[lug] Which PCMCIA Modem

[John Karns]

On Fri, 27 Jul 2001, Kyle Moore said:

> Can anyone recommend a cheap PCMCIA modem for linux? The built-in modem
> on my Dell laptop doesn't work (I find out after that they ship two
> different kinds labeled as 3com).

This isn't a direct answer, but more of a comment.  Assuming you're
referring to a Dell Inspiron and yours is similar to mine, then FYI the
modem / NIC mini-pci combo module in my Inspiron 8000 is a plug-in module
accessible via a removable plate on the bottom of the machine.  It closely
resembles a memory SODIMM and seems to be a more or less generic part
which plugs into a mini-pci slot which is now also appearing on many
mobo's.  My guess is that it would be replaceble, either with the
alternate 3com module which might be obtained from Dell (my 3com module
contains an Intel eepro 10/100 NIC and a Lucent modem chip, both of which
have Linux modules), or with some generic modem / NIC combo available
through retail / mail order channels.

An alternative would be to purchase a PCMCIA modem card, but my experience
has been that many of these (especially the NIC / modem combo cards)
generate a significant amount of heat which I would prefer to avoid.

My 2 cents.

     ----------------------------------------------------------------
     John Karns                                        jkarns at csd.net
  Subject line of a recent spam msg: "Email Advertising WITHOUT Spam!......"