Mick wrote: > On Sunday 05 July 2009, Dale wrote: > >> Matt Harrison wrote: >> >>> Grant wrote: >>> >>>> I have good equipment and good methods for connecting to the internet >>>> via ethernet, wireless, or cell phone while travelling, and I'm also >>>> wondering about dial-up. Does it work well on Gentoo? Should a >>>> laptop's internal modem work, or would I be better off buying an >>>> external one? Has anyone found dial-up to be a useful method of >>>> connection while travelling? >>>> >>>> - Grant >>>> >>> This is going back a few years, I haven't had any experience recently. >>> A lot of modems used to be referred to as Softmodems, those that >>> depended hugely on the operating system (very often Windows). Those >>> modems were a bitch to get working under linux. We used to have to >>> make sure we were buying hardware modems. A lot of internal modems >>> were Softmodems and were pretty useless for linux. >>> >>> As I say, this may be totally out of date now, but it's possible you >>> won't get an internal modem working under linux. If this is the case, >>> you will have to buy a proper hardware one. >>> >>> Hope this gives a little bit of info. >>> >>> >>> ~Matt >>> >> This is very true. Buy a external serial modem, not a USB only one >> either. External serial is the only ones I can find that are hardware >> based. My modem has a USB port but I use the serial port. If it is >> only USB, it could very well be a software modem. Be cautious on that. >> >> Mine is a Actiontec brand. I did have one to fail but it got hit by >> lightening big time. It even blew up the telephone box outside. It >> didn't let it get through to my computer tho. Otherwise, I have not had >> any problems. >> >> If you are unsure, send a link to what you find and maybe we can help >> make sure it will work. >> > > Many softmodems today have Linux drivers and work straight out of the box. > My > laptop has a lucent modem and I have had no problems at all with it. Often > use it when out and about, or when I want to run a test from a different IP > address than my ADSL connection. The only thing is I have to remember to > re-emerge it when I compile a new kernel (module-rebuild). >
You are the first person I have heard that it works for. If the OP can get what is built in to work, then that may be a good option. If not, he may as well buy a modem that he knows will work. External serial works every time. No special drivers to keep up with either. Dale :-) :-)
