[ALUG] linux newbie - help requested

[(Ted Harding)]

On 14-Jan-07 elc at freeola.net wrote:
> Hi
> I've been dabbling in Windows for a few years now and thought
> I knew something about what I was doing.
> Being reluctant to spend my hard earned cash on upgrading from
> Win 98 SE to another Gates product, I thought I would try Linux.
> I am now dual booting Win 98 and Kubuntu and working with a dial
> up internet connection. Now I realise how much I don't know !!!
> My winmodem is an Intel (R) 536 EP V.92 and Kubuntu doesn't recognise 
> it. Somewhere the internet informs me that of all the winmodems in
> use the one I have should have a linux driver.
> I've downloaded 'scanmodem' and run it and I get hundreds of lines
> of text that means nothing to me.
> Linux looks good to me, and I feel like sticking with it, if only
> I can get past first base.
> Can someone talk me thru in one syllable steps please to overcome this 
> first hurdle.#
> Many thanks
> Eric

Can I very strongly recommend ditching the winmodem, and getting
hold of an external modem (connects by a serial cable to a serial
port on the computer)?

Look out for a statement on the box that it is Unix or Linux
compatible (or the like), or works on any operating system, and
make sure it does *not* state that it requires any version of
Windows.

One I have is the Zoom 56K v.92/V.90 Model 3049. On the box it
says (under "Bundled Software"): "This modem's hardware works
with computers running Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and other
operating systems, which typically include software for Internet
access".

The included CD (i.e. the "bundled software") is for supporting
"V.92 modem-on-hold, fax, and other modem features" for *Windows*.

These functions (and all modem functions) are anyway accessible
using the Hayes AT commands built in to the modem hardware, and
so such a modem needs no driver!

Hoping this helps, and good luck.
Ted.

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E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <ted.harding at nessie.mcc.ac.uk>
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Date: 15-Jan-07                                       Time: 09:17:20
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