Recommend PCI Modem

**PlantPerson** · 08-18-2005, 12:28 AM

Could someone recommend a low-priced PCI dialup modem which works under knoppix?

**rusty** · 08-18-2005, 01:10 AM

For the most part cheap pci modems are software modems (winmodems) and are difficult to get to work under knoppix. It is probably better to shell out the extra bucks for a controller based modem, either pci or better yet external (serial).

If you want a couple of good resources look at these:

http://www.math.sunysb.edu/~comech/tools/PCImodems.html

http://linmodems.org

Controller based external modems will set you back some:

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=...%20modem&hl=en

Good luck

**tdjokic** · 08-18-2005, 01:34 AM

http://www.mepislovers.org/modules/n...forumpost38986
- this is no-name Lucent / Agere which has integrated drivers in Mepis and works out of the box, in Live mode and in hdd installed, NO DRIVERS, NO NOTHING, ONLY your user name, password and tel.number of ISP and in Kanotix too, but you must do simple command, nothing serios. Smart Link modems has support too, I am sure for Kanotix, but not 100% for Mepis. Kanotix is recomended for Knoppix user, but for hdd installation, so it is almoust the same thing.

Lucent + Mepis is my personal experience, I was spechless when it starts dialing in Live mode!!!

Look what you need to do in Kanotix for Smart Link modem:

su
/etc/init.d/sl-modem-daemon restart
and than /dev/modem

very simple ...

**Harry Kuhman** · 08-18-2005, 01:36 AM

Originally Posted by PlantPerson

Could someone recommend a low-priced PCI dialup modem which works under knoppix?

Such devices are getting harder and harder to find. Actiontec used to majke some very good internal PCI modems that were true modems (not Winmodems), but I just checked their site to see if any were currently available and it looks like they may be out of the dial-up modem business entirely. I suspect that many others are too, with almost any internal card you find now being an inexpensive Winmodem without Linux suport. I expect finding anything new is going to be difficult and expensive.

Likely a lot of old dirt cheap used computers out there will have a viable modem in them, but finding one may be a problem, at least in kowing if that $5 box has a winmodem or a real modem in it before you buy it. The price will go up sharply if you go to a used computer store or the electronic bay of thieves and buy just the modem, and then you are still taking chances on the quality.

External modems may be your best choice, but will also be expensive. You might want to ask yourself how much you are willing to pay to stay in the 20th century. At least in my area, the lowest speed form of DSL has now come down in price to very close to what I used to pay for dial-up service, and although it's sold as DSL lite, it's much much faster that dial-up ever was. Before I shelled out a lot for an old technology modem that had limited usefulness, I would certainly consider moving to newer technology. Of course, I understand that there may be some unique applications where dial-up is still viable, but there are reasons why it's getting harder and harder to find and the prices are climbing back up.

I would suggest that you at least shop around for high speed service and see what is available from DSL or cable, and look into getting a high speed modem with an ethernet connection (do not accept a USB based device). And if the high speed modem doesn't include a built-in router, buy an inexpensive one of those too (don't go high speed without one), often $10 or less after rebate.

**PlantPerson** · 08-18-2005, 01:52 PM

Thanks for your help guys.

**John_C** · 08-19-2005, 06:36 AM

Before I shelled out a lot for an old technology modem that had limited usefulness, I would certainly consider moving to newer technology

I liked the response from "tdjokic" much better than a reply that everybody just ought to get hi-speed
internet service. Guess what? -- It isn't even available in some areas (like mine). Everybody doesn't
live in the city -- heck I like some space around me

My experience with SmartLink has been very positive. I have 2 serial external modems, but was very
tired of switching cables everytime I switched computers. External modems are expensive too. My $10
SmartLink internal modems work every bit as good. They are "LinModems" too....

Thanks tdjokic for the easy way to use SmartLink in Kanotix. My wife uses Linspire and SmartLink is just
there "live" or installed. Haven't tried a Lucent / Agere internal modem yet, but I will.

**Harry Kuhman** · 08-19-2005, 06:51 AM

Originally Posted by John_C

Before I shelled out a lot for an old technology modem that had limited usefulness, I would certainly consider moving to newer technology

I liked the response from "tdjokic" much better than a reply that everybody just ought to get hi-speed
internet service. Guess what? -- It isn't even available in some areas (like mine). Everybody doesn't
live in the city -- heck I like some space around me

Since you quoted me (without the name) I would just like to say that I didn't reply "that everybody just ought to get high speed Internet". I even looked to see where the original post came from and weighed my response carefully. If you want to assume the response I gave to someone else applies to you also, or everybody, that's not correct. And I did even try to find a dial-up non-win modem from a maker I used to find reasonably priced and pretty reliable. But I couldn't and offered what I had learned. That in no way prevented any others from finding what I could not and posting it. But I'll still stick by my advice of simply looking at all of ones options before too quickly shelling a lot of money for last century's technology when it might not be the best choice available.

**Kowood** · 08-19-2005, 08:26 PM

I got this one from newegg....Hummingbird something...It'll list it as Linux supported...smartlink chipset....get something smartlink based...those are the best for various unices.

**PlantPerson** · 08-19-2005, 11:10 PM

What do you think of this one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16825116105

**tdjokic** · 08-20-2005, 01:09 PM

What do you think of this one?

Please, look at this site:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk80...800d7d91.shtml

In general, there are 3 types of PCI modems:

- software, only line interface unit (LIU), only "1" chip
- controllerless, LIU + DSP (digital signal processor), "2" chips
- hardware, LIU + DSP + control processor, "3" chips (usually there are a bit more chips, but here are mentioned main chips)

As Harry said, hardware modems are getting harder and harder to find and they are very expensive too. Some software modems don't work in Linux. At the and, controllerless are the best we have.

Sad thing is, that many manufacturers today call controllerless modems "hadrware" without any shame or explanation.

Your modem seems to me as it is a software modem - very few chips. I don't have personal experience with SmartLink chipset modems, so I can't say anything for sure. Maybe John_C can help us? Are there any controllerless SmartLink modems?[/quote]