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Thread ID: 120335	2011-09-04 14:00:00	7+ year old PC with old internal Modem: how can Ubuntu 11.04 get online with this PC?	Dragonov (16500)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1228658	2011-09-10 10:07:00	Thank you for your Posts Agent_24, but look: it cannot be a heck of a lot of fun grappling with that Modem (but very greatly appreciate your doing so) so am back here primarily to tell you that have found, while trawling the web, several New Zealand outfits that are all selling the following Modem: NETCOMM BD3068 MyModem 56K V.92 External (Serial-Port). Even though only one seller says this Modem is fully compatible with Linux, the others in the "Google Results" links to their websites have all got in those links statements that this is "A Linux Modem" (or words to that effect). Am making more inquiries to them by email, but probably won't get any replies until Monday at least. The prices vary from $170.20 (highest) to $145.90 (lowest). Agent_24 also stumbled across a website (which seems to be operated by a bunch of very young Geeks) where there was a dude with exactly the same problem as me! Weirdly, he seemed to have about my level of "technical expertise" also - or in other words, none! He did not try to hide this though, and to try and get help he was going to great lengths to make it clear that he didn't know anything about Tech stuff. But the other dudes there were giving him not very useful answers and one even told him to go buy that "cheapo" thing on Trademe - the one where you have to look for Linux Drivers for it! Fortunately he does not seem to have gone off on that expedition to nowhere, and instead appears to have taken the advice of another guy who said he had once, long, long, ago (!) gotten one at Dick Smiths! Who knows? - maybe he did get lucky (but doubt it) or so to speak, because at a place like that you'd have to shell out far more dough for one than the highest price anywhere else!!! Also Agent_24, those older ones like you have been working on, look to be very hard to find these days: on that young Geek website everyone was talking about them in a "far distant past" way ("well I once found one on TradeMe") etc. That Puppy Linux (the latest version) is said to be able to put Linux Drivers into practically any Modem. If PL is able to put Drivers for itself into my PC's old internal Modem (think it is a "Hard" Modem which is supposed to be better for Driver installation chances for Linux than a "Soft" one) then could other Linux variants use that Driver/Drivers(?). Am gonna shove Puppy Linux in and play around with it because the CD should be arriving on Monday or Tuesday. So that was some of my adventures for today Agent_24. Finally, got in touch with a very nice NZ PC World Moderator Gal "Jen" and presented to her an alternative Header. Got the answer about whether it was ok or not tonight while logging back in: it was far too long!!! - Jen is right, saw it again after logging in and it is ludicrously protracted. So have "Tolstoyed" up another attempt and fired that off to Jen so, here's hoping! Muchos Gracias Agent_24, All The Very Best. P.S. Agent_24: New Header!!! (Thank You Jen - You Too Agent_24).	Dragonov (16500)
1228659	2011-09-10 10:44:00	$170 for an external serial modem? That's insane. www.trademe.co.nz at $1 is a much better choice. It should work with Linux just fine. The one I'm testing here should also work, I'm guessing the problem is simply a badly configured dialer or a permissions problem. (That's how I read the error anyway!) " --> Don't know what to do! Starting pppd and hoping for the best. --> Unable to run /usr/sbin/pppd. --> Check permissions, or specify a "PPPD Path" option in wvdial.conf." I'll try looking into it more tomorrow.	Agent_24 (57)
1228660	2011-09-10 23:55:00	Wow thanks for the tipoff Agent_24: used your Link to immediately swoop off to TradeMe and have shoved an Auto-Bid on the Modem. The auction is supposed to close on Friday but have left a message to ask if he is interested in a "Buy Now". Cannot thank you enough Agent_24 for going there to have a look, because if I had of seen it there without you having sent me there after saying what it was, then I wouldn't have even suspected that it was a "Linux" Modem! It sure looks good though (damn good!!!) and am pretty jumpy worrying about the auction (have been left trailing in the dust on just about every one that has been participated in there so far!), and Friday seems to be about ten years away!!! Those ones in the shops, they are scarily expensive as you say, and was not exactly overwhelmed with enthusiasm about forking out for one (that's why there was the display of faux optimism viz "Puppy" being able to miraculously convert the Modem in the PC into a Linux one) as they are somewhat beyond the budget to put it mildly. Agent_24, as this is being written am in the process of trying to induce the TradeMe Modem dude into a "Buy Now" - have just checked my emails and he has replied so we are talking. Agent_24, what do you think would be a fair price for such a Modem? You can tell by the picture on TradeMe that it is in excellent condition (in it's original box!) and it has got a stack of auxiliary gear in the box. Well Agent_24, thanks to you things are happening and will keep ya posted on how this development is panning out. Thanks Heaps!!! Also Agent_24 about the new Header to this Thread: Jen had been busy re-writing the Encyclopedia Britannica-sized "propositional Header" that I had sent her, and in an awesome display of condensement she somehow managed to shrink it from the size of a full-grown Blue Whale down to that of a Tadpole, whilst at the same time giving it a far better context as well!!! Looks good Jen and thank you very much again. Meanwhile Agent_24 have been going backwards and forewards while writing this to "talk" to that Modem guy. Guess what Agent_24, by placing that darned Bid I blew my chances of a "Buy Now" to hell because TradeMe has a strict auction rule that no seller can do a Buy Now when a bid has been placed on what is being auctioned!!! As usual, I shot myself in the foot!!! Adios, Agent_24.	Dragonov (16500)
1228661	2011-09-11 00:01:00	You could ask him to remove your bid and add a buy-now, but then he might make it a ridiculous price.	Agent_24 (57)
1228662	2011-09-12 02:35:00	Gooday Agent_47: been out of action all weekend with Freaky computer trouble, which included three entire XP3 reinstalls in desperate attempts to solve the problems (the ultimate solution, and which worked like a miracle and instantly also, was to install the Antivirus called "Nod", which had been lying around in the USB Drive having been about a month ago downloaded as a "30 Day Trial" but was shoved in the USB and just left there. All of the trouble instantly ceased as soon as Nod was installed, and the problems have not in any way returned: this is incredible: am so astoundingly impressed am mind-boggled!!!) so it's been another fun weekend Agent_47!!! And it has also escalated even further the determination to get a Web-connected Linux OS: only got Nod for thirty days!!! (Of course could do another reinstall to be be able to have Nod for another thirty days but heck!!!). Agent_24, have not been in contact with that Modem dude due not only to the computer problems, but also because, as you say, he will know how desperate to get it I am (think he's got a pretty good idea of that already and he's probably got a few mates lined up to bid against me!!!); also Agent-47, he seems to be very familiar with the rules and so must know what you have told me in your Post but may have decided not to mention it because he seemed to be pretty determined to auction it. Probably be better to let it run it's own course from now on and just hope like hell I win the auction!!! Hey guess what Agent_27, just took off for a 'mo to look a few things up, and had a wee decko at TradeMe as well: while there took a squizz at the "Who" viz the Modem dude - and "he" is actually a "she"!!! Agent_24 you ever been to a glorious EnZed Website (love going there as it really is a terrific Website - almost as good as this one in it's own way) called "OfficePlus". Better hasten to add am in no way "operating" for them in any way (not working for them etc); but am just wanting to say they have got a hell of a lot of very good stuff there (lots of I.T. high-quality gear too) and they are right now having a "Promo" for Adata 8GB USB Flash Drives where they are $16.09 ( freight is an extra $6.67). Here is the page URL: www.ordermax.co.nz But just one thing, Agent_24 - they are having a glitch with the "taking the (virtual shopping) Cart to the Check-Out" side of things is concerned but it is easy to get your "Cart" to the Check-Out when ya know how. Agent_24, if you or anyone else here wants to get anything from their Website, just leave a message here and I will describe how to do it. It is very simple. Usually have a look in at NZ PC World several times a day so you'll get the "How-To" pretty quick. Incidentally, do not be alarmed by the "OrderMax" thing - you do not need "OrderMax" to buy stuff there. Also they are a very good outfit to deal with, very friendly, very helpful. Check out some niice Tech Gear: www.ordermax.co.nz Here is the page URL for the first page of their Ball Point Pens Page: www.ordermax.co.nz Well Agent_24 half of Monday gone, four-and-a-half-days to go till Friday!!! Cheers Agent_24.	Dragonov (16500)
1228663	2011-09-17 07:03:00	Hallooo Agent_24: if you come back here for a look can report that the Modem you found for me has been "won" at the auction on TradeMe ($22.00) and hopefully will be arriving in the post sometime next week. Have got Ubuntu 11.04 all installed and waiting (am getting pretty good at installing it now!) and it will be terrific to give Firefox a go with that Modem. So thank you again, Agent_24, wouldn't have had a hope of ever getting Linux online if you had not pointed me to that Modem.	Dragonov (16500)
1228664	2011-09-17 08:21:00	Good to hear that! Although I still need to find out exactly _how_ to get the dial-in program working 100%. At the moment I can dial in with mine, it seems to authenticate the password OK but then it disconnects me after 10-30 seconds :( I actually suspect that it's not authenticating with the ISP properly at all. I have to look into this further	Agent_24 (57)
1228665	2011-09-18 01:26:00	Success! I'm posting this with my Dynalink 56k modem ... it's damn slow, so it must be dialup! :lol: Turned out I needed to enable 'stupid mode' in the config file (My ISP is Telecom, why does that not surprise me?) Anyway, it looks like it should be easy now to get yours working too ;)	Agent_24 (57)
1228666	2011-09-19 02:02:00	Thanks Agent_24: good to hear from you. Agent_24, have been trying to research on the Web how to configure the Dial Up Settings in Ubuntu 11.04, but the only decent (and very nicely illustrated) tutorial on configuring Internet Settings in Ubuntu that has so far been found is not actually about 11.04, but an earlier Ubuntu, and not like 11.04, or that is to say, have not been able to find in Ubuntu 11.04 the Panel(s) that match this tutorial. Might they materialise when a Modem is plugged in that Linux can detect? Have spent a lot of time in Ubuntu 11.04 trying to find the Dial-Up Setup area but cannot find it. www.ubuntugeek.com At the moment in Ubuntu 11.04 have only been able to find a Panel called "Terminal Server Client" but on the Web it says this is for linking computers in a network. Agent_24, you seemed to get a shock upon using Dial-Up again!!! It is absolutely horrible, and is often excruciatingly frustrating because it can barely get out of it's own way at the best of times! Sitting around for up to five minutes or even more waiting for a single page to open is nothing unusual, and it's a fabulous joy when you are in a hurry!!! And yet, look at the price to have it!!! Also, an ever-increasing plethora of Websites are being exclusively designed for High-Speed-Broadband with extremely graphics-heavy content and lots of video (many Websites are basically all video) and these are no-go on Dial-Up, which can be extremely irksome too because more and more news Websites are like that, with very little text in places, and with video being the primary focal point of increasing numbers of "articles". But good to see you got that Modem going, am hoping that as you are a Tech it might have been worth the trouble as an intellectual exercise, because it is still technology of a very high order, and there is no such thing as useless technical knowledge. You don't sound very happy with Ripoff American Telecom, Agent_24, so why don't ya give them the boot like I did and join Woosh: Woosh are a Kiwi Lines Company (located actually way down in Invercargill!) who are easy to switch over to from Telecom, Woosh will do it all for you. They charge less for a telephone line connection than Telecom, and they offer a full range of Broadband plans, and you get a "free" unlimited Dial Up account with your Line: www.woosh.com They are pretty good, and they can't make much out of it because of the extortionate charges that American Telecom will be gouging them for access to the copper. Am "zapping" off (in slow-motion!) now to do some more Web-crawling Agent_24, so Ciao for now, and thanks again for everything: Linux! Linux!!!	Dragonov (16500)
1228667	2011-09-19 02:13:00	the only decent (and very nicely illustrated) tutorial on configuring Internet Settings in Ubuntu that has so far been found is not actually about 11.04, but an earlier Ubuntu, and not like 11.04, or that is to say, have not been able to find in Ubuntu 11.04 the Panel(s) that match this tutorial. Might they materialise when a Modem is plugged in that Linux can detect? Have spent a lot of time in Ubuntu 11.04 trying to find the Dial-Up Setup area but cannot find it. www.ubuntugeek.com Yes, it seems in the newer versions they removed that handy little feature from the in-built network manager (quite stupid, really) - the old serial ports don't autodetect, unlike PCI, USB etc. But that's OK. you just need to install a separate program called 'gnome-ppp' (and I think wvdial as well) - which hopefully will be on your Ubuntu disc (if you have the DVD, not CD version). If not, you'll probably have to download the program's package in Windows and then copy it onto your Ubuntu with a USB drive etc, and install it. Won't be too difficult though. Yeah, Telecom are a bit of a ripoff I guess but they improve. Recently most customers got a 20GB data increase for free (if not double data) in fact, which was nice.	Agent_24 (57)
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