I was wondering if someone can help me get my Softmodem working on a Dell XPS m1710 notebook.

The sound card in an intel HDA sound card ICH7. (Its a Sigmatel Sound Card Driver in Windows)

Apparently, this is a single card, multiple devices, and from what i have read on the web this card only required the snd-hda-intel driver, which provides whats required for both sound and modem.

I have installed and configured ALSA with no problem - the sound works fine.

I also installed and can run slmodem in user mode with the following:

sudo slmodemd -c AUSTRALIA --alsa hw:0

this creates the /dev/ttySL0 device ahnd i can query the modem through kppp.

Problem is though, when this is running, there is no sound.

I need to know how to configure ALSA so that the mutiple devices of the single card can be identified so that I can tell SLMODEM which device hw:0,? to use.

I have tried sudo slmodemd -c AUSTRALIA --alsa hw:0,0 through to 0,6, but the only one that returns any results id the 0,0 again- killing the sound.

Can someone please offer some advise as to how I can configure ALSA to provide a secondary device for the slmodem daemon to use, rather than it hogging the sound card?

Cheers

Rod.

It's possible that your system isn't fully supported yet. The audio codec info was only recently added.

Could you post the link generated by this script? It will generate some useful information and post it online.

Hi - thanks for responding so promptly

I ran the script as you asked and here are the results...

Many thanks for your assistance. Very much appreciated

Regards

Rod


################################
ALSA Information Script v 0.4.24
################################


Linux Distribution
------------------

Gentoo Base System release 1.12.9


Kernel Information
------------------

Kernel release: 2.6.20-gentoo-r8
Operating System: GNU/Linux
Architecture: x86_64
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7400 @ 2.16GHz
SMP Enabled: Yes


ALSA Version
------------

Driver version: 1.0.14rc2
Library version: 1.0.14rc2
Utilities version: 1.0.14rc2


Loaded ALSA modules
-------------------

snd_hda_intel


Soundcards recognised by ALSA
-----------------------------

0 [Intel ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
HDA Intel at 0xefffc000 irq 21


PCI Soundcards installed in the system
--------------------------------------

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 01)


Advanced information - PCI Vendor/Device/Susbsystem ID's
--------------------------------------------------------

00:1b.0 0403: 8086:27d8 (rev 01)
Subsystem: 1028:01ce


HDA-Intel Codec information
---------------------------

Codec: SigmaTel STAC9200
Address: 0
Vendor Id: 0x83847690
Subsystem Id: 0x102801ce
Revision Id: 0x102201
Default PCM:
rates [0x7e0]: 44100 48000 88200 96000 176400 192000
bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
formats [0x1]: PCM
Default Amp-In caps: N/A
Default Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x1f, nsteps=0x1f, stepsize=0x05, mute=1
Node 0x02 [Audio Output] wcaps 0xd0401: Stereo
Power: 0x0
Node 0x03 [Audio Input] wcaps 0x1d0541: Stereo
Power: 0x0
Connection: 1
0x0a
Node 0x04 [Audio Input] wcaps 0x140311: Stereo Digital
PCM:
rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000
bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
formats [0x5]: PCM AC3
Connection: 1
0x08
Node 0x05 [Audio Output] wcaps 0x40211: Stereo Digital
PCM:
rates [0x1e0]: 44100 48000 88200 96000
bits [0xe]: 16 20 24
formats [0x5]: PCM AC3
Node 0x06 [Vendor Defined Widget] wcaps 0xf30201: Stereo Digital
Node 0x07 [Audio Selector] wcaps 0x300901: Stereo
Connection: 3
0x02* 0x08 0x0a
Node 0x08 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x430681: Stereo Digital
Pincap 0x0810024: IN EAPD Detect
Pin Default 0x40f000f0: [N/A] Other at Ext N/A
Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown
Pin-ctls: 0x00:
Power: 0x0
Node 0x09 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400301: Stereo Digital
Pincap 0x0810: OUT
Pin Default 0x40f000f1: [N/A] Other at Ext N/A
Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown
Pin-ctls: 0x00:
Connection: 2
0x05* 0x0a
Node 0x0a [Audio Selector] wcaps 0x30090d: Stereo Amp-Out
Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x0f, stepsize=0x05, mute=1
Amp-Out vals: [0x80 0x80]
Connection: 1
0x0c
Node 0x0b [Audio Selector] wcaps 0x300105: Stereo Amp-Out
Amp-Out caps: N/A
Amp-Out vals: [0x10 0x10]
Connection: 1
0x07
Node 0x0c [Audio Selector] wcaps 0x30010d: Stereo Amp-Out
Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x04, stepsize=0x27, mute=0
Amp-Out vals: [0x00 0x00]
Connection: 5
0x10* 0x0f 0x0e 0x0d 0x12
Node 0x0d [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400181: Stereo
Pincap 0x083f: IN OUT HP Detect
Pin Default 0x0421101f: [Jack] HP Out at Ext Right
Conn = 1/8, Color = Black
Pin-ctls: 0xc0: OUT HP
Connection: 1
0x0b
Node 0x0e [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400181: Stereo
Pincap 0x083f: IN OUT HP Detect
Pin Default 0x90170110: [Fixed] Speaker at Int N/A
Conn = Analog, Color = Unknown
Pin-ctls: 0x40: OUT
Connection: 1
0x0b
Node 0x0f [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400181: Stereo
Pincap 0x0837: IN OUT Detect
Pin Default 0x40f000f2: [N/A] Other at Ext N/A
Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown
Pin-ctls: 0x20: IN
Connection: 1
0x0b
Node 0x10 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400181: Stereo
Pincap 0x081737: IN OUT Detect
Pin Default 0x04a11020: [Jack] Mic at Ext Right
Conn = 1/8, Color = Black
Pin-ctls: 0x24: IN
Connection: 1
0x0b
Node 0x11 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400104: Mono Amp-Out
Amp-Out caps: N/A
Amp-Out vals: [0x00]
Pincap 0x0810: OUT
Pin Default 0x40f000f3: [N/A] Other at Ext N/A
Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown
Pin-ctls: 0x00:
Connection: 1
0x13
Node 0x12 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400001: Stereo
Pincap 0x0820: IN
Pin Default 0x40f000f4: [N/A] Other at Ext N/A
Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown
Pin-ctls: 0x20: IN
Node 0x13 [Audio Mixer] wcaps 0x200100: Mono
Connection: 1
0x07
Node 0x14 [Beep Generator Widget] wcaps 0x70000c: Mono Amp-Out
Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x03, nsteps=0x03, stepsize=0x17, mute=1
Amp-Out vals: [0x00]
Codec: Conexant ID 2bfa
Address: 1
Vendor Id: 0x14f12bfa
Subsystem Id: 0x14f100c3
Revision Id: 0x90000


ALSA Device nodes
-----------------

crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 0 May 25 2007 /dev/snd/controlC0
crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 24 May 25 2007 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0c
crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 16 May 25 2007 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p
crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 1 May 24 17:34 /dev/snd/seq
crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 33 May 25 2007 /dev/snd/timer


ALSA configuration files
------------------------

User specific config file (~/.asoundrc)



System wide config file (/etc/asound.conf)



Aplay output
------------

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: STAC92xx Analog [STAC92xx Analog]
Subdevices: 0/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0


Amixer output
-------------

-------Mixer controls for card 0 [Intel]

Simple mixer control 'Master',0
Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 31
Mono:
Front Left: Playback 16 [52%] [-22.50dB] [on]
Front Right: Playback 16 [52%] [-22.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
Capabilities: pvolume
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 255
Mono:
Front Left: Playback 228 [89%] [-5.40dB]
Front Right: Playback 228 [89%] [-5.40dB]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Capture 0 - 15
Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB] [off]
Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Capture Mux',0
Capabilities: volume
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: 0 - 4
Front Left: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
Front Right: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',0
Capabilities: enum
Items: 'Mic'
Item0: 'Mic'


All Loaded Modules
------------------

Module
vmnet
parport_pc
parport
vmmon
snd_seq
snd_seq_device
rtc
hci_usb
bluetooth
nvidia
sdhci
mmc_core
snd_hda_intel
snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm
snd_timer
snd
soundcore
snd_page_alloc
i2c_i801
i2c_core
rng_core
intel_agp
eth1394
joydev
sg
pcspkr
tg3
e1000
nfs
lockd
sunrpc
jfs
raid10
raid1
raid0
dm_mirror
dm_mod
sbp2
ohci1394
ieee1394
sl811_hcd
usbhid
ff_memless
ohci_hcd
uhci_hcd
usb_storage
ehci_hcd
usbcore

Ok - there are a few more config settings you might be interested in, so I have also included these - they may help...

Here is my /et/modules.d/alsa configuration....

# Alsa kernel modules' configuration file.

# ALSA portion
# OSS/Free portion

##
## IMPORTANT:
## You need to customise this section for your specific sound card(s)
## and then run `update-modules' command.
## Read alsa-driver's INSTALL file in /usr/share/doc for more info.
##
## ALSA portion
## alias snd-card-0 snd-interwave
## alias snd-card-1 snd-ens1371
## OSS/Free portion
## alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0
## alias sound-slot-1 snd-card-1
##

# OSS/Free portion - card #1
## OSS/Free portion - card #2
## alias sound-service-1-0 snd-mixer-oss
## alias sound-service-1-3 snd-pcm-oss
## alias sound-service-1-12 snd-pcm-oss

alias /dev/mixer snd-mixer-oss
alias /dev/dsp snd-pcm-oss
alias /dev/midi snd-seq-oss

# Set this to the correct number of cards.

# --- BEGIN: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---
# --- ALSACONF version 1.0.14rc2 ---
alias snd-card-0 snd-hda-intel
alias sound-slot-0 snd-hda-intel
# --- END: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---



and here is my slmodem configuration...

# Config file for /etc/init.d/slmodemd

DEV=/dev/ttySL0
COUNTRY=AUSTRALIA
GROUP=dialout
# the group should be kept in sync with:
# /etc/devfs.d/slmodem (devfs)
# /etc/udev/rules.d/55-slmodem.rules (udev)

# The following symlink will be created if uncommented
LN_DEV=/dev/modem

# Raise priority to reduce modem dropouts
NICE=-6

# ALSA Options:

# The following sets the ALSA (alsasound) init script to
# be a dependancy of the slmodem one. It does also provides
# ALSA support.
MODULE=alsa

# The modem hardware slot
# use "modem:0", "modem:1", etc.
# usually modem:1 is used
HW_SLOT=hw:0,6

# Non-ALSA OPTIONS:

# MODULE=slamr
# or
# MODULE=slusb

# Include extra slmodemd options here:
# -r = enables ring detection (needed for Hylafax faxgetty to answer)
# -l 5 = Logging Level
SLMODEM_OPTS=""

Well, the bad news is that this modem codec is not currently supported in the alsa softmodem framework.

The good news (for you anyway - more work for me) is that I have the same modem in my laptop, so I can debug it here.

Send me an email so we can directly communicate and I can send you a patch or two. Either click on my userid or email me at gmail.com (same userid).