What exactly is a winmodem? I know about software modems (those that require software to emulate most things normally performed by hardware), and I know about hardware modems (those that are actually hardware), but where do winmodems come in? Surely if they are either hard/software appropriate programs can't be too difficult to write (I don't write many programs, as you may have noticed). Could someone explain exactly what a winmodem is so that I can avoid them (I don't have a modem at the mo - using the Universities comps).

Thanks.

A winmodem is a modem that requires and operates on software instead of just hardware.

Hi,
Software-based modems use fewer chips compared to traditional modems. The work normally done by the missing chips is transferred to software running on the host computer's main processor (the Pentium, PowerPC, etc.).

Modems consist of two major components:

A datapump performs the basic modulation/demodulation tasks for which modems are named
A controller provides the modem's identity: this is where the protocols for hardware error correction, hardware data compression, and basic modulation protocols (such as V.34, x2 or K56flex) exist. The controller is also responsible for interpreting AT commands.
A traditional modem implements both features in hardware, as chips inside the modem.

A Winmodem still has a hardware datapump, but implements the controller function as software.
This is something I came across when I was messing with my winmodem (shortly before its untimely departure)
Dallam

Okay, Dallam's answer was much better, I guess mine was the in the nutshell type answer.