usb dial up modems

[Bart Silverstrim]

Karl Larsen wrote:
> squareyes wrote:
>> Karl Larsen wrote:
>>   
>>> squareyes wrote:
>>>   
>>>     
>>>> Hi all,
>>>> can anyone recommend a small usb dial up modem
>>>> that works out of the box?
>>>> Many thanks
>>>> Take Care
>>>> Winton
>>>>
>>>>   
>>>>     
>>>>       
>>>     Have you tried Google?
>>>
>>> Karl
>>>
>>>
>>>   
>>>     
>> Been there,
>> am looking for one I don't need to install any drivers etc,
>> may have to use it on other people's machines, and serial to usb needs 
>> external
>> power supplies. Closest seems to be a Zoom, but none available here. 
>> Others listed as Ubuntu compatible
>> all seem to have problems setting them up, and don't fancy any problems 
>> if I need top connect it to some one else's
>> computer.
>> Thanks,
>> Take Care
>> Winton
>>
>>   
>     Hi Winton I was using Linux and a telephone modem years ago and it 
> was a simple rule. It HAD to be an external modem if you were using 
> Linux. They were were all Serial Cable type then :-)

Bonus to externals - lightning protection, or at least minor surge 
protection. The more separation you have between the incoming line and 
the computer the better...at least that is how it was in the days I was 
repairing customer systems at the shop.

Best one I saw had a surge strike through the modem (internal) and a 
chip on the motherboard had the ceramic die blow a small crater out of 
the center where the chip was inside. Turned on the computer to assess 
damage and a cherry red glow lit up on the chip (that's how we 
noticed...hey...there's no ceramic left on that chip!...)

Neat!

Well, not for the customer, but we thought it was pretty neat to see.