From: adam@address.invalid   
      
   Moe Trin wrote:   
   > On Sun, 12 Aug 2012, in the Usenet newsgroup alt.os.linux.mandriva, in   
   article   
   > , Adam wrote:   
      
   [web page returning 203]   
      
   It turns out the actual site 8086.tk is gone and redirects to a general   
   search page.  'linkchecker' reported the 203 from its first request.   
   I'd assumed that all the sites returning 2xx still had the same content   
   that I'd bookmarked them for.  For all of the sites returning 3xx   
   ("redirected"), I went and looked.   
      
   [my test system]   
      
   >> The Winmodem on eris has a Conexant chipset.  I just have to figure   
   >> out how to communicate with the modem directly.   
   >   
   > Two ways - you could try to re-write the NVRAM configuration, though   
   > I honestly don't know if a winmodem _has_ physical NVRAM.   
      
   It took me a moment to realize that you meant "using AT commands" -- at   
   first I thought you were suggesting some kind of direct hardware access.   
     My /guess/ would be that controllerless modems have physical NVRAM. (I   
   should look this up.)   
      
   > Subsequent ATZ commands set the modem to this new configuration.   
      
   For the first internal modem I bought, I decided to look for   
   undocumented AT commands, and apparently hit on the one that meant   
   "reflash modem EEPROM".  Result: non-working modem.  Since then I stick   
   to documented AT commands, although I realize there's no "official" list.   
      
   > I'm not sure wvdial has been maintained   
      
   Well, communicating with dialup modems using AT commands hasn't changed,   
   so that should still do what I want.  "stolid" has the KDE libraries and   
   'kppp' installed, and kppp is fine for sending AT commands and seeing   
   the modem's responses.   
      
   >> I suppose since they're charging for the driver, they want the   
   >> purchaser to feel he's gotten value for money.   
   >   
   > Used to be, the "free" version of the driver was limited to v.34 data   
   > rates (28.8 and less), and the "pay" version had the higher speeds.   
      
   When I paid in Jan. 2008, the free version was limited to 14.4K and no   
   fax capability, but then its only real purpose was for a user to find   
   out whether it would work with his/her system.   
      
   >> Actually it looks like that site hasn't updated things since about   
   >> 2010, which I think is more a reflection of the demand for modems   
   >   
   > That, and the fact that internal modems are getting rather rare as   
   > well.  I don't think I've seen a new one for sale in several years.   
      
   NewEgg doesn't have any, but TigerDirect still offers several.   
      
   > "Doesn't _everyone_ have broadband now?"   
      
   Even so, one can't use broadband to connect to/from a fax machine.   
   That's one point in favor of dialup modems.   
      
   The main thing I'd be using a dialup modem for, on either system, would   
   be NetZero/Juno, and only rarely at that.  I can see where   
   netzero-juno.txt could use some revisions and additions, especially the   
   little wrapper script, which assumed Mandriva and eth0 for the broadband   
   connection.  OTOH I'm not even sure whether anyone else in the world is   
   using it, so that's low priority.   
      
   Meanwhile the USB hardware modem arrived and stolid recognizes it as   
   /dev/ttyACM0 (why "ACM"?) and can communicate with it, but I haven't   
   tried any more.  I ought to, while it's still in the "easy to return if   
   necessary" stage.   
      
   >> Once I'm sure it works, I might put it on stolid instead of the   
   >> USB-RS232 adapter and external modem that are there now.   
   >   
   > The main advantage is that it's so easy to install (just plug it in)   
   > that keeping it in "a safe place" is probably easiest.   
      
   I'll probably leave it connected to the phone line, ready to plug into   
   the front USB ports when needed.   
      
   >> I just have to modify my disc cataloging script because it can't   
   >> count on the disc being /media/cdrom any more.  "df | grep /dev/sr0"   
   >> should work.   
      
   I also need to figure out how the program (running as a user) can   
   unmount the disc.  Apparently the user can eject the disc but that   
   doesn't unmount it.   
      
   >> Right now, top priority among non-essential computer projects should   
   >> be that family collage, in time for Mom's birthday.   
   >   
   > HUH???   I thought you were working on that late last year.  You been   
   > goofin' off or somethin'?   ;-)   
      
   Looks like my last work on that was Sept. 14.  I think I ran out of   
   momentum after recovering from the flood.  Meanwhile I found another   
   binder and carton of slides in my parents' basement that I should look   
   through, plus some digital photos taken since then.  This also gives me   
   a chance to include some newer stuff -- since last year, my father has   
   grown a full beard and now resembles Ernest Hemingway.  So for now, I'm   
   going to put off a lot of non-urgent stuff so I can get that collage   
   completed in time.   
      
   [kitty news]   
      
   > Smokie is on the low end of the pole in the rest of the house   
      
   Marg outranks her already?  See, I told you they'd work things out by   
   themselves.   
      
   > [Smokie] and Good Sam   
   > arrived at the same time.  Kiri objected more to her than him , and   
   > that's partly why she was banished to the computer room.   
      
   Was that your idea, or did the cats work that out too?   
      
   [hospice]   
      
   >> I'm gonna visit Monday [...] and I'm not sure what to expect there.   
   >   
   > Hard to say - when Dan (below) went in, it was a lovely place and all   
   > that, but it was also pretty obvious he wasn't coming out of there   
   > alive.   
      
   I visited Charlie there on Monday and he looked worse but not horrible.   
      
   >> Unmanaged diabetes can cause all sorts of problems.   
   >   
   > Part of Dan's problem was stubbornness. He'd had a triple-bypass and   
   > refused to change diet or smoking. He was slightly over-weight and   
   > sedentary (he was a real estate broker).   I know gangrene was also   
   > involved.   
      
   In the extremities, I suppose -- not uncommon with diabetes.  I have   
   another friend who's pre-diabetic, but doesn't seem to realize that   
   managing that would be much easier than managing full-flown diabetes.   
      
   >> At the dialysis center, that was the most common reason for being   
   >> there, I'd guess well over 50% of the patients.  Untreated HBP would   
   >> probably be second.   
   >   
   > My primary-care keeps pounding on me for that.  "Your blood glucose   
   > levels are high" (90-105 mg/dl).  But that's also why they are   
   > screaming at people to watch their weights.   
      
   That got mentioned in the "Wellness" class I took last fall.  One of the   
   few advantages of dialysis was the regular bloodwork.  I'm definitely   
   not diabetic.   
      
   Adam   
   --   
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