Hey guys, I am getting a friend's comp hooked up with suse (because I'd rather install and leave instead of config slackware!) So I can pretty get him to blow some cash on a PCI modem, see he has a Rockwell HCF Modem, appearently the WORST to get to work. So what PCI modems work sweet in linux, specifically suse 9.2 pro and slackware, but suse is good.

I'm really looking for someone's experience with a particular modem and how they set it up, hopefully in a simple way. If it;s a good 56k modem, I may get one for myself and work it with slackware.

Thanx for any help/testimonials you can give! -Bill

An external serial modem (like mine) would be easiest (just plug it in) and prob cheaper, but you want pci... a "hardware" modem should work just as easy as external, but they are more expensive (like a certian us robotics one that i saw for $90 once). Then there are the 'software' modems; they are the cheapest but either require a special driver or don't work at all. Don't forget to take a look at the LQ hcl http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/index.php

This serial modem you speak of, what's the deal with it? Just plug it in and go?
I may go with an external because of cost.

Just ensure you get a cheap internal modem which uses the at command set, this confirms it is an active modem and doesn't use your machines code to make the cheap chip work - so called hardware modems.

Almost, all external modems are at command set modems so the problem does not arise.

It is the classic cheap winmodem problem you have to avoid, so find a guy in your local shop that knows what he is talking about. Your operating system might have that particular driver installed, but why not get the proper hardware device in the first place.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/sh...cat=178&page=1
http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/sh...cat=178&page=2
i've used both of these with suse 8.2+ and other distros.

Thanx a bunch, it turns out I got lucky with my USR 5660 winmodem. Linuxant provides drivers for 15 bucks, works excellently! -Bill

Thats not lucky you could have bought a proper hardware modem for the price of using a dumb device.

You now have a modem that uses your code time and speed to make a so called winmodem work.

Guess our advice was wasted.

No, your input was very helpful. Now that I know of a few fully hardware modems that work, I will purchase one for another machine that I am setting up. I got lucky on my home machine because the winmodem works in all it's 56k glory. Seriously, I don't really care about the clock speed - I should get dsl anyway. The thing is, I would always use a hardware modem when I have the chance, I just got off the hook of buying a new modem in this particular case. Thank you for the help, I will be getting an external srial modem / internal hardware modem for the machine I'm working on.

while I was looking for a modem solution for my system, a new modem is needed for my friend. At least he'll be picking up the bill for the new thing.