From what I understand, life is a lot more simple using linux if your modem is not a winmodem. Can someone please tell me how I can tell the difference between a winmodem and a non winmodem. Thank you in advance.

Also, would an AMR (Audio Modem Riser) modem be a winmodem? I am guessing yes.

Most new PC's have been distributed with software modems("winmodems"), these modems are not like external hardware modems that you attach to your computer. They are more like sound or graphics cards 'cos they use software to emulate what a hardware modem does. They are called Winmodems because microsoft put there proprietry software in them, thus making sure that only people who pay for a software licence or have windows can use the modem (boo hiss). Therefore if you have bought a new PC recently, and/or do not connect to the internet via an external hardware modem (i use a Hayes Accura) you are probably using a Winmodem. There is a web site that is developing drivers to compensate for "Win" modems, search for LINMODEMS in Google either that or buy an external one, they aren't that expensive and work better anyway!

hope this helps

Dog Monkey

Open a terminal and do lspci or lspci -v and see what your modem tells you. Mine tells me bla,bla,bla winmodem.
I am not 100% sure that this is a definite way to find out but if your tells you winmodem it is one.

99.9% of infernal modems are winmodems.

I'd just get a Hayes extrnal modem (Like I eventually did) it will save you so much time and works far better than internal modems...

mrtwice, if you don't have a modem yet, just make sure that when you buy it it says it is compatible with Linux, then chances are that linux will detect it with no problems!, like lordevereste said, I also recomed you get an external modem...I have both internal and external, and both have the flex v.90 technology...internal is crap, wont connect to more than 56k and download at 5k/s to 7k/s...rather I use the external...DAMN! I get 15k/s to 22k/s downloads it's crazy!!!

zLinuxz

thanks, that is interesting info