Very Computer

My internal modem card, a US Robotics 56K, isn't recognized
by Caldera Open Linux 2.3. Presumably, it's a winmodem. Thus
I face an outlay for an external hardware-based modem.

Are all external modems hardware-based or only some?

What would be the least expensive choice of a decent modem
that will work on all Linux distributions?

Any recommended vendor for obtaining such a Linux-ready
modem at a good price?
---
Richard Schulman
To email me, remove the "XYZ"

Quote:> Are all external modems hardware-based or only some?

All _serial_ based external modems are hardware-based.  Many _USB_ based
external modems are Win-type.

Quote:> Any recommended vendor for obtaining such a Linux-ready
> modem at a good price?

$29.95 for a SupraExpress V.90 external -
http://www.softwareandstuff.com/cgi-softwareandstuff/sb/productsearch...

--

Software Developer, Engineering Services
Red Hat, Inc.

QUIPd 0.12:
-> Beware of small expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.
-> - Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Unrecognized modem does not necessarily mean that it is a
winmodem.  It may be one of many things.  I remember a
nightmarish session with a PNP only modem (I think, Best
Data).  Since the machine it was running on was not Windows,
a DOS program supplied with the modem was used to enable it.
Unfortunately, the pseudo-GUI (only mode) assumed a larger
screen than was attached to the machine, and the config was
off screen.  Tech support was unresponsive.  Some clever guy
came up with the idea of using the tab and space key and
guessing what to put in.  Then, reboot and see if Linux
recognized the modem.  2-3 hours later, success!!!!!

Check www.linmodems.org, and the database that this points
to.  Also, it would help a lot if you posted the whole name
of the modem.  Yes, I know it's hard, but US Robotics does
supply the whole name, even for their OEM modems.  Note that
the FCC ID is often ambiguous, and several of them do not
hit in the www database, so fat lot of good that is.

: My internal modem card, a US Robotics 56K, isn't recognized
: by Caldera Open Linux 2.3. Presumably, it's a winmodem. Thus
: I face an outlay for an external hardware-based modem.

: Are all external modems hardware-based or only some?

: What would be the least expensive choice of a decent modem
: that will work on all Linux distributions?

: Any recommended vendor for obtaining such a Linux-ready
: modem at a good price?
: ---
: Richard Schulman
: To email me, remove the "XYZ"

I looked at the linmodems.org database. The problem is, I
can't figure what model modem I actually have. I started out
with a hardware-based 33K US Robotics modem, then took
advantage of an upgrade to 56K that they offered. I had to
turn in the old 33K card, for which, some weeks later, I
received a new 56K replacement. This might not have been a
bad exchange from their standpoint, if the 56K replacement
was only a winmodem.

The other day, I took the modem card out of my PC and
scrutinized it to try to find out what model it was. The
serial number is

21072417DLIM
000840V3
R:2

which, I suppose, translates into Model 840 version 3,
release 2.

I also wrote down identifying numbers from the various chips
on the card, but I'm not sure which of these are significant
and how. The card also has its own speaker, which I wouldn't
have expected to see on a winmodem, but who knows?
---
Richard Schulman
To email me, remove the "XYZ"

Quote:>> Are all external modems hardware-based or only some?
>All _serial_ based external modems are hardware-based.  Many _USB_ based
>external modems are Win-type.

Not quite. There were some older serial based modems which were not standard modems
and do not work with Linus.

]I looked at the linmodems.org database. The problem is, I
]can't figure what model modem I actually have. I started out
]with a hardware-based 33K US Robotics modem, then took
]advantage of an upgrade to 56K that they offered. I had to
]turn in the old 33K card, for which, some weeks later, I
]received a new 56K replacement. This might not have been a
]bad exchange from their standpoint, if the 56K replacement
]was only a winmodem.

Is is isa or PCI? If PCI look in /proc/pci for the modem, and use setserial to set
up the modem's irq and port on your system. If it works, put the setserial line in
/etc/rc.d/rc.local (assuming redhat/mandrake)
If ISA is it pnp or set irq/port? If pnp, ise pnpdump>isapnp.conf and uncomment the
appropriate lines and then again use setserial to tell linux where the modem is

setserial irq 7 port 0x234 uart 16550A /dev/ttyS2
(Except uart, These number will NOT work. Use what you found)

Once you have set up linux to know where the modem is, then do
/usr/sbin/chat '' AT OK </dev/ttyS2 >/dev/ttyS2
if this returns in a second or less everythinh is fine. If not, more work is
needed.

  In a message on 10 Aug 2001 19:56:23 GMT, wrote :

BU>
BU> >> Are all external modems hardware-based or only some?
BU>
BU> >All _serial_ based external modems are hardware-based.  Many _USB_ based
BU> >external modems are Win-type.
BU>
BU> Not quite. There were some older serial based modems which were not standard modems
BU> and do not work with Linus.

These would mostly be odd-ball, *industrial* 2400bps modems and the
like :-).  All current model *consumer grade* RS232-serial modems are
going to be 'Hayes AT command set' modems.

BU>
BU>                                                  

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