Which modem to buy: external USB or serial? 2

[Voidless]

I'm planning to buy a modem and I have already decided for an external one. I don't know whether to buy USB connected or the one with serial connection to the computer. USB is a modern way, I know, and there's the fact that USB modem doesn't need external plug to electricity as it's fed by the usb port itself, but some people say USB modems are more Windows-dependent and I wan't to use the modem also within Linux. Are there drivers for Linux supplied by manufacturers of USB modems? What are your experiences with USB modems this way and what would you recommend me?

Thanks in advance

 

[paparazi]

USB is better but it sounds like your desition will be made for you depending on which type you can find with Linux drivers. Martin Vote if you found this post helpful please!!

 

[Comtech]

What?!?!
Serial is better, by a long shot.
Consider that a serial port runs far faster than the fastest 56k modem, and that a serial modem is totally transportable, from a laptop, an old 386, to the most recent, and it's a no-brainer.
Arguably the best modem ever built is the Diamond Supra Express external (the ISA model is second best), and you can now purchase one for less than the price of a stick of RAM.

Check out this link:

http://www.amamax.com/diamsup56kex.html

Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[Jakespeare]

Comtech: You might have something there.
*** However, what about the Linux ??? Did you check that out ?


Or, is this just a matter of configuring the Serial port ?

 

[CitrixEngineer]

With Linux it's just a matter of configuring the device. Linux will find it through the serial port if it's defined correctly. Just run linuxconf, or whatever equivalent tool you use and adjust the settings in there.

Actually, with the Diamond Supra that Jim mentions, you can configure it as just about anything and it will work

 

[Comtech]

OK, I forgot to mention, any external modem only needs a working com port to work, not so with flaky USB support, especially in Linux. The Supra comes with Linux drivers on it's install disk. How easy can it get?
BTW, Mandrake, from v7.1 up includes drivers for that chipset (Rockwell/Conexant AFCII), and it should be detected and installed automatically, when you install internet access through the Mandrake installer. Pretty sure it also is included with RH, and a few others.
That particular chipset has been around since 1994 (one of the very first 56k chipsets).
You can install it as any "Hayes" compatible device, and it will work. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[dfort]

My choices would be 1. Serial port modem if I had a serial port I wasn't using for something else. 2. ISA slot modem if I had an ISA slot in my comnputer. 3. PCI modem and be ready to fight install problems getting correct driver and upgrades for modem. 4. USB and would not like using it. One of the reasons is that you want a modem that has a controller if possible. With PCI slots and USB they can build them without a controller and let the computer processor handle the work. This slows things down in most cases. Most Serial and ISA modems you install and they work. You don't have to fight them much.
PCI modems can be either way even with a controller and it is a tossup. I have seen some that worked fine the first time and others have to be upgraded and find the correct driver and can be a little bit of a hassle. For more information go to(

http://808hi.com/56k/index.asp?sc=12:23:18+PM

)