This is a hardware controlled external modem, not a Winmodem. I checked that
before pulling it off the shelf. My problem is establishing communication
with the modem through a USB port.
I'm pretty ignorant of the nuances in USB and may have overlooked something
for setting the modem up in KPPP. At least I hope it's that simple. I don't
know what's triggering the "Can't open modem" error message in KPPP. Some
weirdness in the BIOS fools KPPP into thinking there's a modem at ttyS0
(whether a device is physically present or not), but of course nothing
responds to AT commands. Maybe I need to redirect ports or something.
If anything, this cheap Acer has helped me to appreciate how well-built my
IBM 300GL is.
On Wednesday 21 January 2004 23:36, you wrote:
> Check if your modem is host or hardware controlled. If it is host
> controlled you may be SOL ("Host Controlled" = "WinModem").
>
> On Wed, 2004-01-21 at 22:11, Tim Wright wrote:
> > 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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