Hi,
I am trying to install my PCTel HSP56 Micromodem on Mandrake 9.0. I know it is difficult to install a winmodem on Linux but I dont have cable so I need the modem. I have completed the installation by installing the pctel driver 0.9.6 and installed the modules and all that. When I try to dial out, it dials out but after connecting it gives me the error message saying "Timeout expired while waiting for the PPP interface to come up!" I am guessing it is a problem with PPP but I was wondering if anybody could help. Thank you.

I am not sure why everyone says that is so hard to install winmodems in linux? If you have a Lucent or Mars chipsets they are really easy. Just don't get bogged down in the linmodems.org site. Just go to www.heby.de/ltmodem, find the right driver and install it.

Hell of a lot easier than this stupid HP printer that is really starting to piss me off. Installing ppd files, cups, hpijs drivers, and it is still not working.

As for a PCTel linmodem, I guess you have done google searches for it?

Have you tried to do a search. I just did a quick check to help you out ..... there are hundreds of websites on your topic about your PCTel linmodem.

It will probably be easier for you to do the research yourself rather than waiting for a response on a forum.

Here is a start if you do not have access to google :

http://www.sslug.dk/emailarkiv/prog/.../msg00107.html

linmodems.technion.ac.il/pctel-linux/

www.netaxs.com/~bj/readme.txt

pctelcompdb.sourceforge.net/

www.linmodems.org/

linux-sxs.org/pctel.html

www.espaciolibre.net/pipermail/uylug-varios/ 2002-October/000429.html

My question is...you run Linux...why screw with a winmodem? 80 bucks..external us robotics...no more head aches and much better performance.
Leave Windows behind....the pctel modems sucked under windozzs why would they work any better under Linux....

I thought the same thing about winmodems. Every person, who obviously had never actually done any research, just said " OOHhhhh .. winmodems are a headache ... you'll never get that going ... just start at linmodems.org". Blah bla blah.

If they actually knew what they were talking about, they could get it going for you in 10 seconds. Mine is a Lucent winmodem and these are the steps:
1. Go to www.heby.de/ltmodem
2. Down the latest tar.gz
3. ./build_module and install

Your winmodem is up and running.

Interestingly my new HP printer and digital camera and ten times harder - and still not going.

Not sure about PCTel winmodems though. That may be more trouble than what it is worth.

You ask why I mess with Winmodems...I finally found a page that explained how to set it up for my winmodem to work with an msn connection. It took about 0 minutes to setup and it saved me money. I think that everybody just thinks it is extrememly hard to set them up but I am a newbie and all it took was aabout a half an hour and a little reaserch to do it. SO those who have winmodems should try to make it work first before buying something new.

I can definitly understand what you are saying, and really understand about the saving money...I guess my point was that some of these guys will spend weeks beating their brains out to get it to work...I would rather spend the money, and spend the rest of the time drinking beer ) But the difference in performance and reliability are unquestionable. Hardware.
But you did persist and read the docs ....allot of people don't.
But thats why our s@#$t works and theirs don't ;-)

Dual P3 1000's
Radeon 8500DV*64 meg ddr (With direct rendering and tv tuner working )
SB Live Platnum
2 Quantum ATA 100 7200 rpm hd's- RH8 installed on Hpt372 Raid0
768 meg O ram
Sun 21" monitor

jtlinux1967

I fully agree sir. If I could go back I would have preferred to just spend the AUD$80 and buy a hardware modem. I spent weeks trying to sort it out. In the end it was a 2 minute task. Man .... if my time was valued at just $2/hr, buying a new modem would still have been worthwhile.

I think the problem is that everyone makes it out to be harder that what it is really is. This stupid HP printer in RedHat 8.0 required about 4 different files to be installed etc etc and still didn't work. Mandrake solved the problem. Now this stupid digital camera does not work with anything linux - although perfectly with Windows and MAC.

i cant insmod the modules.
said unresolved symbols and something about linking with GPL only symbols.
I use Debian and kernel 2.4.20
thx!^^

PD: In others countries, 80u$s is too many money

Hey Jacee,

I am also having problems getting my pctel modem to work. I am running Mandrake 9.0 and the problem for me is being that I don't have kernel header files. (ie. modversions.h, version.h, etc.) Did you find a way to sidestep that problem?
-Mike

UpooPoo: I had the same problem at the beginning, but in one of Mandrake's installation CDs you have those files.