Re: What about controllerless "hardware" modems?

From: Johnson David (DavidJohnson_at_Siemens.com)
Date: 01/19/04

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    To: Marin Krkac <mkrkac@public.srce.hr>, freebsd-newbies@freebsd.org
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 11:14:31 -0800

    On Sunday 18 January 2004 05:27 am, Marin Krkac wrote:
    > I have an internal "hardware" modem. When I bought it they said it
    > was a hardware modem and it said so on the box too. It has an
    > Intel/Ambient chipset, or more precisely, as the windows driver says,
    > Intel 536ep. But I found out just a few days ago that it's not
    > actually a real hardware modem. It has a DSP but it's controllerless
    > - that part is in software. It's also called a HAM modem (a Host
    > Accelerated Modem). There is a linux driver but I think it's only
    > partially open-source. Is there any chance this modem might work
    > under FreeBSD?

    For technical advice on modems, I would redirect this question to the
    freebsd-hardware or freebsd-questions lists. That's what they're there
    for.

    But on to non-technical answers. You're going to have a devil of a time
    getting winmodems working under FreeBSD. Porting their drivers over can
    be very problematic because of the differences in kernel achitectures.
    I have heard that there had be some limited success with some modems,
    but I don't know much more.

    You're best bet is still to avoid any winmodems. As you've discovered,
    "hardware" modems don't necessarily have all of their functionality in
    hardware. Virtually all external serial modems are real modems, but
    very few external USB modems are.

    If you were told by the store/salesman that it was a hardware modem, but
    that it requires functionality not located in hardware, there should be
    adequate ground for returning it to the store, even if they have a poor
    return policy.

    Someone really needs to come up with a list of 100% genuine hardware
    modems. I don't use a modem any longer, so I can't tell you what works
    for me. I had used Actiontec in the past with success, but looking at
    their website, their internal modems do not look like they're "real"
    modems any longer. But their external serial 56K/V.92 modem makes a
    special emphasis to say that they are. But it's twice the price of
    their internal modem. Sigh.

    David
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