20 Jan
2002
20 Jan
'02
2:01 p.m.
Barry:
I don't call 35.00 cheap! I understood that PCI modems were available for about 15.00.
I've not seem them that cheap. Is it possible to get a hardware modem for that price?
Software modems really aren't worth the hassle. I've just pulled mine out after getting the drivers working in Linux. Whenever the modem was active, the 500Mhz CPU was used about 25% and the system was having random crashes. This is using a GPL kernel module that uses the manufacturer's binary-only firmware, so I'm not sure how it could get any better.
I've now put in a multi-function IO card to get the extra serial port, connected the other device to that and the trusty old hardware modem to the main one. Works fine and I've not crashed since.
--
MJR