SL-modem in Ubuntu

I’ve spent many hours trying to get my modem to work in Ubuntu 6.10. The answer was way to simple:

Init3 = AT+MS=34

If you have not tried that yet put it in your wvdial.conf or ppp options whichever method you are using. I tried unsuccessfully to compile many different drivers and many different versions all of them had the no carrier error after dialing out. I have a Dell laptop Latitude 100L. The modem information on lspci is:

00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Modem Controller (rev 01)

It uses the open source kernel module snd_intel8x0m which is included in recent vanilla kernel sources. It could use the closed source slamr module but I have not tried it much since the open source module works.

Installing this Modem in Linux

First, if you havn’t already done so, install the sl-modem-daemon with the command:

sudo apt-get install sl-modem-daemon

this will install the user-level application needed to use the driver. You don’t need to install the sl-modem-source package because this is just the closed source driver provided by Smart Link Inc. You may find it useful but I did not need it.

The configuration for sl-modemd is located in /etc/sl-modem-daemon you may need to change it appropriately to match your country and set DONTSTART=0 if you want the driver module to be automatically loaded. The driver can be loaded with “sudo /etc/init.d/sl-modem-daemon start”. If all goes well you should see your modem device at /dev/ttySL0 if not check dmesg for errors.

I used wvdial to configure my dial-up connection but you can use whatever tool you would like. “sudo apt-get install wvdial” if you don’t already have it. First run sudo wvdialconf to setup the initial configuration file. Sudo nano /etc/wvdial.conf to add specific information about your Internet provider. Be sure to add the line:

Init3 = AT+MS=34

beneath the Init2 line or your connection will not work. This will fix the “No Carrier” error that plagued me for so long. Change the dial-up number, username and password. Save and Exit. sudo wvdial to dial the connection. You only have to run as root the first time after that you can just do wvdial.

#My wvdial.conf file

[Dialer defaults]
# Lines begining with # are comments.
# wvdial will look for this file at  /etc/wvdial.conf  or  /home/LoginName/.wvdial.rc

# Redhat/Fedora have an  Internet Connection Wizard in the popup menus
# ICW will write a two part  /etc/wvdial.conf supporting multiple modem usage.

Modem = /dev/ttySL0
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Init3 = AT+MS=34
#  Lack of dialtone acquisition can be due to low line voltage,
#    a common problem in Italy.
#  Try inserting a "dial without waiting": X3
#  Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 X3 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
#  In case of connection instabilities, specify a lower frequency:
#  Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 X3 &C1 &D2  +MS=34
ISDN = 0
Modem Type = Analog Modem
Phone =  9474701
# if going through a switch board, a perhaps necessary pause can produced with a comma:
# Phone = 1,Dialout_phone_number
Username = dlstone%nnu
# if Internet Provider is MSN.net, use under Linux:   MSN/LoginName
Password = a;sldkfj1
# the following lines is NEEDED only by slmodemd
Carrier Check = no
# Kinternet appears to add it automatically.

## If CONNECT is achieved but browsing fails, try activating the following line
# Auto DNS = yes
##    To make a logfile wvdial.out
# wvdial 2>&1 | tee wvdial.out
# #  For some Internet providers, the following line is necessary
 Stupid Mode = yes
##  for other wvdial  options, do "man wvdial" or see the documentation in
##    /usr/share/doc/wvdial/
## End wvdial.conf

My /etc/defaults/sl-modem-daemon file

DONTSTART=0

SLMODEMD_DEVICE=auto
SLMODEMD_COUNTRY=USA

OPTS=""
FORCESTART=0

Hopefully, you can enjoy the pleasures of dial-up Internet once again. If you have trouble don’t hesitate to contact me.

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1. Linux on Dell Latitude 100L
2. Run OS X in Linux with qemu