HOWTO: Install Drivers for the Conexant softmodem

Hi, Here is a short howto on compiling the drivers for a Conexant softmodem/winmodem/linmodem. It works in dapper, but should also work in the other versions. Hope it helps someone. It does not have the 14400 speed limitation.

Rafael Espíndola ported the latest Conexant open source version to 2.6.x kernels.

AlexandreOttoStrube packaged it to Ubuntu Breezy using kernel 2.6.12-9 The.deb file will not work on any other kernel unless you compile it yourself as below, the files can be downloaded from:

http://www.surak.eti.br/linux/ubuntu/deb/conexant/

or

ftp://ftp.wizzy.com/pub/wizzy/conexant/

courtesy AndyRabagliati

Determine the make and model of your modem, by looking at the chipset. If it shows HSF and the number CX11252 on the chip you have a softmodem/winmodem/linmodem and this driver should work. You can also install it on a Windows pc and do a modem query and if it shows PCI/VEN_14F1&DEV2F00 then you know it should work.

Download the file conexant_192-1ubuntu-1.tar.gz from the above website. This is the old open source and not the one you have to buy for for linux and get free for Windows!. This software supports the Conexant HSF 56k HSFi Modem (pci id 14f1:2f00), and was not tested with other models.

1.Put the downloaded file conexant_192-1ubuntu-1.tar.gz on your Desktop and right click “Extract to here” and a folder “conexant” will be created on your Desktop.

2.Read the txt files in the folder for more info.

3.Open the file /conexant/modules/makefile by right clicking and select edit in root and find the 2 lines that start with # KERNELDIR? = /lib/modules….. etc. and KERNELDIR?= /usr/src… etc Remove the comment # in the first line and insert comment # on second line and save changes.

4.Now open the /conexant/makefile in the same way and find the commented line # rm -rf $$DESTDIR/dev/ttySHFS0. Remove the comments from the mentioned line and the following 3 lines up to “update modules” and save changes

5.Now ensure that you have all the packages installed to compile the drivers. Use Synaptic and install or check that, build-essential, linux-headers-ARCH, fakeroot is installed, ARCH is the result you get if typing uname-r in a terminal – version of kernel.

6.

file.pngCode:
cd Desktop/conexant

7.

file.pngCode:

8.

file.pngCode:
sudo make install

9.

file.pngCode:
sudo modprobe hsfserial (you should get no result reports if OK)

10.

file.pngCode:

11.The /dev/ttySHFS0 is created for the modem

12.To test, use the query modem on Kppp

To remove the installation:

file.pngCode:
rm /dev/ttySHFS0 rm -r /etc/hsf rm /lib/modules/ARCH/misc/hsf* rm /etc/modutils/hsf

Note: Please note that to actually get your browser working means that your network settings must be in order as well and your PC is not connected to a lan for starters. If your PC hangs or slows after an unsuccessfull dialup disconnect, please reboot to get the modem to reset properly before attempting to dialup again. The modem is a bit finicky and may require a boot after installing. If anyone works out the settings for the country code changes and the proper connection speed indication or has anything to add please let us have so we can update this for our laptop friends.