[NCLUG] Modem Source?

Bob Proulx bob at proulx.com
Sat Jun 19 11:23:01 MDT 2004


Michael Riversong wrote:
> Need to put a modem into a Gateway E-4200 running Fedora Core.  Nobody 
> here in Cheyenne is carrying anything with any support or possibility of 
> return, which means that buying one could be a huge gamble.

When it comes to modems some people like external modems.  Some people
like internal modems.  But pretty much everyone hates "winmodems".
Those are the ones with the decode in software and so are tied very
closely to the driver.  The driver being a windows driver.  People
have reverse engineered them recently but they were previously real
trouble.  Avoid those and you should be fine in either case.

I prefer external modems on a serial port.  That gives maximum
flexibility and little chance for problems.  But others like an
internal modem because it removes the power supply wall plug and the
cable to the serial port.  But it operates by adding a serial port to
your system so you have to worry about serial port conflicts.  PCI (as
opposed to the old ISA) is nice in dealing with this, but modems are
"old" and I have not dealt with them since ISA days so I am still shy
of internal ones.  Everything for me now is 100baseT ethernet and soon
to be gigE.  In the end you just need to pick one, internal modem or
external modem, and go with it.  A PCI internal modem should be fine.

I have an external 3com/US Robotics fax/modem on a serial port.

> Does anyone know of a source for such a modem in Northern Colorado?
> 
> I'd like to avoid ordering something online at this time, due to 
> personal circumstances.

I am in Fort Collins and do not know the shops in Cheyenne.  In FC
there is of course Computer Renaissance and Best Buy.  But this would
be a prime place to save money on used card.  Many people don't have
much use for the modem these days and have swapped them out.  But I
would avoid ISA cards in favor of PCI cards since PCI are easier to
configure.

I am sorry but I do not have any specific modem recommendations
otherwise.  I hope this information was of help anyway.

Bob



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