i have ordered a external modem> and really am not familiar with the external > I have only used win/ modems > Via pci / To install do I need any extra hardware? My system is win2000pro/Linux RH> I have a internal modem installed.

You will probably want to remove the internal modem to avoid any conflicts and you will probably connect with either a USB cable or ethernet. I have heard that the ethernet option is best. If you don't have an ethernet connection, you may need to pick up a NIC.

Thank you Budfred>
Would you know if the NIC card would be faster then the USB cable?

If you have been using pci winmodems then you are using (non-ISDN) dial-up. Dial-up external modems most commonly use USB or a Serial Port. The speed of any of these devices is NOT a limiting factor since the speed of the phone line itself will be the weakest link in that chain. Even the older USB1.1 is quite fast enough. It is of more relevance to have a "hardware" than a "software" modem; that is to say one that doesn't share the PC's CPU. Most serial modems are hardware - but the only way to know is to check the specifications.

ISDN dial-up gains one a bit of speed but the connection, being digital, requires a digital modem and a digital telephone.

I've not come across ethernet modems for dial-up. As far as I was aware these are defacto NICs used for broadband/cable - which would obviously be faster than dialup.

Some modems will sit side by side quite happily and can even be used to speed up communications by attaching two modems to two telephone lines. You just need to check whether there will be conflicts or not after installing the external. The internal can be removed if necessary, but can also be simply disabled in the Device Manager.

As long as you have the cables and a/c adapter if needed - no extra hardware is required - and it is usual for the software and drivers to come with a new modem.

PS - On a separate note and since Ethernet has been mentioned - USB can be used to network, requires a bridge but is fraught with problems. Firewire wins this particular battle over USB.

Oops, I was thinking in terms of broadband modems, sorry about that....:o

Yes it is a USB connection modem/ I really did not understand NIC or the ethernet connection >> But all is explained thank you.