HFS Modem Trouble

[mhacleth]

Hello every body. Another newbie in the block...

I really wanted to switch to Linux and dump my old OS behind me. So I got me Redhat 9 and installed it. Everything works fine except my modem. It did not detect my winmodem.
I went to Linmodem.org then I found the link to Linuxant.com there also I found instructions on how to detect the chipset of my modem. Here's what I got in the detection:

vendor id: 14F1
device id: 2F00
subvendor id: 14F1
sub device id: 2004
revision id: 01

it detected my modem as:
vendor: Conexant
type: HSF churchill datafax

so i went back and downloaded the appropriate rpm for my modem which is:
hsflinmodem5.03.27lnxtbeta03042700k2.4.20_8-1rh.i686.rpm

i installed the rpm (as root) and it did fine (no errors whatsoever). in the end it assigned my modem as /dev/ttySHSF0 then
I configured the country.


So I got back in the gui and set up my dial-up through the internet connection wizard. I chose modem connection and edited it. The device ttySHSF0 is not in the list so I manually typed it in. I saved my conf and rebooted.

then I checked my network devices and its there as ppp0. But when I tried to activate it here's the error message:

cannot activate ppp0!
error 8

Can someone decipher that for me?
Is there something stupid I did in the installation and configuration?

Heeeeeellllllllppppppppp!!!!!:(

------------------------>> I installed RH9 in the office and it connects pretty well using eth0.

[kevinalm]

The man page for pppd says error 8 is "the connect script failed". You might try reconfiguring the connection with kppp or neat-control, just in case you make a mistake with the setup.

If that doesn't work I'd download the tar zipped source and compile the driver yourself. The binary rpm's for HSF and HCF modems seem to lack portability. I have an HCF and I had to compile from source to get it working. Works great now.

[mhacleth]

I will try that. Can you give step by step directions how to compile it myself? I'm quite dazzled by all this untarring, chrooting, compiling.... etc. My grasp of Linux is quite shaky at this time... I'm trying to feel my way around. It's really a new world for me. Thanks.;)

[JohnT]

You might want to try and connect with "wvdial" which is included, I understand with RH. It will do most of the configuration for you. All you have to do is the basic IP, username, password entries into the configuraion. Here is a link to the homepage. In RH i think it is called "rp3"...don't quote me. Try the command "rp3" in a terminal and see if you get a gui. Just about all your questions can be answered about it on that page with links to pertinent data.

http://open.nit.ca/wiki/?page=WvDial

[kevinalm]

If you decide you need to try compiling, post back. We can talk you through it. It's really not too difficult.;)

[mhacleth]

ok. I'll try the rp3 first. then if it doesn't work then I'll compile it by myself. I already downloaded the .tar.gz from linuxant.
Thanks again.:)

[mhacleth]

I don't have rp3 so i guess we are down to compiling my own. So how do I proceed?

[JohnT]

Try wvdial as I posted above. It should also be on RH.

[mhacleth]

Thanks guys, my modem can now dial my ISP!

Hey JohnT, thanks for the wvdial advise.
However, I cannot still connect to the web. Sure my modem works but it cannot establish connection with ISP. I configured my /etc/wvdial.conf as follows:

[Modem0]
Modem=/dev/ttySHSF0
Baud=57600
Init1=ATZ
Dial Command=ATDT

[Dialer Infocom]
Username=tx000xbh1@surenet
Password=87dhfkok
Phone=446-1101
Inherits=Modem0

And when I type in wvdial somewhere along the session it would say:

Username:
---->Looks like a login prompt. Sending Username.
Username:
txt000xbh1@surenet

Password:
---->Looks like a password prompt. Sending (password)

Then it will repeat three times until it gets disconnected. I think that I cannot get authenticated. However, in WindowsXP, using the same Username and Password I can get connected quickly.

Is there something I didn't do? Did I enter my information correctly or do I have to do something else with it. I tried enclosing it in quotes but still didn't work. Is there another configuration file I need to edit?

Thanks JohnT for your help!

[mhacleth]

Hey JohnT,
Forgive me. I should have read your earlier post to go to wvdial site. I did and I'm going to bug them about their program. So now I think we need to close this thread. My Hardware Conexant HSF LinModem is now working. What did the trick was

wvdial config /etc/wvdial.conf

So for those with similar problems, try that first.

Thanks to you all!

[JohnT]

I have had similar problems when using wvdial and dialers in general and one way to solve it its call your ISP and ask them to look at your record to see why it's not authenticating. Don't tell them your using Linux though or they will put it off as the OS. Then adjust your configs as necessary. Usually it is something simple in the configs. It has been awhile since I have used it and my memory isn't as good asit used to be. I remember one time I re-ran the initial setup that writes the config and it helped. Try it without the "@surenet".

[mhacleth]

Thanks again JohnT!
I tried taking away the @surenet. I also tried escaping it \@surenet-- but get the same results.

I'll try calling my ISP and inquire about it.

I also wrote the team at wvdial@nit.ca and informed them about this. You might be interested with the session transcript I got from my attempts this morning.
Here's the transcript after I entered wvdial in the commandline:
==============================================
--> WvDial: Internet dialer version 1.53
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
ATZ
OK
--> Sending: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
OK
--> Modem initialized.
--> Sending: ATDT446-1168
--> Waiting for carrier.
ATDT446-1168
CONNECT 115200
User Access Verification
Username:
--> Carrier detected. Waiting for prompt.
Username:
--> Looks like a login prompt.
--> Sending: tx000xw1@surenet
tx000xw1@surenet
Password:
--> Looks like a password prompt.
--> Sending: (password)
Username:
--> Looks like a login prompt.
--> Sending: tx000xw1@surenet
tx000xw1@surenet
Password:
--> Looks like a password prompt.
--> Sending: (password)
Username:
--> Looks like a login prompt.
--> Sending: tx000xw1@surenet
--> Don't know what to do! Starting pppd and hoping for the best.
--> Starting pppd at Sun Jun 8 06:46:23 2003
--> pid of pppd: 3617
--> Disconnecting at Sun Jun 8 06:46:28 2003
--> The PPP daemon has died: A modem hung up the phone (exit code = 16)
--> man pppd explains pppd error codes in more detail.
--> Try again and look into /var/log/messages and the wvdial and pppd man pages for more information.
--> Auto Reconnect will be attempted in 5 seconds
--> Initializing modem.
--> Sending: ATZ
ATZ
OK
--> Sending: ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
OK
--> Modem initialized.
==============================================

I'll keep you posted as to what will happen.

Thanks again!
:)

[kevinalm]

Recheck /etc/wvdial.conf. I think you may have a typo in your username. At one of your posts is inconsistant with another post.

tx000xw1
tx000xbh1

[mhacleth]

:D

Thanks John T.

I typed in wrong in the post. This morning I finally got connected. I posted the same problem with Philippine Linux User Groups and someone suggested to check my /etc/ppp/pap-secrets and /etc/ppp/chap-secrets. He said they should be the same in content and must contain my username and password.

I checked it and found clutters in both files so I cleaned it up. I just left my username and password in both files.

After that, I tried connecting through wvdial and still fails.

Just out of curiousity (and frustration), I tried the Net-Config of RH9. I clicked "activate" and soon enough I was on the net!!!

Then I tried adding in my other ISP accounts and rebooted. However RH NetConfig gave me some funny error messages like: Cannot lock serial port, script error, and others when I connect through each one. Oh well, I guess I'll just be happy with my surenet account.

So I guess, the cluttered /etc/ppp/pap-secrets messed my net configuration.

I think Linux is exciting!!! I'm beginning to love it. I sure will stay using Linux. I'll register myself on official Linux Users. Wow!!!



:D

[JohnT]

Midway down the page is a sample config using multiple ISP's...................................

http://www.davidpashley.com/tutorials/wvdial-pppd-dod.html

[mhacleth]

Hey John T, I am now online using my linuxbox!

Thanks a lot for walking through with me during this trial! If you'll ever come to the Philippines, just let me know.

Here's the summary of what I did.

1. I used wvdialconf to detect my modem.
2. I used RH net-config and manually typed in my modem (/dev/ttySHSF0).
3. still in net-config, I entered the device (ISP servers).
4. then I go to another virtual console and log-in as root.
5. I manually edit /etc/wvdial.conf and make sure my ISP details are there. (I figured out that all of my ISP works in STUPID MODE, can you believe that?)
6. I edit /etc/ppp/pap-secrets and /etc/ppp/chap-secrets and make sure that my username and password is there.
7. then I go to /etc/ppp/peers/ and look for my devices:
a: wvdial
b. ppp0 (primary ISP)
c. ppp1 (for other ISP)
*what I found out is that for some reason RH's netconfig fails to add the device here. Or when it adds the device, it calls the wrong specs. (is this a bug?)

8. I edit ppp0 and make sure that it has the proper "call argument" at the end of the line. (Before even though RH is activating surenet account, it "calls" my infocom account. Weird!?

9. After this I switch back to RH netconfig and activate my device and presto! (well, I have to reconnect several times) I'm on-line!

Thanks again!
Mhac:D

[JohnT]

Thanks for the invite. I spent time in the Philipines during my tour in the Navy. Some good memories. Maybe some more script tuning and connections could come better. Your on the right track and seem to catch on fst so you shouldn't have a problem, just a challenge.:p