My Asus AAM6000UG (Alcatel chipset) USB ADSL modem connected thru phone line wasn't recognised by Freespire Linux. I downloaded amedyn2 drivers but don't know how to install them. I'm a newbie so please give me Linux for dummies type of explanation!

Which drivers did you download and where from?
(What are the file names?)

I downloaded from this link:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...group_id=84006
I also found How to... on this link:
http://sourceforge.net/docman/displa...group_id=84006
but I need some time to read it, 'cause it's a long story.

Maybe it would be easier to install distro with kernel greater or equal to 2.6.16 because xusbatm module is included in official kernel.

If you have CNR access, try to find this driver there.

The sourceforge project has quite a few packages. Hopefully you have this one: amedyn-2004-08-04-src.tgz

*.tgz files are called "tarballs"
TGZ = tar-gzip ... it is an archive like winzip.
double-click on it and a window will open showing the content.
right-click and select "extract here" will create a new directory with the content.
You are looking for a file called "README" ... read it.
There will probably be one called "install.txt" or something. Read that too.

You will need to have all the programming/developer packages installed, probably you will need kernel source and headers too.

I do not like to suggest a different distro for such a simple problem. OTOH: I like to steer folk away from the Freespire/Linspire camp.

You should be able to update the kernel from the CNR repository. If not, then you will probably be happier with a different distro.

Can you show me the output of lsusb while the modem is plugged in.