On Tue, 8 Nov 2005 06:26 am, Cameron L. Spitzer wrote:
---> [This message has also been posted to linux.debian.user.]
---> In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, John Hasler wrote:
---> > Bruno Buys writes:
---> >> I moved recently, and there´s no easy/cheap broadband in the new
---> >> address. So, what do I need to run a dialup modem on my debian sarge?
---> >
---> > Hook up your modem, run pppconfig, and follow instructions.
---> >
---> >> Guess the best model I can find would be a hard pci us-robotics or
---> >> similar...
--->
---> Be very careful there. There are many kinds of "hardware" PCI
---> modems. Almost all of them contain some signal processing hardware,
---> which is what distinguishes them from the typical "software"
---> modem. But hardly any of them contain hardware which emulates
---> the traditional 16550 serial port or the defacto standard Hayes
---> "AT" command set behind it. Almost all "hardware" modems
---> for sale on Ebay will not work with Debian out of the box.
---> There are many 3Com/USR "hardware" PCI modem types. Only one of
---> those actually emulates 16550 and Hayes "ATDT" and it appears at
---> a strange serial port location. Knoppix won't find it.
---> Sarge won't find it.
--->
---> You will have to research and fiddle around and try nonfree drivers
---> and it is a huge pain in the ass. 16550+Hayes emulation just never
---> caught on in the PCI modem market, and it's a damn shame.
---> (I suspect it was because of Hayes' stupid software patent on
---> their plusplusplus delay feature. 16550 emulation isn't expensive
---> any more, and helps performance, but the Hayes royalty was expensive.
---> Yet another unexpected harmful effect of software patents.)
--->
---> The Ebay vendors do not know this. Most of them do not care either.
---> They know nothing but Microsoft, and in that world all modems come
---> with a CD which automatically installs an appropriate driver.
---> They will sell you a "hardware" modem that "works with Linux!"
---> and throw in a CD with some random driver they downloaded from
---> linmodems.org but never tested, and you will never get it working.
--->
--->
--->
---> >
---> > No. The best you could do is buy an old USR external modem on eBay.
---> >
---> >> (there are winmodems available, but I´m avoiding these). Are they
debian ---> >> friendly?
---> >
---> > Some winmodems can be used with Linux but they are not at all
friendly. --->
---> "Winmodem" is a 3Com trademark. There are many non-3Com "hardware"
---> modems on Ebay that are useless crap because nobody has written
---> the part of the Linux driver to do the AT command set.
---> Web sites like linmodems.org and start.at/modem are years out of date,
---> and unmaintained, and full of wrong recommendations and instructions
---> which DO NOT WORK in the general case.
---> They are also full of anectdotes ("it works for me!!!") from
---> people who just happened to get lucky.
---> I assure you, for every "it works for me!!!" cluebie there are
---> ten frustrated would be Linux users who gave up on Linux and went
---> back to MS-Windows because they could not get their garbage PCI
---> "hardware" modem working.
--->
---> Save yourself hours of frustration. PCI modems are an MS-Windows-only
---> thing. Stay away. Buy an external modem for your serial port.
---> This goes double for Card-bus. Card-bus is the PCI-like "PCMCIA"
---> slot in most laptops. You will probably never get a Cardbus modem
---> working.
--->
--->
---> Cameron
A bit expensive, but because we never look like getting anything except dial
up through copper wire, I have had for the last 9 years, a Maestro Woomera
external modem that does everything, including allowing me to monitor the
speed of the connection constantly, except wash the car.
Best investment I have ever made.
HTH
--
Registered Linux User:- 329524
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In the long run you hit only what you aim at. Therefore, though you should
fail immediately, you had better aim at something
high. .............................Henry David Thoreau
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Debian Sarge 3.1.......... loving it
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