Mac Modems...

Inspector Gadget

This could be an awfully silly question, but I'll ask it while I remember.

I have a Desktop G3 (266MHz) mac (the Beige rather than Blue & White kind) and I was thinking of putting a modem in it and giving it to my parents (simpler to use for them and all that) as a Mail/Web box.

What I'm wondering is, can I shove any old PCI/USB modem in there (I've got a USB PCI card in there already)? If so, does it need to be a full hardware modem or will some Winmodems (yuk yuk yuk) work?

I've trawled a bit but haven't found a useful answer. I'd like to avoid oddball (==expensive) stuff like Geoports modems if possible - but then again, I don't think OS X supports them anyway... :rolleyes:

TIA,
Gadget

Scottish

don't know if you have ever seen this site - www.welovemacs.com

You'll get a modem there, and they are very keenly priced. If you avoid the Fed Ex option and go for normal international post, you might even avoid VAT....

Great prices for memory as well.

Inspector Gadget

Nice one... thanks for that, will check it out.

Gadget

RicardoSmith

Theres no internal PCI modems for Macs, they never made any. Some USB modems will work, but can be troublesome apparently. Of you need USB ports for that, so unless you have a USB card you can't use them either. Unless you have a newer mac with a comm/modem slot (G3's don't). External Serial Modems are what everyone uses. I wouldn't mind getting a cheap one myself thpugh. Some PC external modems will work with the right cable. The one I have here doesn't though : (

Inspector Gadget

Oh well...

It's just that it seemed I could chuck any old network card into it, and it worked (including cheapo Realteks and the likes)

I actually have this USB card in it - bought it a while back for an old PC but it works fine in the Mac

So it's serial modems then? Using one of those dinky round serial ports?

Fairy 'nuff... ta.
Gadget

RicardoSmith

Any OHCI spec USB card should work in the Mac or the PC ok. Some of them are not OHCI spec though and they can cause problems. Surprised that the network cards work. New one on me that.

Inspector Gadget

Originally posted by RicardoSmith
Any OHCI spec USB card should work in the Mac or the PC ok. Some of them are not OHCI spec though and they can cause problems. Surprised that the network cards work. New one on me that.

I've had a few ethernet cards in it (3Com, DLink, Realtek); all recognised correctly, all worked, no drivers. (It has built-in Ethernet, but only has an RJ-45 (=overgrowm phone-type) connector; needed BNC as well for old local loop here. Might it be something to do with MacOS X's BSD core?

Gadget

RicardoSmith

Now nowt about OS X me-self, but you could be right.