HOWTO – Install BT Voyager modem drivers
Anybody in the UK who has signed up for broadband from the big ISP's (BT, AOL, etc) will find that their 'free' modem isn't technically a modem. These 'modems' are what we in the Linux world call Winmodems, because they require a software based driver to mess with all the 00101101's instead of using a hardware chip found in other modems.
These modems are usually fine for day-to-day work such as web browsing and e-mail. They plug into your computer using USB instead of Ethernet. Other than the fact they can sometimes have high ping times, they are perfect for large scale distribution.
The problems start when you want to start using your USB modem with Ubuntu. Companies like BT haven't released any drivers for Linux so the community has made a reverse-engineered driver.
In this HowTo, I will walk you through the installation of the eciadsl driver.
Step 1) Get everything set up.
If this is your first dive into the Linux world, some of this tutorial may seem strange and archaic. Don't worry because I'm going to hold your hand all the way through and try my best to explain each step.
So then, before we really start, you will need to get hold of some physical things;
- A nice cool and refreshing drink
- A computer/partition/friend that has access to the Internet
- A blank floppy disk/zip drive/USB stick/CD-R/ or something to transfer media from one place to another.
- And a stockpile of patience
- Unplug the modem from the USB port
Step 2) Acquiring the software
With your friends computer, download the file http://eciadsl.flashtux.org/download....11-1_i386.deb and the file http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/poo...untu1_i386.deb from the Internet.
Once those two files are download; burn them to a CD using your favourite CD burning program, or transfer them to a USB drive. The aim is to get this media somehow onto your Ubuntu install.
Log into your Ubuntu computer and go to Places > Home Folder. Now open the device the used to transfer the media. Simply drag and drop the files from the CD to the Home Folder. Those files are now safe on your Ubuntu installation.
Step 3) Installing the buggers
Because this HowTo is sort of breaking away from the way programs are normally installed, we are going to have to whip out the trusty Terminal program. Fear not, the things you will be typing are probably the most basic commands in Linux.
Start off by going to Applications > Accessories > Terminal. This will bring up the Terminal program. The only text in the black window should be your username @ the name of your computer followed by a :~$ . This tells us that the command line is ready and waiting for orders. Start off by typing in
That is LS, but in lowercase; not an i. When you type that command in, you will see every file and folder that is inside your home folder.
Next, we are going to install the files you took off the floppy disk. At the time of writing this the files were called:
eciadsl-usermode_0.11-1_i386.deb
and
pppoe_3.5-4ubuntu1_i386.deb
To install the files type in the Terminal window:
Code:
sudo dpkg -i pppoe_3.5-4ubuntu1_i386.deb
Let that install (few seconds) then type in:
Code:
sudo dpkg -i eciadsl-usermode_0.11-1_i386.deb
Like before, some text should come flying downwards.
Phew! OK that is probably the hardest bit gone now - take a nice sip of your cool refreshing drink that you got from Step 1)
We have now installed the drivers to the system, what is left now is configuring the driver.
Step 4) Configuring the driver
In the Terminal type in:
Code:
sudo gedit /etc/hotplug/blacklist
This will bring up a text editor. In the file, add the word dabusb to the end. This will tell the system not to try and load up the USB modem when it boots (that is eciadsl's job from on). Save, exit and restart the computer.
Once you have rebooted and are logged in, open the terminal again and type in:
This will bring up a very ugly configuration program. This is where the fun begins. In all the text boxes, fill them according to whatever they should be:-
user name: You should have been given an e-mail user name when you signed up
password: [I]Whatever[I]
provider: British Telecom
DNS1: Accept default
DNS2: Accept default
VPI: 0
VCI: 38
modem type: BT Voyager 105
VID1/PID1/VID2/PID2: accept defaults
modem chipset: GS7470
synch file: /etc/eciadsl/gs7470_synch03.bin
PPP mode: Accept default
is DHCP used? no
is a static ip used? no
Once all that is filled in, check it again and click the green Create Config button. Your done with that window. Now plug in your USB Modem and type in:-
Code:
/usr/bin/eciadsl-start
This should make the lights come on and flash about for a bit. If so, the Internet is now your oyster!
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Originally Posted by welsh_spud
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