online applications (both AOL and CompuServe setups), and slowed the speed down to 19.2Kbps (the best a cellular phone can handle). Everything worked exactly as advertised.
According to Angia, the modem is compatible with SafeSend, a telephone line adapter ($129) that allows the card to communicate over digital PBX telephones. I did not attempt to test this feature.
In some applications, such as AOL, the Angia modem was already listed in the setup configuration. When it wasn't, I chose the Hayes-compatible settings for landline communications and had no trouble connecting, transferring files and navigating the online services.
The SafeJack PC Card uses a 16550 UART serial port (with a 16-character FIFO buffer) and supports MNP 2-5 and V.42/V.42bis error correction and data compression. It meets most other communications standards, including CCITT and Bell.
The SafeJack supports a 50-character command buffer and can operate at full- or half-duplex with asynchronous autoanswer and autodial. The modem offers 14.4Kbps send and receive fax (Class 1 and 2), Enhanced Throughput Cellular (ETC) error correction for cellular connections and field-upgradable flash ROM. Included in the box is CardSoft from System Soft (if you don't already have Card and Socket Services); it's not needed with Windows 95. Also bundled is Smith Micro's excellent and versatile QuickLink II fax and communications software.
For reliable communications from an analog, digital or cellular line, the SafeJack PC Card is a sure bet.
Info File
Angia SafeJack 28.8 PC Card Fax/Modem
Price: $299
Pros: Reliable; cellular or digital
Cons: Documentation
Platforms: Windows 95, 3.1x
Angia Communications
800-877-9159, 801-371-0488
WinMag Box Score 3.5
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