HELP! winmodem can't be configured

[Bunny Wabit]

Well lets see , this is the 3rd day i have Linux(Mandrake,KDE). I got almost all the things i need to use it as my main platform. Now the trouble is that i can't connect to the Internet!

HardDrake says that it can not configure my modem because it is a WinModem. And i think i got a basic idea of what that means. http://www.idir.net/~gromitkc/

Any body please help! I reformated the windows partition(just because this is my dads machine), so i have to use it until the Modem Problem can be fixed.

Thanks!  

[voidmain]

Since it's a winmodem it is very possible that you will be out of luck. You'll have to look around http://www.linmodems.org/ and follow the links there to see if your modem chipset is supported or there are drivers available. If not, you'll need to acquire a real modem. Any external modem will certainly work but there are many internal modems that are real modems as well. Check the box. Many will say if they are Linux compatible.

[Calum]

i have had a similar problem for a couple of years now. my modem is not a winmodem, smartlink provide linux drivers for it in fact. however they do not work.

As soon as i think i can justify it i will get an external modem, most likely a PC card one. At the moment the stock answer to this question seems to be 'get a real modem'...

[voidmain]

quote:Originally posted by Calum:
As soon as i think i can justify it i will get an external modem, most likely a PC card one. At the moment the stock answer to this question seems to be 'get a real modem'...

An "external" modem is one that attaches to your computer via a serial cable. A PC card modem is not an external modem. And it is not possible for an external modem to be a winmodem.

[ September 24, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]

[Calum]

huh? how come it is not external? is it simply because the actual modem component fits into the PC card slot???

also, are you saying that some PC card modems are part of the winmodem scourge as well? That will be something for me to watch out for.

[voidmain]

Yes, most definitely there are PCMCIA winmodems.  Definitely look for specific Linux compatibility before buying one of those. A lot of the PC card modems are winmodems. But there are many that are not. With an external modem that connects via a serial cable you can be *sure* that it is not a winmodem. Here is a the PCMCIA list on linmodems.org:

http://www.idir.net/~gromitkc/pcmcia_list.html

Now, you might check your HCL (Hardware Compatibility List) for the distro you are using. Anything on the "supported" side of that list should surely work without even having to visit http://www.linmodems.org

[Bunny Wabit]

Ok so the simple answer is to get a *real* modem. Could you give me a price range? I only have like 30 bucks. And I do want to save some of that for a harddrive  

Where do i find the HCL ? In Mandrake, and also i don't know how long i will be sticking with Mandrake. I am a fast learner, And I have FreeBSD. So i might install that after I know enought(and i get a new HD)

[voidmain]

Typically external modems are slightly more expensive than internal modems because there are extra parts such as the case and lights etc. I doubt you will find a new one for less than 30 bucks. Don't you know anyone who recently switched to cable/dsl? They might have something to unload.

[Bunny Wabit]

Nope, everybody I know has cable! I just seem to be the only one who's parent's don't want to pay for it  

[Centurian]

quote:Originally posted by drew k:
Nope, everybody I know has cable! I just seem to be the only one who's parent's don't want to pay for it    

You can get good used external modems off ebay for very small prices. I spent $15 or $20 for the USR 56K external modem I use. (We can't get highspeed here yet.)

I would highly recommend USR external modems and good used ones go as cheap as $5 + shipping on ebay.

[Bunny Wabit]

Thats interesting . I will look into that. First I am going to a local store to see what they have. Might stop at goodwill, ya will be impressed by what you can find there(working condition that is)

But i will go look on eBay.

[Calum]

folks, can i ask your opinion? as far as i knew, a PC card slot was about the size of a credit card and about an eighth of an inch thick, yes? well what about this? :


It claims to be a realport PCMCIA card. Will this fit into my PC card slot? common sense says no, but what i really want to know is, are their two common sizes for PC cards, and i need to look only for the right sized one? or am i just being thick?

thanks...

[voidmain]

Most PCMCIA (PC Card) slots are dual card slots. That is, there is room to stick two cards into the dual slot. I've not seen this device before but it looks like it is a single card that takes up both slots. Do you have a URL with more info about that card?

[Calum]

here's what i know about it. must make a decision before 12AM GMT.

I am at work and this IBM T22 has got 2 PC card slots, as you describe, this would fit one and would not leave room to put abother card in as well, exactly as you say. At home, however i know my laptop only has one PC card slot however i suspect it is large enough to fit a card twice the size of a normal PC card.

I just wanted to check if this was normal behaviour. Also, i will have time to check when i get home tonight before the close of bidding so i should be okay (also i must make 100% sure it will work in mandrake 8.2 however i am thinking that Xircom PC card modems would do so, from what i hear).

Thanks, void main, for taking the time to respond.

[edit - GAAA!! payment by NOCHEX whatever that is, meaning i can't bid for it anyway since i would like to pay by personal cheque. Nevermind, i will get some other Xircom PC card modem, i am still interested in this one though, somebody might be selling another one on eBay tomorrow!

Here's the other one i have my eye on what do you think?

[ September 25, 2002: Message edited by: Calum ]

[voidmain]

Well I wouldn't buy anything unless I was 100% sure it will work in Linux. I have used Xircom cards but you really need to be careful to search for the exact model number and verify if people have had success with that model.  I believe you need to be especially careful with the combo cards. Some work great, some don't work at all. Some, one part of the combination works but not both.