Modems

[S. Lawton]

Which would be easier, to install an external modem, or recompile 
my kernel with the neccessary drivers to make the HSP modem 
card work ? 

My goals are: a) to NOT crash my linux box anymore. 
                     b) to get the aforementioned on the internet with as 
little grief as possible. 

I know absolutely nothing about external modems except that 
they're an external device with all the HARDWARE required to do 
what a modem is supposed to do. I have a serial and two USB 
ports available. 

I have located and downloaded the [hopefully] correct targz with the 
drivers to make the PCtel HSP56 software modem work in linux, 
but I don't think I have the compiler unless Mandrake 8.1 gave it as 
part of the default rpms. I have the PCtel modem mini-Howto if 
anyone cares to read it for correctness. It makes a big deal about 
how you can break your machine and do this entirely at your own 
risk, and I'm very hesitant to fool with my kernel. 

Any input for or against either option gratefully accepted. 


Scott 

Registered Linux User 261118