[Software Upgrade Path For ADSL Modems And Remote Access Concentrators]
Bozo,
Earlier you shared your opinion on why the Aware/USRX ADSL software upgrade
path was "feasible":
<<When you get done laughing about the idea of RBOCs buying
remote access concentrators or other equipment containing modems that
you and Bob Smith think will have a short product life because of
their narrow initial bandwidth, you may want to review the following
information. It demonstrates that over 230 ISPs have *already*
installed Total Control Enterprise Network Hubs (or similar USRX
equipment) with software upgradeable architecture. This number does
not include ISPs who have committed to, but not yet installed, X2
equipment.
Why can't you imagine RBOCs agreeing to buy equipment that
incorporates even the very slow "ADSL Lite" *option* of the hybrid
X2DSL product line when first purchased, but which can be upgraded by
a simple software download to achieve greater ADSL speeds? Especially
in the early days of mass ADSL deployment, when the network backbone
may not yet have high enough capacity to allow immediate operation at
full 8Mbps speed? With software upgradeable architecture, isn't it
the controller and DSP line code of the modem that is "interim," while
the access concentrator and modem "hardware" is at least relatively
permanent? And in fairness, the [PC Week ?] article that mentioned
X2DSL modems certainly didn't indicate that *all* of the hybrid X2DSL
modems would initially be limited to such narrow ADSL bandwidth.>>
Well, I did a little "AOL Robotic's surfing" of my own and found a
response from your friend on this issue. If this is true (IF),
USRX has NO modems deployed today capable of a "software only"
upgrade"...you can read the rest. Thanks for your input.
Subj: Re: Robocom Valuation and new products
Date: 07 May 1997 11:28:06 EDT
From: Miclone83
Message-ID: <19970507152800.LAA10823@ladder01.news.aol.com>
Great post Reaktionar! You wrote:
<<The ability to upgrade to ADSL via the viper software package for existing 56kbps x2 modems will ensure that consumers will be able to upgrade cheaply, and that the 70% of ISP's using USRX's netservers will not have to make expensive hardware upgrades, while offering the amazing download speeds of ADSL(1.5 8 Mbps).>>
I am not familiar at all with the viper software package, could you elaborate?
It sounds from the above that ADSL will be a software only upgrade to the current modems and hubs. I think this is highly unlikely due to the fact that the DSP's in the current product will not have the MIPS to handle the demands of ADSL.
I think the first client side modem that will be able to be software upgraded to ADSL will be the Courier Universal modem that will come out in the second half of this year and will most likely be based upon the new TI super DSP (TMS320C6201). Current modems could potentially be HARDWARE upgradeable to ADSL, but I would be surprised if this was even the case.
I think the first hub modems that will be software upgradeable will be the high density modem cards that ship later this year - because I believe they will use the TI 6201 DSP as well.
In other words, I think that any USR product that does not have the TI 6201 DSP in it will not have the horsepower necessary to do ADSL. ( I could be wrong, of course.)
Miclone83>>
Bob |
