Modem doesn't work in 12.04 3.2.0-32-generic (#51-Ubuntu SMP Wed Sep 26 21:33:09 UTC 2012)

[Roger Davis]

Minicom and Efax-gtk will not work. Both appear to iniatialize, but no further function, no response to modem commands given, etc. I'm NOT trying to connect to an ISP right now, I just want to use it with eFax-GTK.

This exact same modem and computer worked together very well until recently. There had been several updates, including Ubuntu before it just quit working.

This modem works fine in Windoze, SAME machine, just switched to Ubuntu 12.04 drive by mechanical switch. I can go back and forth, always works in Windoze, never in Ubuntu.

Modem will attempt to answer an incoming call, but can't be sure about function since I don't have another modem to call with.

I have come to the conclusion that there is very likely a problem within the updated Ubuntu that prevents proper modem communication.

IN MINICOM :
Welcome to minicom 2.5
OPTIONS: I18n
Compiled on May 2 2011, 10:05:24.
Port /dev/ttyS4
Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys
Nothing further will be shown, no matter what keyboard input, etc. - except it will respond to CTL-A and Z, which are not modem responses

IN EFAX-GTK :
efax-0.9a: 21:27:23 opened /dev/ttyS4
( Then try to send and wait 5 minutes - no result, so press "Stop" )
*** Stopping send/receive session ***
efax-0.9a: 21:27:46 failed page /home/roger/Documents/Libre Office/Saddleback Labs Request.pdf.001

I am a member of dialout and dip.

Modem info:
description: Serial controller product: 56K FaxModem Model 5610
vendor: 3Com Corp, Modem Division
physical id: 1 bus info: pci@0000:04:01.0
version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm 16550 cap_list
configuration: driver=serial latency=0
resources: irq:17 ioport:d000(size=8 )

roger@roger-desktop:~$ sudo wvdialconf
[sudo] password for roger:
Editing `/etc/wvdial.conf'.
Scanning your serial ports for a modem.
Modem Port Scan<*1>: S0 S1 S2 S3
ttyS4<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- failed with 2400 baud, next try: 9600 baud
ttyS4<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- failed with 9600 baud, next try: 115200 baud
ttyS4<*1>: ATQ0 V1 E1 -- and failed too at 115200, giving up.
Modem Port Scan<*1>: S5 S6 S7 S8
Modem Port Scan<*1>: S9 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16
Modem Port Scan<*1>: S17 S18 S19 S20 S21 S22 S23 S24
Modem Port Scan<*1>: S25 S26 S27 S28 S29 S30 S31
Sorry, NO MODEM WAS DETECTED! Is it in use by another program? - ( my caps )
Did you configure it properly with setserial?

( OK, so Ubuntu finds the modem, but doesn't find it !?!?!? )

Modem is at ttyS4

This is basically an internal US Robotics Sportster modem, NOT a Winmodem.

roger@roger-desktop:~$ cat /var/log/syslog | grep modem
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> ModemManager (version 0.5.2.0) starting...
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin SimTech
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin MotoC
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Ericsson MBM
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin ZTE
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Linktop
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin AnyData
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Option High-Speed
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Wavecom
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Sierra
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Samsung
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Novatel
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Generic
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Huawei
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Longcheer
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin X22X
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Nokia
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Option
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> Loaded plugin Gobi
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> (ttyS4) opening serial port...
Nov 9 13:26:47 roger-desktop NetworkManager[932]: <info> modem-manager is now available
Nov 9 13:26:59 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> (ttyS4) closing serial port...
Nov 9 13:26:59 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> (ttyS4) serial port closed
Nov 9 13:26:59 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> (ttyS4) opening serial port...
Nov 9 13:27:05 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> (ttyS4) closing serial port...
Nov 9 13:27:05 roger-desktop modem-manager[919]: <info> (ttyS4) serial port closed
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> ModemManager (version 0.5.2.0) starting...
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin SimTech
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin MotoC
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Ericsson MBM
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin ZTE
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Linktop
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin AnyData
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Option High-Speed
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Wavecom
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Sierra
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Samsung
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Novatel
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Generic
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Huawei
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Longcheer
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin X22X
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Nokia
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Option
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> Loaded plugin Gobi
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> (ttyS4) opening serial port...
Nov 9 17:32:07 roger-desktop NetworkManager[943]: <info> modem-manager is now available
Nov 9 17:32:19 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> (ttyS4) closing serial port...
Nov 9 17:32:19 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> (ttyS4) serial port closed
Nov 9 17:32:19 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> (ttyS4) opening serial port...
Nov 9 17:32:25 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> (ttyS4) closing serial port...
Nov 9 17:32:25 roger-desktop modem-manager[934]: <info> (ttyS4) serial port closed
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> ModemManager (version 0.5.2.0) starting...
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin SimTech
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin MotoC
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Ericsson MBM
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin ZTE
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Linktop
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin AnyData
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Option High-Speed
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Wavecom
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Sierra
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Samsung
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Novatel
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Generic
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Huawei
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Longcheer
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin X22X
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Nokia
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Option
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> Loaded plugin Gobi
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> (ttyS4) opening serial port...
Nov 9 17:41:31 roger-desktop NetworkManager[944]: <info> modem-manager is now available
Nov 9 17:41:43 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> (ttyS4) closing serial port...
Nov 9 17:41:43 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> (ttyS4) serial port closed
Nov 9 17:41:43 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> (ttyS4) opening serial port...
Nov 9 17:41:49 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> (ttyS4) closing serial port...
Nov 9 17:41:49 roger-desktop modem-manager[932]: <info> (ttyS4) serial port closed
Nov 10 00:39:36 roger-desktop AptDaemon: INFO: CommitPackages() was called: dbus.Array([dbus.String(u'modem-manager-gui')], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([dbus.String(u'')], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([dbus.String(u'')], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([dbus.String(u'')], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([dbus.String(u'')], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([dbus.String(u'')], signature=dbus.Signature('s'))
Nov 10 00:39:41 roger-desktop AptDaemon.Worker: INFO: Committing packages: dbus.Array([dbus.String(u'modem-manager-gui')], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([], signature=dbus.Signature('s'))
Nov 10 00:42:07 roger-desktop AptDaemon: INFO: RemovePackages() was called: 'dbus.Array([dbus.String(u'modem-manager-gui')], signature=dbus.Signature('s'))'
Nov 10 00:42:08 roger-desktop AptDaemon.Worker: INFO: Committing packages: dbus.Array([], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([dbus.String(u'modem-manager-gui')], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([], signature=dbus.Signature('s')), dbus.Array([], signature=dbus.Signature('s'))
roger@roger-desktop:~$

( I note I don't see US Robotics or 3Com Corp in the above list, but I think the Generic info should work with it? )

I have come to the conclusion that there is very likely a problem within the updated Ubuntu that prevents proper modem communication. The above confusion about detected, then not detected seems to support that. I have about 51 man-hours in work trying to solve this problem. I have some concerns that someone made an "Imperial" decision that no one uses modems any more, particularly internal serial modems, and left out the needed code, much like for floppy drives.

However, I hope I am wrong, and there is a way to fix this. Maybe one of the Ubuntu updates simply overwrote some modem code?

[Chow Loong Jin (hyperair)]

I'm not sure where this goes, but nautilus-share definitely has nothing to do with modems. I'm reassigning this to wvdial for the time being since it appears to be mentioned.

[Roger Davis (rogerdavis-d)]

If I understand correctly, wvdial is a PPP intended to connect to an ISP.

This is not the point of difficulty. The point of difficulty is the breakdown of primary communication with the modem, well before the time of connecting with an ISP.

The modem will simply not respond at all in minicom or Efax-gtk, whereas it works fine in Windoze. An "AT" command in minicom gets absolutely no response. Efax-gtk simply will not dial at all. I can't certify even that initialization is occurring on either of the above, because there is nothing returned from the modem to indicate that it is or is not initialized.

This seems to me to point to a fault in the basic communication with the modem, not higher level communications to an outside connection.

Thanks!

[Roger Davis (rogerdavis-d)]

Just to make sure it's clearly understood, this modem is basically an internal sportster with it's own serial card / port at ttyS4. See http://www.usr.com/support/product-template.asp?prod=5610c for full details.

description: Serial controller product: 56K FaxModem Model 5610
vendor: 3Com Corp, Modem Division
physical id: 1 bus info: pci@0000:04:01.0
version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm 16550 cap_list
configuration: driver=serial latency=0
resources: irq:17 ioport:d000(size=8 )