Computers don't have ISA slots any more, but one still wants a dialup modem as backup for when those newfangled things go pearshaped. Plus they do faxes too, sometimes really handy.
The PCI option with an assortment of soft losemodems (sometimes semi-hard, but all the same problem) don't convince on the driver side. Conexant costs more up-front than the whole card is worth, Intel just doesn't keep up with kernel versions, and from Lucent and Smartlink I get the impression that they make more versions of their silicon than the driver can handle - or at least it doesn't work properly far too often. "Work properly" is defined as plug in card, run Linux system config to figure what additional packages are needed, add phone no etc, save, and have dialup networking. We have 2006 afterall. That leaves the external modem option. Prices have halved, although watch out, some of those may now be soft losers too, esp when extra cheap. Do not even consider anything USB, and go for serial RS-232C. On trademe they're going for $15-$25 used. It's only the second-last model, but dialup in 2005 isn't different from dialup in 2001. The modem should come with plugpack for power, serial cable, and RJ11-to-BT phone cable. Used models are e.g. D-Link DFM-560E (last model is DFM-562E), or Dynalink 1456VQE (last model is 1456VQE-C2). Download the manual(s) from the makers' websites. Dynalink even specifies that their product works with Linux. I got a 560E, plugged it in, ran yast, clicked on the kinternet plug icon and bingo. Most of the time was taken by uninstalling the NetworkManager thing in SUSE 10.1 and installing the here far superior kinternet instead (and edit /etc/sysconfig/network/config, setting NETWORKMANAGER=no). Now the plugpack is annoying, both because it exists, and because it takes up at least 2 places on the power strip. The modem wants 9V AC, though I suspect it is in fact not AC but any polarity. In that case it might be feasable to screw down a 7809 voltage regulator and a suitable power socket on an old case slot cover (the strip of metal you remove from the back of the case when inserting a card) and to connect that to a spare drive connector in the case. That's a project for another day... Have fun, Volker -- Volker Kuhlmann is list0570 with the domain in header http://volker.dnsalias.net/ Please do not CC list postings to me.
