Modems

[Bradley J. Bartram]

>From personal experience, I have tried many, many different internal modems 
with Linux.  I tried win modems, other software based modems, hardware modems 
and even an old non-pnp ISA slot modem.  I could get them to work, although I 
always had problems.  Examples would include poor line speed, frequent 
dropped connections, un-reliable connection initializations, etc..

My problem was solved when I bought a top of the line hayes v.90 fax modem for 
way too much money.  When an electrical surge from a nearby lightning hit 
melted it last summer, I bought some cheap no-name replacement external v.90 
modem.  I think it's a cnet something or other.  Anyway, I currently use that 
modem, and have been without problem.  This modem is an almost dedicated 
connection and can easily stay connected for 7 - 14 days without a hiccup.

Long story short, go external, they may cost a little more but they're worth 
it in the long run.  Just my $.02

brad

On Sunday 05 May 2002 09:09 pm, S. Lawton  wrote:
> 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