You make some good points, but trailing technology...

is usually a niche that is difficult to fill.

One can still find external modems if you [link|http://item.express.ebay.com/__Modems_External-Modem-56K-v-92-Data-Fax-Voice-New_W0QQitemZ6885982449QQihZ013QQptdnZModemsQQptdiZ263QQcmdZExpressItem|look around].

Ubuntu and many other distros use [link|http://open.nit.ca/wiki/index.php?page=WvDial|wvdial] as the back-end well - just like PuppyLinux. Some tips on using a modem with ubuntu is [link|http://www.ubuntugeek.com/setting-up-dial-up-connection-in-ubuntu.html|here]. The magic seems to be in the wvdial.conf file. Apparently if [link|http://www.die.net/doc/linux/man/man5/wvdial.conf.5.html|wvdial.conf] can't find the modem, it's either due to it being a WinModem or due to an [link|http://open.nit.ca/wiki/index.php?page=WvDialFAQ#toc21|IRQ conflict].

I haven't been able to find a database of supported modems, but maybe the view is that it's not necessary to have such a list. Apparently all true external modems should work unless there's a conflict. True modems are, or emulate, standard devices and don't need "drivers" the way brain-dead WinModems do because they have their own on-board intelligence. True modems should Just Work (TM).

As to why it works with Puppy and not with others - I assume it's due to someone with Puppy actually taking the time to make sure it works. :-)

This sounds like a business opportunity, Ashton. :-)

One could also try [link|http://www.fx.dk/injoy/|InJoy]. I used it for years on OS/2 and it always worked very well. It was well worth the money to me. There's a (RedHat) Linux version,too. It's $35 for the Basic version (1 year free upgrades, best effort support). The downloaded version is fully-functional. Paying the registration fee enables other features, and makes use after 30 days legal.

HTH a bit.

Cheers,
Scott.

I grok the reasons for a standard modem needing no sissy 'driver', and why the CPU has to do the tasks the missing 'engine' would do, transparently.

Thanks for wvdial tip and the rest. If puppy is indeed on wvdial (haven't looked yet) - then the .conf ought to translate to the other distros .. with some luck.
Still: Puppy found even the beastmodem - in the Cpq and the HP n/b; the others didn't notice/care to Say..

Were there an IRQ conflict that install logic couldn't rearrange: nevertheless, Puppy managed. So, I infer it's something else which the other .confs (of those using wvdial) - were just sloppy about..

I've mentioned before - the general tenor of error, other Messages in Puppy - All are in English, helpful sans verbosity. Beautifully absent: the smirking game of trying for cubic-closest-packing of terse logical unitary descriptions / with no examples volunteered. Another proof that: this Can be done. Seems to be ~about ego and D-grades in expository English, in computer 'science' classes. I have to find out more about the raison d'etre of Puppy: there's an English major in there, somewhere: More. POWER.

Ah well, probably good practice, here .. playing an Admin-on-Tee-Vee.
The other distros' inadequacy suggests too, that The Word doesn't necessarily get around, even in Open Source :-/

Thanks - you've given enough info that I should be able to solve this one; half-arsed will do for starters. (Clearly - Puppy proves that all the pieces are there.)

Welcome to IWETHEY!