buying a 56K modem...

[john s.]

Carroll Grigsby wrote:
> On Wednesday 20 December 2006 20:51, fredex wrote:
>   
>> On Tue, Dec 19, 2006 at 12:41:40PM +0000, James Wilkinson wrote:
>>     
>>> fredex wrote (about modems):
>>>       
>>>> both external AND serial, NOT USB.
>>>>         
>>> Um. The USB standards people seem to have provided standardised
>>> interfaces for a lot of things, including external drives and modems.
>>> Not all USB modems bother to implement the CDC ACM standard, but some
>>> do. I understand that those that do implement this standard should work
>>> under Fedora.
>>>
>>> If you have the kernel-doc package installed, read
>>> /usr/share/doc/kernel-doc-2.6.18/Documentation/usb/acm.txt . It says
>>> "Check for ACM compliance before buying."
>>>
>>> Come to that, when I plugged my old (Motorola) mobile phone in, Fedora
>>> automatically created a ttyAMC0 device node for it.
>>>
>>> Having said all that, the last modem I used regularly was a 56K ISA
>>> internal one which wasn't even plug'n'play. It was ideal for Linux. So I
>>> can't recommend USB CDC ACM modems based on personal experience.
>>>
>>> Hope this helps,
>>>
>>> James.
>>>       
>> James:
>>
>> Thanks for the clarification.
>>
>> The reaosn I suggested SERIAL and not USB is because I know that some
>> USB modems work, some don't, and I personally have/had no idea how
>> to tell without first buying it. So, to avoid giving the OP a bum
>> steer I suggested what should be foolproof (assuming you can find a
>> serial modem in the stores these days).
>>
>> Fred
>>     
>
>
> Fred:
> The big office supply chains (Staples, Office Depot and similar) still sell 
> honext-to-goodness real 56K serial modems -- usually Zoom. I suspect that 
> they are sold to low traffic SOHO market for FAX and answering machine 
> service. Back in my DOS days, I used a PCTools program that served as a phone 
> directory, dialer and call logger. Very convenient. Hmmm...
> -- cmg
>
>   
  I've noticed the big box places charge and arm and a leg for a dial 
up; I've been getting my new stuff from TigerDirect.com. I picked up a 
USR internal (for family member's Win box) for about $25. I've noticed 
in the past, they have a pretty good selection of external modems too.
   When I buy stuff from TigerDirect, I leave a review saying it works 
on (what flavor of) linux; thought it'd make it easier for someone else 
to buy...