🚀 go-pugleaf

I just got a Qubie modem, 2400 bps external Hayes Compatible.  It has all
the right features, has been reccommended by various people, and has the
great price of $229 delivered UPS (credit card phone order, 5 days).  It
would seem to be wonderful except for one thing: it doesn't work very well
at 2400 bps, in fact not at all (except once).  Luckily there is a 30 day
money back guarantee.

Given the high regard so many people have of this modem, and the fact that
it is completely terrible (not bad, terrible) for me, I hesitate to just
return it an order another brand without the generous return policy, since
I suspect my phone line or some such.  I would appreciate any suggestions
for diagnosing and fixing the problem.  (Then I will return it if I cannot
fix things).

Lemon: I tried another borrowed unit of same type, same result.
Line: I have used the line for 2 years with Anchor MK XII and Hayes
   1200 (both 1200 bps), and it still works with the Hayes (Anchor gone).
Power: Filtered, surge/spike suppressed, 120 V.
Computer, software: (IBM PC, procomm)  no change, well used.
RFI: I bought an AT&T RFI filter for the phone line, no effect.
Other end: I have tried a number of 2400 modems of various makes, for
   Compuserve, Telenet, Unix system, BBS's, etc.  None of these work at
   2400 at all (except once, when I got a never to be repeated connection,
   with no errors at all!).
Failure modes: (1) does not respond to answer tone, or (2) responds and
   claims to connect but spews garbage copiously, re-equalizing and reconnecting
   every little while, or (3) answers but agrees to communicate at 1200, which
   it then does with no errors [failed negotiation with 2400 modem at other end]
At 1200: It works just fine, unless it does not respond to answer tone (failure
   mode 1 above).  No noise.
at 300: It works.  Drives me crazy with sloth, but responds to answer tone.

Thanks for any suggestions.    ~z~

-- 
Zhahai Stewart
{hao | nbires}!gaia!zhahai