Buying an External Modem

Advice please;

[Angonasec]

My new computer has a winmodem, and I've installed Linux Mandrake 10.
Rather than fiddle around trying to make it into a Linmodem, I've decided to buy an external modem
but I need advice on which is suitable.

First I'll be using dial-up internet access as ADSL has not reached our area, though it should be here in a few months.
So I need an external modem that will suit dial-up, ADSL, and serve my new linux computer, and also my old
Windows 98 computer.

Will one modem fulfill all of these requirements? If so can you suggest a reliable model.

Ta!

[Duckula]

I don't think any single dialup modem will suit ADSL. I may be wrong, but that would be quite a strange piece of hardware.

[UDaMan]

Not cheap, but do-able.

Cisco modular router with DSL interface (probably a 1700) + Cisco Integrated V.90 Modem WAN Interface Card [cisco.com].

This would be the best solution considering you need no drivers for this solution (apart from a network card).

[killroy]

Hmm, around here an external USB modem is less then $15, so I strongly suggest to get two separate pieces of hardware.

SN

[UDaMan]

Hmm, around here an external USB modem is less then $15, so I strongly suggest to get two separate pieces of hardware.

Price was not discussed however reliability was. Granted you need to spend quite a bit of spare cash for the "reliable" model (not models), but I feel the question was answered in full.

If so can you suggest a reliable model.

[mcavic]

I'd suggest a USR Sportster (serial) for the dial-up, and whatever (Ethernet-connected) modem your DSL provider sells/recommends you. With DSL, it's not the reliability of the modem you have to worry about, it's the reliability of the provider. After you get the DSL, just wait a few months before cancelling the dial-up.

[mack]

Most external modems will work well with linux. You just need to make sure they are hardware modems as opposed to modems that rely on the chipset to make them work. As for adsl I would tend to keep this seperate. Any router/modem that uses network cards will work ok on linux.

Mack.

[sem4u]

I just picked up a new dial up USB modem for £20. It is PC World's own brand so I hope it will be okay. I will find out soon enough!

[Angonasec]

Thank you for your replies:

But even I can spot duff advice.

I've yet to buy my first exetrnal modem, so I scanned the web for info and found this advice to Linux users:
"Any external modem that uses Serial RS 232 port is OK. But avoid USB ported external modems, they are winmodems."

Next I went to a shop, and the only external modem they had (Serial RS 232 port), didn't mention Linux on the box. So the shop owner searched the internet for a driver, found one he thought would do, and threw the cd into the box with a smile.

Not very reassuring. No sale. I can imagine finding that driver doesn't work with my particular Linux kernel etc...

Which is why I came here for specific recommendations on specific models to use with Mandrake Linux 10 Kernel 2.6.3-4mdksmp.
I don't want to buy an external modem only to have to grope on the net for a driver.

Can we do better Team?

I've great respect for WHM posters thanks to the quality advice I've received here in the past.

Ta!

PS. My previous thread. I followed the suggestion to use FDSE Site Search, and it's terrific. Thanks!

[mcavic]

I haven't used Mandrake, but external serial modems are well-supported in Linux. If it'll support any modem straight out of the box, it'll support a Sportster.

The reason why they're well supported is that the operating system doesn't have to know how to access that particular modem -- all it does is hit the serial port, which is second-nature for Linux. Then it just has to know what commands to issue to dial up, and all 56k modems have very similar command sets.

[jollymcfats]

Serial modems don't require drivers. Any true hardware modem will work fine. You can spot these easily by their higher pricetag and conspicuous lack of drivers.

ATH