Please help with modem driver
 

I have a Rockwell Conexant softV92 56 k internal fax data modem and I cannot find a driver for Linux. From what I heard Linux without an internet connection is useless so, please help. I know nothing about Linux so if you could also tell me where I can find some Linux tutorials, I don't know, something useful like programming. Sorry if I offend someone, as I said, I know nothing about Linux. (I have a Linux Mandrake 8.2)

It looks like that is a winmodem so finding drivers can be a challenge. My advice: go buy a new modem, they are really cheap now that many people are on broadban. You can probably pick one up for less than 15dollars.

What is a winmodem?
--Well, they aren't really modems at all. They are missing some of the hardware necessary to be a stand alone modem. The parts that they are missing are emulated by software (Windows software). They are cheaper to manufacture than regular modems and most people never notice the difference, until they dump windows and discover that they never had a real modem to begin with.

There are drivers for some winmodems and you might have fun hacking around trying to get it to work.
Good luck!

well...that's not very optimistic. :)
there just might be a driver around.

take a look at : http://www.linmodems.org/

good luck

egag

Second request first: A good site for HOWTOs on various topics in linux is www.tldp.org. I will very often go there first to check the howtos. One of the howtos there that may help you is at:

http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Conexant+R...WTO/index.html

The suggestion to get a "real" modem may actually be a good option. You could look around for a good one that is well supported in linux. Could save you some aggravation.

Hi,

As Optimistic said, the Rockwell chipset is a 'winmodem' and they're frankly a bit of a pain....

However, your modem is catered for by the Linuxant driver - the driver itself is *not* free - you can download a crippled trial version, limiting you to 14.4kbps but the full version will cost you $14.95.

So your choice is to either splash out on a new modem - a proper 'hardware' one (and only a serially-connected external device can really be
guaranteed to be a hardware modem these days - cheapo internal ones are probably no better than what you've already got), or pay for the
Linuxant driver.

I have tried the Linuxant driver myself - had to use it on brother-in-law's machine (he didn't want an external modem...) and it does work very well, is
relatively easy to install.

Sorry to bring news of extra cost, but that's your options here I'm afraid...

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Reading all yor replies I think that I should buy an external modem. Can anyone tell me what are the best options (somewhat friendly prices) for external modems on the market? If you can, recommend me a site where I can find it (with Linux driver please).
Also, is there no site that would share the Linuxant driver for free? From what I heard the modem that I have does it's job vey well.

Also thank you hussar I'll have a look if you say it's worthwhile.

Hello,

I can't make any specific suggestions (I don't know where you're located) except that an external modem is probably a good idea. I used a Jetway model which worked very well. I seem to remember a couple of years ago it cost me about £25 - you can probably do better than that now..

You won't need a separate driver for an external modem - just plug it in and it should be seen on your ttyS0 (COM1) port - easy as that!

Hey,

I have some more options:
1) I could wait until July until our TV cable will have an internet connection available.
2) I could wait for a LAN to become available, but I don't know if this will take a month or an year until It reaches me.
3) I could buy an external modem. I a mentor modem 56k at 21.9 euro.
Do you think it's a good idea or should I look for some other external modems ?

Which ones are more safer ? (detection speaking)
Also, if you know the advantages and disadvantages of each one please tell me.

Location : Romania

I know this is a forum and u r looking for recommended modems from the users here + I am sure u will get lots of good advice, but u could also type into ur google search bar `external modems + linux` this will give u lots of pages of info to look at plus sites with price guides of different modems that are compatible. Which will give u some more info, the more informed u r when u r buying ur hardware then the more confident u r going to be about how it`s going to perform with ur distro and system. :-)

All companies will say that their own products are the best.
I think I need advice not somewhat useless information. I say useless because I know very little about internet, and even looking at the product description I wouldn't understand a thing.
Of course, if that there are many like you who think that this thread is disturbing, I would have no objections for it's deletion, Ok?

as long as it's 56k and external........it's fine!!!! i've got one with v.90, v.92 and numerous other cr@p like that on the box and it's still just a 56k modem. just take a look on ebay, u might get a bargain.

I am not suggesting that ur thread is `disturbing` I am not suggesting that u look at manu`s websites what I am suggesting is that u compare on google the specs of different types of hardware reviews from different sources that may be of help to u..... I am in no way trying to be judgemental to ur problems that u r having at the moment :-) so chill!!!! :-)

Ok, sorry. So, it has to be a 56k modem, it doesn't matter who produces them ?

If it's a serial-port coonected hardware modem, then it shouldn't matter what brand it is.

Ok, I'll take a look.
One more question : should I wait for our TV cable or a LAN to supply an internet connection and wait seven or eight months, or should I buy an external modem next week?

If you've got the money, might as well get the modem (if you don't need it after a while, you can sell it on Ebay, keep it in case you move, or hack/mod it into something cool). I know I wouldn't want to go months without internet access at home, but that's just me.

I don't know. I think I'll buy one.
I know nothing about hacking.
Can anyone tell me where I can learn to hack programs?
I have the same "problem".

By 'hacker' I just mean a clever person who likes to solve problems. I don't take 'hacker' to mean anything bad or illegal. Eric Raymon has a nice article:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html#what_is

How do you hack prorams?
1. Learn the programming language that the program was written in.
2. Grab a copy of the program's source.
3. Change the program to suit your needs (this is the hacking part).
4. (optional) Release your improvements or submit your improvements to the author of the program.

The open source movement gives you the freedom to be a good hacker.

If you meant hack in a bad or illegal way--which is cracking, well, you are on your own. Besides, with open source software you don't need to crack, you can get the source code and turn it into anything you want.

From what I know the only way to view a source code in windows is the Assembler language. Unfortunatley I couldn't find any easy to understand tutorials. Do you know where I can get some?For free if it's possible.

If money is a problem...
 

and it seems to be, then another choice, ahem, is to use the existing modem.

1. Follow the above supplied linmodem URL's for information. Also go to linuxant and download the .exe utilitities for windows, assuming your computer has win on it, to find out exactly which type of Conexant modem you have, that is, HCF or HSF.

www.linuxant.com/drivers/modemident.php

There is a pdf file there, telling how to use it. "list modem type identification." It tells you how to use "list modem application for windows" available on the same page, look for link. There is also a tool for linux if win is gone for any reason.
***
If this URL doesn't work, try

www.linuxant.com/company/ and click on the link that says "softmodem drivers for Conexant chips" to work your way to the utilities. This takes you to www.linuxant.com/drivers .

The drivers page will have a link "identify your modem chipset" which gives the php page mentioned above for the identifcation executables.

It will also have at the left under hcf or hsf the installation instructions.
***
2. Then, download the free beta drivers. I got it when it was wide open, and made a CD copy. I think it was for kernel 2.4 and a google shows 8.2 used kernel 2.4.18. Thus look here

www.int21.de/conexant/

for beta drivers. Fear not. Some folks think sincewhen they took open source files and changed the stable versions to propietary, by some magic the open source beta files became propietary also. That is not possible.

I am using one of them, I forget which, on my 2 year old Dell laptop. It was free, and will work as long as I have kernel 2.4 in use. As soon as you get them make a CD, they will work as long as you use kernel 2.4.

By the way, generally I advocate financial support for our linux suppliers. However, I think folks with little money are not obliged to pay when something is legally free, such as the old 2.4 beta drivers.

I did find key crackers listed in a foreign language for the proprietary linux drivers. I am not telling you where to find them, since I think that is illegal.

I downloaded from linuxant the list modem application for windows.
Detection was succesfull. What do I do now?
Downloaded the HSF file from int21 what do I do now?
Is hacking programs for good purposes, legal?
If so, where can I get more information?