Hi - I am new to Linux so please bear with me.

i have a Dell Inspiron 8600 Laptop which has a Broadcom BCM9415M internal modem.

I have found all sorts of information on teh web about how difficult it is to get this modem to work as it is a software modem.

I was wondering if anyone has managed to get this particular modem working on SUSE 10, and if so, can they tell me how they did it.

I have installed the smartlink-softmodem-2.9.10-17.i586.rpm package from the DVD, but from this point on I dont know what to do.

If someone can send me the URL on how to use the Smartlink softmodem software - and what I need to do to get it to make my modem work - it would be very much appreciated.

Just as a bit of background information - the modem which is detected by SUSE is as follows:

Broadcom 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC97 Modem Controller

It always fails with a Carrier timed out error when i try to dial out to the internet using wvdial.

Many thanks

Rod Lane.

Not familiar with Suse but have setup modems in MDK. Here are some bits to help you on your way.

1. Check to make sure your ISP is linux friendly - AOL is not (needs special dialer)
2. Go ethernet to DSL if possible
3. If not then you must dialup. Not familiar with your setup but, IF your notebook has a serial port, AND you are new to linux, Highly recommend using an external serial port (NOT USB) hardware modem because:
most serial port modems are hardware modems
they are almost universally supported by all distros of linux with NO external drivers required.
they are generally FASTER than most internal modems.
they can be had for less than $5 US at local thrift shops/ebay.

Having said that, it is entirely possible that your distro supports this modem but, although softmodem support is getting way better, there is a good chance you could could still be trying a month from now. If your modem is recognized, that in itself does not mean that the drivers are installed and compatible. It just means that the firmware signature in the modem has reported itself to the OS.
You should be able to type "AT" into your 'test modem' dialogue box and have it come back "OK". Have not used wvdialer much; used to use Kppp. You can look for an app called minicom and follow some tests in the console to determine if modem is recognized and compatible drivers are installed. The hassle with internal (usually) PCI modems is that whether or not they are linux compatible, you must have the EXACT drivers for the EXACT modem and this setup has to match the EXACT kernel version you are running.
With ext. ser.port modem all these problems go away. As you become more familiar w/linux you can tackle the softmodem issue.

Just a thought
good luck

Thanks for you reply.

I am finding more and more information on how to get the modem working - and amto the point of recompiling drivers for my kernel version.

I am in the process of sorting out compile errors with the driver that is claimed to work with my modem and SUSE 10. I will post the information here along with where to get the files etc if it is successful in case there is anybody else out there trying to get one of these working.

Cheers

ok - I managed to get it to the p;oint of dialing out.

It even detected there was no dialtone as I am dialing out through a PABX.

this is the snapshot of how i got started the slmodemd daemon in ALSA mode and then the output of the connection log for the attempted connection. If someone out there knows what htis means it would be much appreciated if they could shed some light.

PS. The dial up works fine under windows going through the same pabx.

Basiacally it attempts to dial the first time and takes a very long time - then it continually gives the repeated error message.


Daemon Dump
rodney@Supremewks01:~> su root
Password:
Supremewks01:/home/rodney # /etc/init.d/slmodemd stop
Shutting down SmartLink Modem driver: done
Supremewks01:/home/rodney # modprobe snd_intel8x0m
Supremewks01:/home/rodney # cd /etc/init.d
Supremewks01:/etc/init.d # slmodemd --country=AUSTRALIA --alsa hw:1
SmartLink Soft Modem: version 2.9.10 Sep 12 2005 21:19:20
symbolic link `/dev/ttySL0' -> `/dev/pts/2' created.
modem `hw:1' created. TTY is `/dev/pts/2'
Use `/dev/ttySL0' as modem device, Ctrl+C for termination.


Output of dial up session
SuSE Meta pppd (smpppd-ifcfg), Version 1.59 on Supremewks01.
Status is: disconnected
trying to connect to smpppd
connect to smpppd
Status is: disconnected
Status is: connecting
pppd[0]: Plugin passwordfd.so loaded.
pppd[0]: --> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.54.0
pppd[0]: --> Initializing modem.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATM0
pppd[0]: ATM0
pppd[0]: OK
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATX3
pppd[0]: ATX3
pppd[0]: OK
pppd[0]: --> Modem initialized.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Timed out while dialing. Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
pppd[0]: --> Sending: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> Waiting for carrier.
pppd[0]: NO CARRIER
pppd[0]: ATDT0,0198308888
pppd[0]: --> No Carrier! Trying again.
Status is: disconnecting
pppd[0]: --> Disconnecting at Fri Dec 16 08:47:40 2005
pppd[0]: Connect script failed
Status is: disconnected
pppd[0] died: Connect script failed (exit code 8)

Just as a follow up on this thread - the problem was not the modem, rather the fact that it was going through a pabx.

I tried this again at home and it worked.

I have since installed Gentoo and it all works fine. I still have the same problem with the PABX though, getting the no carrier message - but i have PCMCIA modem for that now and it works fine. So its all good.