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Thread ID: 35334 2003-07-09 08:49:00 USB Modem and Linux Evan (4192) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
158430 2003-07-09 08:49:00 I know it is easier to get linux to work with external modems than internal win modems, but does this include USB modems? Evan (4192)
158431 2003-07-09 09:27:00 Probably not.
I am not a linux guru, but USB modems are generally winmodems with the extra overhead of USB interface.

External serial (RS232) modems are real hardware modems that are usualy linux friendly
godfather (25)
158432 2003-07-09 22:28:00 Are you considering purchasing one, or do you have one in your hot little hand? Dolby Digital (160)
158433 2003-07-11 06:28:00 Purchase one Evan (4192)
158434 2003-07-11 06:47:00 I wouldn't recommend it then unless you buy one from DSE try it and then 7 days later, in utter frustration, take it back. :D

Seriously, actually you could do a search (if you haven't already done so) for that model of modem and Linux.
Dolby Digital (160)
158435 2003-07-13 14:57:00 I would go with Godfather on this one. If you have a geriactric PC an ISA modem is also a full hardware modem. mikebartnz (21)
158436 2003-07-14 00:52:00 Be aware though that, not all ISA madems are hardware modems. Many require software/cpu time Lucent (Agere) controllerless modems for eg.

Check out Modem Help, chipset index (www.modem-help.co.uk) for a comprehensive list.

Cheers Murray P
Murray P (44)
158437 2003-07-14 05:16:00 The Linux people document this problem extensively . Look for the HOWTO documentation . It's all on every distribution CD set . It's online everywhere . There are HOWTOs on modems, winmodems, "linmodems" . The Hardware one is a good guide to what works . But always try "linux make_and_model_of_this_thing" to google . Add "problems" , or "supported" . (The printers support list has a category "Paperweight" . :D)

The simple rule is: Any modem other than a REAL modem has to have software to get around its deficiencies . REAL modems work .

Because so many "Winmodems" were put into boxes (because they are CHEAP, the clever people made some of the most common ones work . They'll never work as well as a real modem .

USB is only recently supported in Linux . Look at the problems put up here that people have with USB devices in MS Windows . USB was designed by Intel in collusion with Microsoft, and has been "supported" since W95 . Think about it .
Graham L (2)
158438 2003-07-14 06:48:00 Its only external serial and ISA modems that are real anymore. The price of a serial one shouldn't be much more than a USB.

The USB ones are actually worse than the internal PCI ones because they have a much higher processor requirement.


If you are on a budget (or don't have serial ports) the rockwell/connexant based ones are quite well supported and are being actively maintained (the drivers are actually more upto date than the windows ones).
bmason (508)
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