Lucent Venus L56PVS+C PCMCIA Controller DFS

Flash-Upgradeable V.90/K56flex ISA PnP/PCI/PCMCIA/Serial/USB Controller Modem Chipsets

Usage: To find other modems with the same chipset.

All drivers, downloads & info on this site are found via the modem.
Each Modem Manufacturers’ page also has external web-links, where available.

General Information

This was one of the few ‘proper’ modems (with both a modem controller & DSP in silicon) that was available in a PCI version. If the manufacturer fitted Flash-ROM it could be upgraded by the customer. With 1 MB of RAM/ROM it would make either V.90 or K56Flex connections (depending on Firmware code), whilst 2 MB allowed both to be possible, allowing connections to ISPs with either code set. All of the latter is ancient history now, of course.

It’s important to realise that, whilst Flash-ROM modems still need drivers, they are not the same issue for the modem as they are with Soft or Controllerless modems. With this modem the issue is modem Firmware, not drivers.

Every piece of hardware needs a driver to allow the hardware & computer operating system (OS) to work together. (A driver is a collection of low-level, software routines, so that when the OS says “Jump” the modem can say “How high?”.) When everything that the modem does is encapsulated in silicon--like this modem--the driver becomes a relatively simple affair, and most performance issues will be down to the modem, not the computer.

If the modem mfc fitted Flash-ROM the modem Firmware can be upgraded. (Firmware is also a collection of low-level, software routines, but written in silicon. Flash-ROM is silicon which can be re-written.) If your model does not have Flash-ROM, you are stuck with the modem that you have, bugs & all. This latter statement may also be true for the Flash-ROM modem, since the Firmware is possibly specific to the specific modem, and upgrades are few & hard--or impossible--to find.

“Flashing” your modem is an edgy, slightly scary process (which makes it irresistible to adolescents). You need to know:

1. Is it a 1 MB ROM or 2 MB ROM modem?
2. Do you have the correct Firmware?
3. Do you have the correct burner? (the software tool that re-flashes the EEPROM--they are specific to specific EEPROMs)
4. Will it make any difference?
5. Are you willing to live with destroying the modem if it goes wrong?
6. Does mum know what you are about to do?
7. ARE YOU REALLY SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING?

Soft & Controllerless modems were designed to get rid of the nonsense above. Firmware was moved out of silicon and on to the computer, being merged with the driver. Updating drivers was simpler, and did not ruin the modem if it went wrong (not as much fun, though). Trouble is, it all works better when it’s in silicon.

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