LinuxQuestions.org - built in modem

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- - built in modem (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-laptop-and-netbook-25/built-in-modem-572969/)

I've got a dell inspiron 1521, and it has a built in modem which windows uses very well. Can I get it to work on Debian Linux? I ran lspci, but I don't know which device it is. I tried these commands to test weather it was already configured like a serial modem, but it's not.

Code:

echo atdt3333333 > /dev/ttyS0

echo atdt3333333 > /dev/ttyS1

echo atdt3333333 > /dev/ttyS2

echo atdt3333333 > /dev/ttyS3

this is lspci:

Code:

$ lspci

00:00.0 Host bridge: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 7910

00:01.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 7912

00:05.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 7915

00:07.0 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 7917

00:12.0 IDE interface: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 Non-Raid-5 SATA

00:13.0 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI0)

00:13.1 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI1)

00:13.2 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI2)

00:13.3 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI3)

00:13.4 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB (OHCI4)

00:13.5 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 USB Controller (EHCI)

00:14.0 SMBus: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 SMBus (rev 14)

00:14.1 IDE interface: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 IDE

00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 Azalia

00:14.3 ISA bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 PCI to LPC Bridge

00:14.4 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SB600 PCI to PCI Bridge

00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] HyperTransport Technology Configuration

00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Address Map

00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] DRAM Controller

00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] K8 [Athlon64/Opteron] Miscellaneous Control

01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Unknown device 791f

03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation BCM4401-B0 100Base-TX (rev 02)

03:01.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd Unknown device 0832 (rev 05)

03:01.1 Generic system peripheral [0805]: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 22)

03:01.2 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd Unknown device 0843 (rev 12)

03:01.3 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter (rev 12)

03:01.4 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd xD-Picture Card Controller (rev 12)

0b:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN Mini-PCI Card (rev 01)

The packing information lists something called "Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem for Inspiron". I've got no clues. I thought maybe there was a way to treat the modem like a usb modem, but I don't know if that would work. Has anyone done this before... does anyone have any links? Any help would be appreciated.

I used this guide to setup my cell phone as a modem on my laptop. There is a link in it to a program/script (I can't remember which :p), called scanModem, that scans your computer for available modems. After determining which device my cell phone was I used wvdialconf and wvdial to configure and use the modem. It worked fine allthough I prefer the DSL I have at this computer, it is a bit faster...

I haven't tried to use this method to setup any internal modems, but I can't see any reason why it shouldn't work. Good luck.

- Findus

Found something useful for me :
http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/
use scanmodem first,then it will tell you what is your modem and driver that you need to install,then follow all instruction there.

Good luck.

I tried scanModem, and have emailed my modem stats to the people at linmodem. They've been helping me along, but the modem isn't working yet... hopefully it will be soon. Anyway, thanks for the info.

EDIT: I downloaded the hsfmodem package from dell originally, called hsfmodem_7.60.00.06oem_i386.deb, but it wouldn't work. It's supposed to give full speed, so I'm still waiting for the guys at linmodem, as they might have a clue as to how to make it work. MEANWHILE, I downloaded the hsfmodem package from linuxant. It's newer, but only gives you half the speed unless you pay for a license. I got it to work, though. I'll wait a little while for the people at linmodem, but for now I'm just happy I got something to work... btw: the hsf package from linuxant is called 'hsfmodem_7.60.00.09full_i386.deb.zip'

That particular package is the source package to be used with obscure kernels and requires you to install kernel-source to compile the module against the current running kernel. They also have pre-compiled binaries for kernels that have been in circulation for a while, or stable release kernels which don't require kernel-source to be installed. If your running Etch with the 2.6.18-4 kernel, they more than likely have a pre-compiled package for that kernel.
BUT!
I would be striving for the same thing as you and get that OEM source working, as a matter of fact, I also run Debian testing using the 2.6.22 kernel from Unstable and use that same source package from linuxant. I'm stuck at the "super sonic" 1.4kbps speed at the moment also, but I'm going cruising on Dell's site for that OEM source that I didn't know existed and will give it a shot on my XPS Gen2. I usually don't use the modem on the laptop at home because I have a desktop with two modems and Windows Media Center as a dual boot on the laptop with better speed if needed on the laptop. I usually just run to the nearest community and hack into a wireless network off the street if I need a large download real quick like, make sure to fake my mac address first. :D

Apparently, it specifies the driver is for Ubuntu 7.04. I doubt that'll work with the different kernel in Debian's distributions.
EDIT: Once you pay for the licence at Linuxant, it can be used on the same system in any Linux distribution.

Are you distro minded ?

Are you affiliated on any kind of distro ? If not, just try live newest Simply mepis, I think it is also built from debian. It works fine with my onboard win modem, without installing anything.
Good luck.

I'm really attached to Debian... don't know why. I might get the license... it's sort of against my priciples, but who am I to kurmudgeonly withold $20.00 from the prosperity of some guy at linuxant. I just know I'll pay for the key, and then have to re-install my o.s., and forget the key like a bozo. Better to wait a while.

You might try the Simply Mepis CD and see if there is a modem driver that will recognize your modem. I have an older model dell and it installed and picked up the modem with no problems. After all it is a live cd and you don't have to install but at least you could see if there is an available driver.