I've been trying to connect an external USB modem (Actiontec 56k/V.92) to
this cheapie Acer PC and have been hitting a brick wall. The box has 3
built-in USB ports: one for the keyboard (USB mouse plugs into the keyboard)
and 2 available for other hardware.
When configuring KPPP, I can't query or communicate with the modem. When I
set it for a USB device (/dev/usb/ttyACM0 thru ttyACM4) I get a "can't open
modem" error. Ports ttyS1 through ttyS3 respond as "modem busy," and ttyS0
acts like there's modem there, but all the query fields come up blank. Port
ttyS0 responds this way with or without the external modem plugged in, and
with or without the old Winmodem plugged in.
Because this box has no serial port plug, I tried getting a serial card to
plug into the now-vacant PCI internal modem slot. The Actiontec "USB" modem
is a serial modem with a USB adapter. The parallel-serial cards at the store
were all too large to fit the low profile case, but a 2-plug USB card fits.
All five USB ports work: I plugged in the keyboard and mouse in various
combinations with the computer on and off, and in all cases the system sees
the keyboard and mouse. However, it still doesn't see the modem.
I figured a hardware modem should work for this box. Serial communication is
serial communication, although I know just enough about USB to be dangerous.
This PC runs Mepis and Knoppix just fine, both from the live CD and installed
on the hard drive. What am I doing wrong?
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