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Jay Smith
Tl Posts:
3

USA
Posted - 12/15/2007 2:38:31 PM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
Some new computers are without serial ports. Would people please recommend USB or ethernet (external) interface 56K modems. I prefer "hard" modem that can be used on Mac/Win/Linux. Please state reasons for preferences.

Or is it better to get a USB to serial converter?
Ethernet to serial converter??

Thanks,
Jay

v.Richard
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6222

USA
Posted - 12/18/2007 10:55:55 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  v.Richards Homepage
Most USB modems are soft modems requiring specific-OS driver support (only very old USB modems would fit your requirement, and even then support on other OS may not exist).

I'm not aware of any "ethernet" modem that's designed to be a "modem" as I think you mean (some - generally older - routers included a modem to establish the Internet connection for the computers connected to the router - but not to allow a particular computer to control/use the modem).

Depending upon the communications software you intend to use and the USB-serial converter, you may or may not achieve get results you want.

Aloha! Richard.

Jay Smith
Tl Posts:
3

USA
Posted - 12/19/2007 9:38:02 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
There is a "ethernet" modem by Actiontec the "Dual PC Modem". It is based on uClinux and is a simple NAT router with two ports. Though it gives limited control to the host computer through a web based browser GUI interface.

There is another "ethernet" modem by BestData the "56NET".

As far as determining whether a USB modem is "hard" is difficult. The manufacturers do not seem to give that information. That is why I sought help. I was hoping for a list and a recommended model.

How about another tack. I have an old USRobotics 56k Voice Faxmodem Pro, Model No.: 0525 (It seems to be mostly referred to as a 5605) There is the number 80-005605-00 on the back. The FCC Reg No. is 4X2USA-32128-M5-E

It has both a serial and USB port. But being an idiot I don't seem to know how to get it to work with WinXP on my new machine which has no serial ports. When I plug it into a USB port it "finds new hardware" and fails to find a driver for it.

I have looked for drivers for WinXP but have failed to find any. The USrobotics site has drivers for Win98, but they don't seem to be accepted on WinXP. Since this is a "hard" modem is there any generic driver for it?

Thanks for your previous reply Richard, and I hope you will take pity and share more of your experience and expertise with me.

Many Thanks,
Jay

v.Richard
Tl Posts:
6222

USA
Posted - 12/19/2007 10:46:09 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message  v.Richards Homepage
Sorry I'm not of more help---- but,
the early USB modems which were h/w controller based appeared to me - based upon feedback from users - to be troublesome, so I personally avoided them - thus no personal experience with them.
With respect to the 5605 - I would guess that if the modem has the updated firmware (7-21-00 - 2nd item on USR support page link below) that it should work with XP (since the description indicates the firmware supports Win2K); of course, you'd need a machine with serial port to check/update the firmware.
http://www.usr.com/support/product-template.asp?prod=5605

A "real" serial port (h/w ctrlr modem) doesn't need a driver to operate --- you can use a terminal program like Hyperterminal that can access the COM port and the modem will work; the "driver" - an .inf file - describes the modem's capabilities and commands to the operating system. The problem becomes USB - and how to get the computer to see the modem as a modem, and the modem to behave as the computer expects a USB device to behave.....

The ethernet modems - I haven't used these (I did once have a broadband router that had modem for backup internet connection, but never used the feature), but still believe you will have heartburn trying to use it for anything other than an Internet connection - and probably will have heartache even for that....

What do you want to do with your modem?
The newest softmodems work quite well, and there are some that have Linux driver support as well.

Aloha! Richard.

Jay Smith
Tl Posts:
3

USA
Posted - 12/19/2007 11:59:49 AM  Show Profile  Email Poster  Edit Message
What do I want to do with the modem? Good question for which I don't have an answer. My need is for a internet connection.

I anticipate wanting to play with the modem, ie voice, dialing capabilities. These things I realize that I can not get from an ethernet modem. Nor does it seem like most of the new modems have voice (TAPI).

Regarding the USrobotics 5605, the firmware was updated on the device. I seem to remember it working in Win2K. But I am having no luck in WinXP.

My main reason to avoid the softmodems is the drivers obviously being OS dependent. It just seems like vendors abandon old hardware and do not write drivers for new Operating Systems. It seems hard enough to find support for 56K now, I can't imagine it will get better.

If I have to cave in and get a softmodem do you have a recomendation?

Thank-you so much for your time.
Jay

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