LSI/Agere MDC Softmodems

LSI, (formerly Agere and before that Lucent Microelectronics) makes host-signal processor (HSP) chipsets that can be used to make MDC (modem daughter card) modems for desktops with AMR (audio-modem riser) socket, or notebooks with AC'97-compatible or HD-Audio interface (including HD Audio, AMR, CND and CNC) on the motherboard. The Soft Modem can also be made as a PCI, USB or mini-PCI card. The Soft Modem chipset is also known as Scorpio, LU97, CSP1037, SV92P, SV92P2, SV92PP, SV92PL, SV92A3, and SV92U2. PCI versions may use the Mercury (1034C) codec. AC97 modems may also be incorporated in multi-function mini PCI cards.

A single Windows driver (a .sys file) supports all softmodem designs in 32-bit Windows XP and Vista; there are also 64-bit drivers. Entries in .inf files are used to set appropriate options and have PCI ID information to support particular modems based upon the chipset. The actual driver - a .vxd file for Win9x/Me, and a .sys file for WinNT/2k/XP/Vista, is the same for all PCI IDs, so advanced users can install other vendor's updated drivers with edits to the .inf file. V.90 softmodem driver versions are numbered 3.1.x, and V.92 driver versions are numbered 2.1.x. (Note, while the core driver file - .sys - does not vary among AMR & SV92P modems, the .inf files are different and you can't use a PCI driver .inf for the AMR/AC'97/HD Audio or vice-versa.)

As of October 3, 2009, the latest V.92 driver version at Modemsite is 2.1.81, and a generic AC'97/HD Audio driver is available from Modemsite Downloads. These modems will support Modem-on-hold with the 1.78 Modem-on-hold applet available from Modemsite Downloads if you connect to a V.92 ISP that supports modem-on-hold, and you have call-waiting service on your phone line. The most recent drivers at Modemsite support Windows XP and Vista (older drivers will support older operating systems). The original retail version of Windows Vista shipped with a driver (2.1.69) that lacked call progress sounds - this can be fixed by updating the driver. The drivers available from Modemsite are designed to support the modem for data and fax. For voice support, you may need support from the source that supplied your voice modem.

The modem has been bundled with some ACER TRAVELMATE (350, 505 & 520), IBM ThinkPad (1200/1300,A-series & other) machines, Toshiba Tecra 8200, Satellite Pro 4600 and Satellite 2805-S402, HP/Compaq, and Sony Vaio machines. Some of the modems are made by Ambit - but the site does not have any drivers. V.92 drivers will work with older Agere Softmodems sold as V.90 with appropriate .inf files.)

In addition to V.92 drivers, Modemsite Downloads (Premium Access Subscription required) has old V.90 versions of the driver that may work with older versions of the modem chipset:

'Generic' Version 3.1.98 Download from Modemsite (designed for XP; may work with 2k & Me)
'Generic' Version 3.1.106 Download from Modemsite (designed for XP; may work with 2k & Me)

Acer offers Windows98 & 2K drivers. IBM and Toshiba offer Win98,2k & ME drivers.
ACER DRIVER PAGE - TM505
ACER DRIVER PAGE - TM520 (V 3.1.64)
ACER DRIVER PAGE - TM520 - Win2K (V 3.1.62)
ACER DRIVER PAGE - TM350 - Win95/98/Me/2k - (V.3.1.66)
ACER DRIVER PAGE - TM610 - (V 3.1.80)
ACER DRIVER PAGE - TM630 - (V 3.1.113 for XP)
ACER European Support

Fujitsu LB Global LTMODEM (Version 3.1.66?)
Fujitsu - S-Series Win 98
Fujitsu - S Series Win NT
Fujitsu - S Series Win 2k
Fujitsu - S Series Win XP Home
Fujitsu - S Series Win XP Professional

IBM Win98 Driver (Version 3.1.80?)
IBM Win2k Driver
IBM ME Driver
IBM Win95,98,Me,NT,2000,XP V.92 driver 2.1.7

Sony - has one of the worst support websites I hope you'll never need (IMHO). You need to know the model number of your machine in order to find any drivers, and the drivers are packaged in a proprietary fashion designed to install (only) on the machine/OS listed. You'll find a version 3.1.111 driver for XP and PCV-RX7xx desktops here.

Toshiba Win 98 Driver - Version 3.1.77.5
Toshiba WinNT Driver - Version 3.1.77.5
Toshiba Win2K Driver - Version 3.1.77.5
Toshiba WinMe Driver - Version 3.1.77.5

This modem is a software modem that lacks a digital signal processor: the modem signal processing is carried out by the system processor.

Driver versions for this modem are numbered 3.1.##
Acer's drivers are 3.1.35 and 3.1.41 (from www.acersupport.com), 3.1.48 (from www.acer.it), while IBM gives 3.1.60 for 95/98 and 3.1.66 for Me (for the ThinkPad 1200/1300 from www.pc.ibm.com).

The modem will be identified (ATi3) as Lucent Technologies Soft Modem AMR.

The Win98 driver is LTSM.VXD.
The Win2k & ME driver is LTSM.SYS.

*Note: The file name & size for Win2k & ME drivers from IBM are identical; however, a file compare reveals that the actual contents of the files differ!

Installation Trouble: Windows 2000 - Acer reports the audio driver must be installed before the modem can be detected. See this Acer Technical Article.

Simon in the UK reports using the IBM 3.1.66 driver with an OEM desktop running WinMe. The modem came with version 3.1.27, and increased from only a 14.4k connect to 48k with the upgrade.

Jeff in Starkville reports, and others have confirmed:

I have a TravelMate 507DX (505 series), and my driver (3.1.41) sucked royally.. I'd connect between 21.6k and 24kbps... Anyways, I downloaded the ThinkPad driver off of IBM's site and it did not work.. (it would not recognize the modem). However, with some very minor hacking, I was able to get it to work, and I now connect at 40kbps!!!

Here's the easy to do trick: Download version 3.1.97 from IBM website.. and unzip/install the files to directory of your choice. Next, go to that directory and edit "LTSMvxd.inf". Scroll down to the section [Lucent_Modems], and you'll see a line that reads:

%INTEL_AMR.Modem% = INTEL_AMR.Modem, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_7196&SUBSYS_01A21014

Change the end to read:
%INTEL_AMR.Modem% = INTEL_AMR.Modem, PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_7196&SUBSYS_100B1025

..then run the modem install program, reboot, and it will install itself. Presto chango, now it makes crazy sounds when I connect, and I get MUCh faster connect speeds! :)

Voytec in Toronto reports - Toshiba drivers work on Acer 506/507 in Windows 2000.

Agere (formerly Lucent) specification sheet on the chipsets in .pdf format used to be available on the Agere site: CSP 1037 and SV92P.
The AT Command Set documentation was on the Agere site. Note the modem supports country selection with the AT%T19 command - using the same parameters as the LT Win chipset - see COUNTRY SELECTION section of this LT Win page.

The APL43 Host-based chipset, will support V.92. Specification sheet was on the Agere site.

Windows XP & AC97 (AMR Modem) with Intel 440MX chipset: See this MS KB Article 306580.

DISTINCTIVE RING: Agere softmodems support distinctive ring as specified in the ITU-T V.253 Recommendation. The modem reports DRON / DROF times, and expects the application software to take appropriate action. CATCH22: Microsoft does not support the V.253 Recommendation: Microsoft KB Q240996 states in part that your modem "...must support true Distinctive Ring, and not DRON/DROF". This means standard Windows TAPI-compliant applications will not work with Agere's distinctive ring reporting. (Also see: Usenet thread on Lucent Distinctive Ring support.)

V.92 - See V.92 Commands and Modem-on-Hold.

LINUX - Agere does not make a Linux driver available to the public. Agere has made a Linux driver for some Linux distribution packages - the biggest problem appears to be the Free Software Foundation (FSF): a softmodem driver needs to contain proprietary code that would be in hardware (firmware) for a hardware modem. The FSF's license (GPL) requires anyone using any part of Linux code to make all derivative works available for free - Agere is concerned that making a Linux driver available without making the source freely available might result in FSF suing Agere. (FSF has sued a number of companies over such issues.)

However, Olive Essert from Belgium sends feedback to Modemsite indicating that the Linux driver from Smartlink's website (slmodem-2.9.9.tar.gz) works with the Lucent/Agere Scorpio modem that came in a Toshiba notebook. This is possible because the hardware in both Agere's AMR modem and Smartlink's - the silicon DAA - are the same component. (As the softmodem name implies, all modem functions except the physical interface to the computer and phone line are performed outside the modem itself by software running on the PC). And, Gennaro from Italy reports success using the Smartlink Linux driver on Linux Slackware 10.0 (2.4.26) on an Acer Travelmate 740.

If you have any additional information or experience with this modem, please let me know!

http://www.modemsite.com