A new ADVENT computer - not so good

[jvalh]

Hello O Wise Ones

I recently had to buy a computer and I bought an ADVENT brand for about
€500; in retrospect it was a bum deal.

I find it surprisingly lacking and in a way deceptive. It claims to have
a modem. The miserably small manual on page 13 reads: "The modem built
into your computer complies with the requirements and provisions of
Directive 1999/5/EC (whatever that baloney is about). This modem is
designed for fax and data communications using Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
signalling....." The only likely connection that I see on the case is
one serial port. I guess it is possible that this port can be used for
an external modem but the manual claims that the case has a modem
--"built into your computer". Besides that, there is no speaker in the
case.

It also claims to have a "Windows Fax and Scan," which I find weird.
There appears to be no connection for a fax, except maybe the serial
port and the modem is nowhere in sight. The "Windows Fax and Scan," is a
primitive program that can use a scanner if one has one. I have tried it
on my Canon MP170 printer/scanner and it works but it does give rather
crude pictures.

To summarize: I believe the claims that this company makes are way short
of what they advertise.

Comments please?

 

[Motor T]

Hello O Wise Ones

I recently had to buy a computer and I bought an ADVENT brand for
about €500; in retrospect it was a bum deal.

I find it surprisingly lacking and in a way deceptive. It claims to
have a modem. The miserably small manual on page 13 reads: "The modem
built into your computer complies with the requirements and provisions
of Directive 1999/5/EC (whatever that baloney is about). This modem is
designed for fax and data communications using Dual Tone
Multi-Frequency signalling....." The only likely connection that I see
on the case is one serial port. I guess it is possible that this port
can be used for an external modem but the manual claims that the case
has a modem --"built into your computer". Besides that, there is no
speaker in the case.

It also claims to have a "Windows Fax and Scan," which I find weird.
There appears to be no connection for a fax, except maybe the serial
port and the modem is nowhere in sight. The "Windows Fax and Scan," is
a primitive program that can use a scanner if one has one. I have
tried it on my Canon MP170 printer/scanner and it works but it does
give rather crude pictures.

To summarize: I believe the claims that this company makes are way
short of what they advertise.

Comments please?

alt.comp.hardware

 

[Nil]

Comments please?

If you have a prolem with the computer vendor, complain to them. This
has nothing to do with Windows.

 

[Trevor]

"jvalh" wrote in message
Hello O Wise Ones

I recently had to buy a computer and I bought an ADVENT brand for about
€500; in retrospect it was a bum deal.

I find it surprisingly lacking and in a way deceptive. It claims to have
a modem. The miserably small manual on page 13 reads: "The modem built
into your computer complies with the requirements and provisions of
Directive 1999/5/EC (whatever that baloney is about). This modem is
designed for fax and data communications using Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
signalling....." The only likely connection that I see on the case is
one serial port. I guess it is possible that this port can be used for
an external modem but the manual claims that the case has a modem
--"built into your computer". Besides that, there is no speaker in the
case.

It also claims to have a "Windows Fax and Scan," which I find weird.
There appears to be no connection for a fax, except maybe the serial
port and the modem is nowhere in sight. The "Windows Fax and Scan," is a
primitive program that can use a scanner if one has one. I have tried it
on my Canon MP170 printer/scanner and it works but it does give rather
crude pictures.

To summarize: I believe the claims that this company makes are way short
of what they advertise.

Comments please?

Model name/number??

 

[Paul]

Hello O Wise Ones

I recently had to buy a computer and I bought an ADVENT brand for about
€500; in retrospect it was a bum deal.

I find it surprisingly lacking and in a way deceptive. It claims to have
a modem. The miserably small manual on page 13 reads: "The modem built
into your computer complies with the requirements and provisions of
Directive 1999/5/EC (whatever that baloney is about). This modem is
designed for fax and data communications using Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
signalling....." The only likely connection that I see on the case is
one serial port. I guess it is possible that this port can be used for
an external modem but the manual claims that the case has a modem
--"built into your computer". Besides that, there is no speaker in the
case.

It also claims to have a "Windows Fax and Scan," which I find weird.
There appears to be no connection for a fax, except maybe the serial
port and the modem is nowhere in sight. The "Windows Fax and Scan," is a
primitive program that can use a scanner if one has one. I have tried it
on my Canon MP170 printer/scanner and it works but it does give rather
crude pictures.

To summarize: I believe the claims that this company makes are way short
of what they advertise.

Comments please?

What is the model number of the computer ?

In North America, we'd look on the back of the computer for one of these.
This is an RJ-11. Your standards are probably different, but they might
still use something like that, and expect you to purchase an adapter.

http://images2.monoprice.com/productlargeimages/10871.jpg

Paul

 

[Ken Blake]

Hello O Wise Ones

I recently had to buy a computer and I bought an ADVENT brand for about
€500; in retrospect it was a bum deal.

I find it surprisingly lacking and in a way deceptive. It claims to have
a modem. The miserably small manual on page 13 reads: "The modem built
into your computer complies with the requirements and provisions of
Directive 1999/5/EC (whatever that baloney is about). This modem is
designed for fax and data communications using Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
signalling....." The only likely connection that I see on the case is
one serial port. I guess it is possible that this port can be used for
an external modem but the manual claims that the case has a modem
--"built into your computer".

Please describe what this port you are calling a "serial Port" looks
like. It's been many years since I've seen a computer that came with
any serial ports, so I suspect that what you are calling a "serial
port" may not be that at all.

 

[jvalh]

Please describe what this port you are calling a "serial Port" looks
like. It's been many years since I've seen a computer that came with
any serial ports, so I suspect that what you are calling a "serial
port" may not be that at all.

The serial port is a socket with two parallel rows of pins - 4 and 5.
A plug from the cable of a modem, etc. fits into that.
They were extremely common in the past.

--------------------------------------------

Thanks to all for their comments. Apologies for the omission.

Here is what is on the computer case:
ADVENT SE 1101
Processor - AMD Sempron 140
O.S. Windows 7 Home Edition
Memory 2GB
Hard Drive - 320 GB

 

[Ken Blake]

The serial port is a socket with two parallel rows of pins - 4 and 5.
A plug from the cable of a modem, etc. fits into that.
They were extremely common in the past.

Yes, thank you, I know what a serial port is. And as I said, they are
no longer at all common (although they once were) which is why I
suggested that you might be calling something a serial port that isn't
one at all.

But since you were able to write the sentence above, my guess was
clearly wrong. So I'll try again. If the computer comes with a
built-in modem, it would have to have an RJ-11 port (at least in the
USA) for it to connect to the telephone line. If you don't know what
an RJ-11 port looks like, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_plug

But since you mention Directive 1999/5/EC, which is apparently a
European standard, it's probably not an RJ-11 connector at all. I
don't know what the connector might look like elsewhere, so I'll bow
out of this discussion.

 

[jvalh]

Yes, thank you, I know what a serial port is. And as I said, they are
no longer at all common (although they once were) which is why I
suggested that you might be calling something a serial port that isn't
one at all.

But since you were able to write the sentence above, my guess was
clearly wrong. So I'll try again. If the computer comes with a
built-in modem, it would have to have an RJ-11 port (at least in the
USA) for it to connect to the telephone line. If you don't know what
an RJ-11 port looks like, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_plug

But since you mention Directive 1999/5/EC, which is apparently a
European standard, it's probably not an RJ-11 connector at all. I
don't know what the connector might look like elsewhere, so I'll bow
out of this discussion.

A few months ago I moved from the US to Europe and found that the RJ-11
(4-wire telephone) plugs and sockets are the same. I have at least 10
cords with the same RJ-11 plugs on each end, and the 8-pin plugs and
sockets are for LANs

 

[Paul]

The serial port is a socket with two parallel rows of pins - 4 and 5.
A plug from the cable of a modem, etc. fits into that.
They were extremely common in the past.

--------------------------------------------

Thanks to all for their comments. Apologies for the omission.

Here is what is on the computer case:
ADVENT SE 1101
Processor - AMD Sempron 140
O.S. Windows 7 Home Edition
Memory 2GB
Hard Drive - 320 GB

The state of documentation is pretty sad. A tomato at the market comes with
more documentation.

I found one picture that gives a partial view of the rear of the machine.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main5.jpg

The front, top connectors.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main3.jpg

The card reader ports on the front.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main4.jpg

Using the photo of the rear, I can see (sorta)...

RJ-45? ??? Audio
Mouse Parallel_Port USB USB Jacks
Keyboard DB-9_Serial? VGA? USB USB Unclear

I'm guessing there is an RJ-45 for Ethernet, but I can't tell what
is to the right of it. It probably isn't USB. The machine is supposed
to have six USB ports, and there are two on the front, on top. That
leaves four on the back, and I can see four of those that I can positively
identify. That leaves the ??? connector as an unknown.

This is a feature list.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/advent-se1101-04153091-pdt.html?srcid=36&xtor=AL-2

Modem/Ethernet Ethernet RJ-45 port

And another list here. The motherboard chipset is 740G + SB700.

http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/advent/pc/SE1101.htm

What that means, is "in the communications department", it only has one
of the two. It has Ethernet, but the modem doesn't appear on the right
hand side of the table.

It's as basic a computer as you can find. It does have a USB card
reader on the front. But depending on how poor quality the connectors
are, those can range from useful to useless.

I can't be absolutely positive and certain it doesn't have a modem, but
things aren't looking good. You could use the DB-9 serial port to
connect a modem if you already have one. Or, use the Ethernet RJ-45 to
connect to your ADSL modem or cable modem for broadband Internet.

Paul

 

[Ken Blake]

A few months ago I moved from the US to Europe and found that the RJ-11
(4-wire telephone) plugs and sockets are the same. I have at least 10
cords with the same RJ-11 plugs on each end, and the 8-pin plugs and
sockets are for LANs

I have a bunch of adaptors (RJ-11 to whatever they use) for telephone
lines in various European countries. The connectors (not to say in all
countries, but at least in some) are very different from RJ-11.

The only one I've ever used was the Italian one, but I can't remember
what that one looks like (and can't find it at the moment), let alone
any of the others I've never used. Where in Europe are you living?

 

[Ken Blake]

The state of documentation is pretty sad. A tomato at the market comes with
more documentation.

I found one picture that gives a partial view of the rear of the machine.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main5.jpg

The front, top connectors.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main3.jpg

The card reader ports on the front.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main4.jpg

Using the photo of the rear, I can see (sorta)...

RJ-45? ??? Audio
Mouse Parallel_Port USB USB Jacks
Keyboard DB-9_Serial? VGA? USB USB Unclear

I'm guessing there is an RJ-45 for Ethernet, but I can't tell what
is to the right of it. It probably isn't USB. The machine is supposed
to have six USB ports, and there are two on the front, on top. That
leaves four on the back, and I can see four of those that I can positively
identify. That leaves the ??? connector as an unknown.

No way I can be sure, but looking at the port on the add-in card one
above the bottom slot, it looks like it *could* be an RJ-11 port.

 

[VanguardLH]

I bought an ADVENT brand for about ¤500.

http://www.adventsupport.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7117#wrap

So just whose online sales ad did you see anything about an analog
data/fax modem mentioned for this computer (which you later disclosed
was the SE1101 model)?

It claims to have a modem. The miserably small manual on page 13
reads: "The modem built into your computer complies with the
requirements and provisions of Directive 1999/5/EC" (whatever that
baloney is about)

You're telling us that you never heard of or don't know how to use
Google or other online search engine?

http://www.google.com/search?q="Directive+1999/5/EC"

finds the following and many other relevant articles:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/rtte/documents/

It claims ... This modem is designed for fax and data communications
using Dual Tone Multi-Frequency signalling....."

And "it" that makes the claim is WHAT? Got a site and its URL to the
sale of that particular item? If you're reading some user manual then
how do you know it doesn't cover several different models or different
custom configurations of that model?

Here is one of the nymshifted sites selling this Advent grot:

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/advent-se1101-04153091-pdt.html

Where do you see "analog data/fax modem" mentioned? Modem/Ethernet is a
*category* of specs used in the template they present for their
products. If a modem and a NIC were included then there would be 2
items in the description. They only mention the Ethernet and its port
is included in the feature category.

Maybe whomever sold you this pre-fabbed computer was offering more
accessories that you could include in your purchase but you didn't elect
to pay for that feature. http://advent.co.uk/ builds on spec: whoever's
spec that wants to sell this stuff. I suspect you got some customized
version of this product since it definitely shouldn't cost 500 euros.
It's listed for just 273 euros (230 GBP) at the site above. That was
some damned expensive shipping cost.

 

[jvalh]

The state of documentation is pretty sad. A tomato at the market comes with
more documentation.

I found one picture that gives a partial view of the rear of the machine.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main5.jpg


The front, top connectors.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main3.jpg


The card reader ports on the front.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main4.jpg


Using the photo of the rear, I can see (sorta)...

RJ-45? ??? Audio
Mouse Parallel_Port USB USB Jacks
Keyboard DB-9_Serial? VGA? USB USB Unclear

I'm guessing there is an RJ-45 for Ethernet, but I can't tell what
is to the right of it. It probably isn't USB. The machine is supposed
to have six USB ports, and there are two on the front, on top. That
leaves four on the back, and I can see four of those that I can positively
identify. That leaves the ??? connector as an unknown.

This is a feature list.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/advent-se1101-04153091-pdt.html?srcid=36&xtor=AL-2


Modem/Ethernet Ethernet RJ-45 port

And another list here. The motherboard chipset is 740G + SB700.

http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/advent/pc/SE1101.htm

What that means, is "in the communications department", it only has one
of the two. It has Ethernet, but the modem doesn't appear on the right
hand side of the table.

It's as basic a computer as you can find. It does have a USB card
reader on the front. But depending on how poor quality the connectors
are, those can range from useful to useless.

I can't be absolutely positive and certain it doesn't have a modem, but
things aren't looking good. You could use the DB-9 serial port to
connect a modem if you already have one. Or, use the Ethernet RJ-45 to
connect to your ADSL modem or cable modem for broadband Internet.

Paul

I have an Eircom DSL modem hooked to the RJ-45 connection and it's
working very well on Broadband. I spent many hours trying to get a
D-Link DSL modem to work and failed. The Eircom was an old one but it
shot onto the Internet three seconds after I connected it. I had no
software for the Eircom but, fortunately to me, it took to the D-Link
software already in place like a duck to water.

I'm still trying to find this internal ghost modem and the ghost
speaker. I have never seen a computer without at least one small speaker.

Oooppss!! Sorry, the price was €400. The 5 was too close to the 4 when I
was typing.

 

[jvalh]

I have a bunch of adaptors (RJ-11 to whatever they use) for telephone
lines in various European countries. The connectors (not to say in all
countries, but at least in some) are very different from RJ-11.

The only one I've ever used was the Italian one, but I can't remember
what that one looks like (and can't find it at the moment), let alone
any of the others I've never used. Where in Europe are you living?

Ireland.

 

[jvalh]

The state of documentation is pretty sad. A tomato at the market comes with
more documentation.

I found one picture that gives a partial view of the rear of the machine.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main5.jpg


The front, top connectors.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main3.jpg


The card reader ports on the front.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk/assets/images/Product/Desktops/SE/SE_main4.jpg


Using the photo of the rear, I can see (sorta)...

RJ-45? ??? Audio
Mouse Parallel_Port USB USB Jacks
Keyboard DB-9_Serial? VGA? USB USB Unclear

I'm guessing there is an RJ-45 for Ethernet, but I can't tell what
is to the right of it. It probably isn't USB. The machine is supposed
to have six USB ports, and there are two on the front, on top. That
leaves four on the back, and I can see four of those that I can positively
identify. That leaves the ??? connector as an unknown.

This is a feature list.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/advent-se1101-04153091-pdt.html?srcid=36&xtor=AL-2


Modem/Ethernet Ethernet RJ-45 port

And another list here. The motherboard chipset is 740G + SB700.

http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/advent/pc/SE1101.htm

What that means, is "in the communications department", it only has one
of the two. It has Ethernet, but the modem doesn't appear on the right
hand side of the table.

It's as basic a computer as you can find. It does have a USB card
reader on the front. But depending on how poor quality the connectors
are, those can range from useful to useless.

I can't be absolutely positive and certain it doesn't have a modem, but
things aren't looking good. You could use the DB-9 serial port to
connect a modem if you already have one. Or, use the Ethernet RJ-45 to
connect to your ADSL modem or cable modem for broadband Internet.

Paul

Before I started dabbling with the DSL modems, I hooked up a old Zoom
56K to the serial port and it worked fine, but veeerrryyy slow, for
about 10 days - dialups, of course. Then it lay down and died. After
that I graduated to DSLs.

 

[jvalh]

http://www.adventsupport.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7117#wrap

So just whose online sales ad did you see anything about an analog
data/fax modem mentioned for this computer (which you later disclosed
was the SE1101 model)?


You're telling us that you never heard of or don't know how to use
Google or other online search engine?

Nope! I had too many far more important things to take care of

 

[Paul]

Before I started dabbling with the DSL modems, I hooked up a old Zoom
56K to the serial port and it worked fine, but veeerrryyy slow, for
about 10 days - dialups, of course. Then it lay down and died. After
that I graduated to DSLs.

A DSL modem (like my first one, a rental from the ISP), may talk "PPPOE"
protocol or "PPPOA" in other part of the world. Basically, it's a
protocol similar to the Point to Point Protocol used with a dialup modem.
The packets are encapsulated into a stream, and something has to "terminate" the
PPP to get the data back. This means, there is perhaps a 10% overhead
to carry the data that way, over the DSL link.

On my first computer, where the modem connected directly to the computer,
you installed software before DSL could be used. I didn't like that very
much, because the software was unstable, and eventually there'd be trouble.
The software converted the PPPOE packets from the modem, back into plain
ordinary packets, all inside the computer and done in software.

I replaced the software, with a hardware solution. At the time, a home
router cost $300, which is a lot of money for something we buy for $40
now. That router offered to "terminate PPPOE" for me. I would use a web
browser, go into the setup in the router, enter the DSL account and
password, and the router took care of the details. Plain and simple
Ethernet packets would come out of the router.

ADSL_Modem ---- $300_Router_for_PPPOE ----- Computer #1 (Plain packets)
----- Computer #2 (Plain packets)
...

I've since replaced that setup, as I'm with another ISP now (cheaper).
I ended up buying a new modem/router (all in one box), as renting is no
longer a requirement. One of the benefits of a modem/router, is the
"PPPOE" or "PPPOA" detail is handled inside the same box. Perhaps your EIRCOM
is doing that for you.

ADSL_Modem/Router ----- Computer #1 (Plain packets)
----- Computer #2 (Plain packets)
...

The router uses "private" addresses on the LAN side, so Computer #1 could be
at 192.168.1.1 for example. NAT or network address translation, is also
done in the router section. It converts a packet with 192.168.1.1 in the
header, to the public address you're using at the moment. Since my ISP
uses DHCP, every time I connect the public IP address is different. The
private address part of the picture, is only important if computer #1 is
talking to computer #2 (such as when I'm running Linux in a virtual machine
on Computer #1, talking to a real Linux box as computer #2.). For example,
I can log in from one Linux machine to the other, using something like

ssh -l myusername 192.168.23.45

And that's when I need to know what address the second computer is using
on the LAN side. So that's "fun with routers".

Paul

 

[VanguardLH]

Before I started dabbling with the DSL modems, I hooked up a old Zoom
56K to the serial port and it worked fine, but veeerrryyy slow, for
about 10 days - dialups, of course. Then it lay down and died. After
that I graduated to DSLs.

You asked about a modem. You didn't mention what type of modem you were
asking about. You asked about faxing in your starting post. So
everyone assumed you were asking about an analog data/fax modem (with or
without voice support). Nope, now you're talking about DSL modem which
connects through an RJ-45 Ethernet port. DSL modems don't do faxing.
The Zoom modem (not identified by model number but presumably an analog
data/fax modem) and connected to the serial port for dial-up connections
could do faxing.

So are you actually even concerned about sending faxes or was that a
tangent topic we were supposed to ignore?

 

[Char Jackson]

Nope! I had too many far more important things to take care of

Hopefully, you're kidding, but if not, then thanks for wasting
people's time. It's always good to do your own research before asking
others for help.