PCI Modems and Linux?

Torey asks: "I recently acquired a Fujitsu 985TX laptop which I was informed was very Linux compatible. Well, so far it appears to be only 90% compatible. The built in modem appears to be a PCI modem (lspci reports it is a Lucent Microelectronics modem), which I have experienced to be highly unsupported in the kernel. Has anyone been successful in getting one of these to work? The PnP tools didn't notice it either. Any help would be greatly appreciated." What other PCI modems are problematic with Linux? Which ones do you all recommend?

Comments

Re:PCI modems == bad

[Gleef]

PikaPal asks:

Does anyone know what kind of support Linux has for USB and where one might find more information about it?

Linux currently does not have USB support in the kernel. There is a USB project, its homepage is at http://peloncho.fis.ucm.es/~inaky/uusb d-www. Make sure to read the FAQ.

This project probably won't find its way directly into the kernel. From what I hear, the kernel developers want to redo the low level device driver stuff to better handle hot-swappable devices in general (PCMCIA, USB, FireWire, PPA, etc.) then add a cleaner USB implementation on top of that. In the meantime, this USB project is pretty heavily used, particularly in the LinuxPPC world (iMac requires USB support to do anything).

Re:Show that Linux users don't play favourites..

[Alex Belits]

1. Linux developers do play favorites, and always will -- after all they have no obligation to do stuff that they are not interested in. This is open source -- if there is no reason for adding the stuff, visible to people who can do the development, it won't be added. So far no one with abilities to do to hardware reverse engineering of those devices, or extremely efficient manufacturer nagging for specs, found it justifiable to dedicate those resources to making general-purpose winmodem drivers (someone started the development of soundcard-like driver for some winmodem, AFAIK for non-modem use). If manufacturers will make drivers, linux users will be able to look at them and decide if the performance loss tolerable for using those.
2. "cheap" != "low-quality". One can make cheap and perfectly usable PC with supported modem, cheap or expensive, PCI or ISA. Vendors who use turd on the PCI board instead of a modem can go screw themselves.

Winmodems are not modems

[gavinhall]

Posted by Neothi:

I found this to be a helpful link when I was looking for a modem to purchase for use under Linux and Windows.

Winmodems are not modems

ActionTec

[Nate Fox]

Found a company that does *killer* modems, including PCI, and supports Linux. Even their flagship product: a modem that will take a voicemail msg of call waiting while yer on the net, and allow you to stay connected, is supported for Linux.
http://www.actiontec.com

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If Bill Gates had a nickel for every time Windows crashed...

PCI modems == bad

[Ares]

From everything I've read, PCI modems aren't worth the silicon and fiberglass they're made from when used with Linux. Typically, PCI modems tend to be Win-Modem's in disguise.

I personally have a 3Com/USRobotics Internal 56K Sportster. (Works like a clock, 45333 bps every time) I plan, however to replace it with an external USR Voice Modem.

For my money (now that I actually have some), the only way to go for a modem is an external one. That way you know that it isn't Windows only. Furthermore, externals are virtually (I know, there are probably exceptions) guaranteed to work under Linux.

Re:PCI modems == bad

[PikaPal]

Searching pricewatch recently, I noticed a lot of external 56k modems are USB based. This would make a great (and cheap ... $65) alternative to more expensive dual-mode or serial externals.

Does anyone know what kind of support Linux has for USB and where one might find more information about it?

hrmmm....

[An Ominous Cowherd]

some onboard modems on laptops actually show up as pcmcia devices and these would likely be supported by cardmgr, but otherwise, you probably just want do disable it in the bios and pick up a pcmcia (or better yet an external) modem. try pricewatch or somebody else on the web, you'll probably find one for under a hundred bucks.

small price to pay for not having to run a crippled OS.

Linux + PCI modem

[Coppertone]

Well, the problem is that PCI modem is just a simple DSP and the modem driver needs to do all the control, etc. At the moment the big companies have lock up the programming details for them so no one actually able to even try programming it.. So if those company can release some info about them or even write the driver then the problem solve.. Anyway, I like the flashy lights on my three years old Courier.....

Show that Linux users don't play favourites..

[SiW]

This is a chance to show the world that Linux users don't just write drivers for the stuff they think is cool. The typical community response to a new cost-cutting device so far has been "get a real xxx". Well, Linux is carving itself a niche in low-cost PCs (under $500) and there's going to be more and more "non-real" hardware - and if Linux doesn't support it, another OS will take its place.

Now, I was looking around for spec info on these LT modems, but couldn't find any. I did find this page on PCI Modems and Linux, hope it helps someone.

Re:Show that Linux users don't play favourites..

[IntlHarvester]

One can make cheap and perfectly usable PC with supported modem, cheap or expensive, PCI or ISA.

What's the real cost difference to the manufacturer? $1? $5? Does anyone know?

Hopefully, the WinModem trend is dying out. I know a couple companies that refuse to buy any equipment that ships with a winmodem. This rules out a bunch of laptops that might otherwise be considered. (Of course this is commercial equipment and commercial pricing. I have to think that a $500 PC is going to be problematic hardware-wise, even with Windows.)
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Re:So how do you tell if it's a WinModem?

[IntlHarvester]

Look for DOS and/or OS/2 compatibility advertised. As far as I know, WinModem drivers have never been released for DOS, so you can be sure it's a real modem.
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Re:So how do you tell if it's a WinModem?

[IntlHarvester]

Thanks for the correction. It should be noted also that the IBM MWave is a DSP modem/soundcard that runs under DOS, OS/2, and Windows. There might be some Linux support, but it seems like a common complaint that there isn't.
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Re:So how do you tell if it's a WinModem?

[GregK72]

Look for HCF or HSP on the modem box, manual, driver CD, etc... if its there, its a WinModem.

HCF PCI internals

[Krolley]

I am having the same problem with my HCF PCI internal modem, it simply won't be recognized. I agree that they aren't worth what they are made on and I now have to put up with an *old* modem or go and buy a new external modem.

All I can hope is that one day, somewhere, some place, on the box will be "Linux Compatible" or "Optimised for Linux". One can only hope.

Not even PCI

[bobthecow]

I've got a Fujitsu 765DX notebook. The modems are the same, or close, as far as know. The problem is that it's one of them there software modems, and so there's no way to get support for it under Linux (unless you feel like writing a driver?). Just go buy a PCMCIA modem. They work better anyway. The other problem I've had with this modem is that when I connect it to the wall with a long phone cord (~50 ft) it usually refuses to connect, and if it does it connects at 7200 baud. Nice eh? Oh yeah. They're also not rated for use outside the US, or at least that's what my manual says.