Help i cant get my modem working!

[riddler05]

First off i'm a very newbie so you may have to deal with some stupid questions.
Ok i just installed SuSE Linux 7.2 and ive been tryin to get my modem working for a few days. ive tried some stuff from other threads but its all giberish to me. When i try to connect with kppp i get a message that says "Sorry, modem is busy." can that be fixed or do i need a new modem?

thanks for the help

[Mountainman]

Check and see if your modem is supported by whatever *nix your running. The best guess is that if it is an external modem, its probably supported, if its internal, you need to check it out on the distro's hardware compatiblility list.

[riddler05]

Ok it is an internal so ill check the list. Is it posible for it to be compatabile with one distro and not another?

[jglen490]

In general, if a modem works at all, it will work with any distro. Two good sources for modem info are here (http://www.linmodems.org/) and also here (http://www.idir.net/~gromitkc/winmodem.html).

Modems are still the hard point of Linux with the advent of controllerless type modems that require a software driver. While more manufacturers are either supplying closed source vendors or providing specs to third party driver writers, it's still difficult. On the other hand, controller-based modems usually just work. So look around and ask around. On my laptop I use a Xircom RealPort 56K which just pops in and works. On my desktop units I've had good luck with some Archtek internal models.

[FLY FISHER]

You can use an external modem, they almost all work.
I just bought a US Robotics Performance Pro Modem #usr5610b.
I love it, it works great for Windows and Linux and was easy to install.
The drivers for Linux are already in the Linux kernel and the drivers for Windows was easy to install.

[riddler05]

ive been doin some research on the SuSe website and i think i do have a winmodem so does that mean my only hope is to buy a new one?

i have a Diamond SupraMax 56 right now so ....

[riddler05]

the strange thing is that when i connect it says modem ready then says modem doesnt respond.

[pcghost]

Before you give up and buy a new modem, try reconfiguring a few more times. I am having the exact same error messages that you are and I am using a creative modem blaster external 56k, which worked the last time I re-installed (two days ago) but isn't working in this reinstallation on Red Hat 7.3 I am positive that I am screwing up the config.

I am going to be tweaking mine for the next day or so and if I figure this out I will let you know. My modem query's o.k. but then freezes the dialog saying "activating network device" It also won't respond to dialing. I suspect an IRQ mismatch or possibly a conflict with another device. Anyone know how to reset PCI/IRQ steering to reassign IRQ's?

[fancypiper]

Do a cat /proc/pciand note the readings for a section that is similar to this Bus 2, device 2, function 0:
Communication controller: PCI device 151f:0000 (TOPIC SEMICONDUCTOR Corp) (rev 0).
IRQ 9.
I/O at 0xc400 [0xc407]. Mine shows an irq of 9 and the port at 0xc400

Using the numbers you got, commandsetserial /dev/ttyS2 irq 9 port 0xc400 uart 16550a and try the modem now. If it works, put the setserial command in the last script run on bootup. Redhat 7.2 uses the file /etc/rc.d/rc.local.

[mdwatts]

For any pci device, always ensure you have PnP OS disabled in the bios.

Have you tried www.linmodems.org to see if your modem is listed and also if there are any drivers for it?

[pcghost]

Hey Md? Would turning the bios plug and play OS feature off possibly fix my detection probs with my external modem?

p.s. could you post a larger version of your avatar please, or email it to me. I think the lady in that pic could give 11000 a run for her money.:D

[mdwatts]

I don't really think disabling PnP OS in the bios will help with external devices.

Have you tried the Modem NHF's as they may have something to help?

Sorry as Annie wouldn't appreciate me distributing the originals.