newbie: questions about linux and knoppix

On 31 Jul 2003 07:54:39 -0700, Littleberry <davsf@neto.com> wrote:
> Littleberry


I use a newer actiontec EX560LKC v.92 with Debian 3.0, and it works GREAT.

Just plug it in and configure the serial port.

To turn off call-waiting (which will hangup the modem if someone calls in
on the line) you just bring up minicom and send

AT#CW1

to the modem.

HTH

Alan

--

For Linux/Bash users: Eliminate spam with
the Mailbox-Sentry-Program. See the thread
MSP (v2) on comp.mail.misc for the scripts and docs.

Littleberry <davsf@neto.com> wrote:
> Is there an inexpensive plain-jane variety of modem that
> is in widespread use and is likely to be problem free?

Any external that hooks to a serial 9pin port (not USB).

Peter

On 31 Jul 2003 07:54:39 -0700, Littleberry <davsf@neto.com> wrote:

> The only thing good I can say is that they always worked flawlessly
> with windows, but, still, I feel like I got tricked!

> I guess this means I have to go shopping again for a modem -
> dangit!

Some winmodems work reasonably well with Linux. My laptop has one based
on a Lucent chip that has a driver at <http://www.linmodems.org/>. You
might want to check there.


> I hate that because I really can never know what
> brand, what to get

Get an external that connects to a serial port.


--
-| Bob Hauck
-| To Whom You Are Speaking
-| http://www.haucks.org/

In article <bd00fe19.0307310654.7cb5d406@posting.google.com >, Littleberry wrote:
> Juha,
>
> jsiltala@cc.helsinki.fi (Juha Kustaa Siltala) wrote in message news:<slrnbihc65.ppe.jsiltala@kruuna.Helsinki.FI>. ..
>
>> I don't think you have a modem. If it's a winmodem, you should google for
>> its make and moded and "linux" to see if somebody has had any success. But
>> generally, winmodems work with Windows only because their functions are
>> half done with (Windows) software. Linux wants a real hardware modem.
>
> I feel like I have been HAD! About three years I had three

It really sucks, doesn't it? The winmodem is always much cheaper so you
can be easily lured into buying it, especially when they *say* it's a
modem. It's precisely because software is cheaper than proper hardware.

> brand, what to get - I just wish there could be some kind
> of accepted standard that we could all go with and be confident

There is a standard -- a standard modem. It's a very clear specification
that a modem has to follow to be called a modem.

> there aren't any "gotcha's" like I have just been bit with.
> Is there an inexpensive plain-jane variety of modem that
> is in widespread use and is likely to be problem free?

What you can do is to ask the person who is selling you the modem, "Is
this a real modem?". If they say "yes" and it isn't, you go get your money
back.

This is because Linux (and Unix generally) uses hardware whenever it is
possible, to save memory and processor time. Why use resources for modem
or CD or whatever functions when the device can do it itself?

--
Juha Siltala

Littleberry <davsf@neto.com> wrote:
> "Peter T. Breuer" <ptb@oboe.it.uc3m.es> wrote in message news:<nsdbgb.h9r.ln@news.it.uc3m.es>...
>> Littleberry <davsf@neto.com> wrote:
>> > Is there an inexpensive plain-jane variety of modem that
>> > is in widespread use and is likely to be problem free?
>>
> This is driving me nuts! I have a relative who had an old
> US Robotics external 56k faxmodem and I went ahead and
> plugged it into com2 which was not used (I left the old
> winmodem in its own isa slot), and win98se installed it
> with no problems, even though I had no driver diskette
> or anything - just the clunker with its power supply adapter.
> I am using it now to make this post. The windows comm.drv
> driver seems to work for it real nice.
> However, when I boot up the knoppix cd, and go to KPPP, it says
> there is NO MODEM!????????????

So what? Just talk to it on com2. It'll talk back. Do something like

minicom ttyS1

(that's "com2")

and hit "AT".

> What gives here? I can understand why a winmodem will not work

Nothing gives. What's the problem?

> with linux, but why can't a standard old external com2 modem
> that hooks up to your serial port not work, when win98se

It works fine. The only thing that can be funny is your serial port.
What's it set to in the bios? Which irq and io port? If it's
nonstandard, you'll have to set the ttyS1 serial device to it with
setserial.

> See, what really is hard for me is that I have no idea what
> to ask Knoppix or what to go look for or anything - I am
> totally lost - it just says there is no modem - period.

Then stop being lost. What's your problem? Be precise. That knoppix
"doesn't know" about the modem is neither here nor there. *You* know about
it and you're the one using it! Just talk to it as you would normally.

Peter

Littleberry <davsf@neto.com> wrote:
> One little hitch I am finding is that a couple of times
> when I try to connect I get "NO CARRIER", which is described

"No carrier" means the other modem didn't warble back. The carrier
signal never got established. Can happen. Just ring again.

> elsewhere as "LINE BUSY" - but I don't believe that because

You are confusing different states.

> I can pick up the daisy-chained telephone and get a dial tone.

"Line busy" means the other telephone never picked up the ring.
What you are thinking of is "no dial tone".

> Does anyone know what it means when the reply from KPPP
> to your attempt to connect is "NO CARRIER"? Also, in the

What it says. These are standard modem replies. Nothing to do with
kppp.

> event that it somehow thinks the hook is up, is there a way
> to get KNOPPIX to tell tell the modem to HANG UP

Nothing to do with knoppix. But sure. whatever utility you are using
(kppp?) will issue a hangup whenever you ask it to.

> (or close the port)?

"Closing the port" happens when you kill the application (kppp) or
ask it to shut down the connection. An "open port" is just an
application using the port.

> The way I did it tonight is just
> to reboot KNOPPIX (what a drag).

I think you want to look on the kppp menus!

Peter