Modem recommendations part 2

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Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 12:51:11 -0500

Hi, all. I posted a coupla weeks ago asking about PCI modems for Linux.
I actually found a PCI Winmodem the manufacturer of which provides Linux
drivers. It even works! Details here, if anyone is interested:

http://www.newtnotes.com/index.php?itemid=117&catid=3

I had to downgrade to a slightly older kernel to get the modem to work,
but it *did* work. And only 20 bucks at CompUSA.

In any case, I had some problems. typically, and I'm sure most IT
personnel have experienced something similar, the modem worked fine time
after time and reboot after reboot in my *test* environment -- my home
office. But as soon as I brought the PC six hours away to where it was
going to live, the modem would not work. (This PC is a gift for my
mother-in-law, long story).

I confirmed that the area she lives in (waaay the fsck out in the boonies)
has problems with noise on the phone lines. Typical top connection speeds
are in the 26000 baud range[1] -- I got around 44000 at home! (This coming
from a guy who lives next door to my MIL).

In any case, I thought that maybe a more sensitive modem might do the
trick. I actually have a PCI "real" modem in a box, waiting to be sent
back to buy.com, but I am willing to try it out to see if I can get it to
work over the cheap winmodem.

Has anyone seen an improvement in connection between modems on the same
lines? Does a "real" modem have an advantage in this situation? Should I
just kill the installation and stick in Win98?

Any other insight in this area would be great. Analogies or allegories or
just sorta relevant stories would be good.

Oh, and one last thing -- the LocalNet.com ISP will work with Linux
dialup -- they use standard PPP. AND they even spent a ton of extra time
trying to help me get this thing to work. Highly recommend.

Thanks!

[1] I *was* able to connect, but only to the long-distance numbers
provided by the ISP. No good.

-- 
    JDS | jeffrey@example.invalid
        | http://www.newtnotes.com
  DJMBS | http://newtnotes.com/doctor-jeff-master-brainsurgeon/

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