2021-11-24
Introducing the Mainpine IQ Express “Rev4”
Beginning in December, 2021 Mainpine will begin rolling out its IQ Express “Rev4” Fax Board models in lieu of the IQ Express “Rev3” Fax Board models. The equivalency is as follows:
RF5118 → RF6118 / IQ Express 1-Line; 1-Line PCI Express Fax Board (Low and Standard Profile)
RF5120 → RF6120 / IQ Express 2-Line; 2-Line PCI Express Fax Board (Low and Standard Profile)
RF5122 → RF6122 / IQ Express 4-Line; 4-Line PCI Express Fax Board (Low and Standard Profile)
RF5124 → RF6124 / IQ Express 8-Line; 8-Line PCI Express Fax Board (Low and Standard Profile)
The roll-out will happen for each “Rev4” IQ Express model as the existing inventory of the corresponding “Rev3” model is depleted. The following roll-out dates are expected:
RF6122 (IQ Express 4-Line) – December, 2021
RF6118 (IQ Express 1-Line) – February, 2022
RF6120 (IQ Express 2-Line) – July, 2022
RF6124 (IQ Express 8-Line) – December, 2022
The “Rev4” IQ Express uses the same form factor and physical design as the earlier “Rev3”, “Rev2”, and “Rev1” IQ Express Fax Boards. The same cables and brackets are used for all IQ Express models.
The “Rev4” IQ Express uses the same operating system drivers as the “Rev3”.
Why is the “Rev3” IQ Express being discontinued?
The “Rev3” IQ Express has been a very successful and well-used fax modem board. Unfortunately, several electronic components on the board, including the critical modem and DAA chipsets, were discontinued by their respective manufacturers many years ago. Mainpine’s inventories of those components is now finally depleted. Therefore, it’s no longer possible for Mainpine to continue to manufacture the “Rev3” IQ Express.
What are the differences between the “Rev3” and the “Rev4” IQ Express Fax Boards?
First, let’s identify what has remained the same between the “Rev3” and the “Rev4”.
- The physical dimensions (the form factor) is the same for the “Rev4” as it was for the “Rev3” and earlier IQ Express Fax Boards.
- The cables and brackets for the “Rev4” are the same as the ones used for the “Rev3” and earlier IQ Express Fax Boards.
- The Windows and Linux operating system drivers are the same for the “Rev4” as they were for the “Rev3” IQ Express.
- The “Rev4” supports V.34-Fax (Super G3) as did all earlier IQ Express Fax Boards.
- The “Rev4” is fully supported by Mainpine’s IQFSP software for use with Windows Fax Service and Windows Fax and Scan.
- The “Rev4” is fully supported by HylaFAX+ and other fax software supporting Class 1/1.0 (ITU T.31) fax modems.
- The “Rev4” carries the same 5-year hardware warranty as did the earlier IQ Express models.
- The “Rev4” MSRP will be the same at the time of roll-out as was the “Rev3” MSRP.
Mainpine expects that the following changes in “Rev4” will go unnoticed by most users. However, those changes are:
- The layout of the traces on the Rev4 PCBs is greatly simplified in order to streamline the manufacturing process.
- The Rev4 uses the Si2435 chipset instead of the CFAX34, and and so...
- The Rev4 line-side electronics follows the recommendation by the Si2435 modem chipset manufacturer.
- The Rev4 does not support ITU T.32 - Class 2.0 and 2.1 modes.
- The “Rev4” firmware cannot be updated by software.
- There are various subtle Class 1/1.0 operation variations as implemented by the Si2435, for example, the initial connection-handshake protocol involving V.8 in Class 1.0 is slightly different.
No Class 2.0 or 2.1?
All modem chipset manufacturers stopped developing their ITU T.32 (Class 2/2.0/2.1) firmwares at least a decade ago. They did this in part because there was practically no further demand for it. Fax software using ITU T.31 (Class 1 and 1.0) can be much more feature-rich and can be developed much more readily than using Class 2/2.0/2.1. Features such as SSL Fax would be cumbersome if not impossible to implement using Class 2/2.0/2.1.
Any fax software that continues to rely on Class 2.0/2.1 for Error Correction Mode (ECM) should be considered to be outdated and either be updated to implement ECM in Class 1/1.0 or should be replaced by fax software that does support ECM in Class 1/1.0.
What if a “Rev3” IQ Express fails under warranty after the “Rev4” roll-out?
Mainpine expects to have warranty replacements available for most “Rev3” models for quite some time (hopefully years) after the “Rev4” roll-out. Mainpine’s inventory for warranty replacements is partially separate from its inventory for board sales. However, once Mainpine’s “Rev3” inventory for warranty replacements is exhausted any “Rev3” boards that fail under warranty afterwards will be replaced with an equivalent “Rev4”.