Cant install USB56KEMH2 FAX Modem on raspberry Pi5 Debian 12

For days I tried to install your FAX modem for a HylaFaxServer.
But I get stuck at the modem installation where the installation hangs.
probemodem and also faxaddmodem failes the same waystrong text

Can you help me?
JLoewner

1 Like

Hello JLoewner - I hope youā€™re well!

Fortunately, all Linux LTS kernels above version 3.16 ought to have driver support for the Conexant - CX93010-21Z chipset used in our modem natively. You can confirm that your installation of Debian is using an LTS kernel by using the ā€˜uname -rā€™ command in a terminal session, and comparing the kernel version to the list of LTS versions found here: Linux kernel version history - Wikipedia.

You may require assigning a COM port to the device after connecting, despite the driver being natively supported. You can use the following commands to do so:

  1. Plug the CDC ACM modem to a Linux machine.
  2. In the Terminal, type ā€œmodprobe acmā€
  3. Then type ā€œmknod /dev/usb/ttyACM0 c 166 0ā€
  4. Type ā€œminicom ā€“sā€
  5. Select ā€œSerial port setupā€ and press Enter
  6. Press ā€œAā€ to select Serial Device and modify the string to /dev/usb/ttyACM0
  7. Press Enter twice to go back to the Configuration window and select Exit
  8. Modem should starts to initialize and ready to use

If you are using a Linux kernel that is not an LTS version, Iā€™d recommend testing the adapter in a supported LTS kernel or in a supported OS such as Windows 10 to ensure the hardware is working well.

If you have any further concerns, we offer 24/5 support via phone at 1 800 265 1844 or by our support page (live-chat / email) here: StarTech.com Support.

Unfortunately, StarTech apparently hasnā€™t updated their information in YEARS.
If you have a udevd based system (you do), you should never need to do their steps 2 or 3. The notion of ā€œLTS kernelā€ is probably wrong, as they say ā€œkernels above version 3.16ā€ (you are). The location of the serial device should be ā€œ/dev/ttyACM0ā€, unless you made it yourself.

Having said all that, your issue is almost certainly after that. Presumably the HylaFax software found a modem and tried to talk to it (as if it didnā€™t, it shouldnā€™t have hung).

I would try minicom as they have suggested and see if it responds to the AT command set. Iā€™m not sure if baud rate will matter.

(Having said this, I am actually considering buying one.)

The one other thing you should be aware of: you will need CONFIG_USB_ACM configured in your kernel build. I would think the chances good for a stock Raspberry Pi build, but they have fooled me before.