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[tlug] Configuring a USB Cordless Handset for Skype (VoIP) + Home Phone



My OS version is Kubuntu 8.10 (Irritating Insect) AMD-64

I use a Pioneer TF-FS55M-S cordless handset for both Skype and regular telephone -- it is a dual-purpose HID that has both a USB connection to my PC for Skype / other VoIP and a regular phone jack for the house phone. I am phasing out all WIN use except as a VirtualBox to run a few essential programs in English and Japanese that there are no Kubuntu equivalents for and which do not run in Wine (e.g. anything using kanji or kana).

When running in WIN, the handset requires a Pioneer-supplied WIN driver and utility program (UPhone) to connect it to Skype. Neither Pioneer nor its third-party software / driver supplier offer Linux support of any type.

So I am wondering ...

1. Does Kubuntu / KDE / Debian offer some generic HID driver which I can try that will enable me to configure the VoIP / USB (HID?) portion of this device? I am possibly not asking the right questions of my friend Google -- in E or J.

2. Failing that, _if_ I am able to configure the WIN driver with Wine, am I asking for further trouble by referring the resulting program link to the Kubuntu version of Skype? I don't see running a 32-bit WIN Skype in Wine as a viable option, either.

One other issue which has arisen is that Kubuntu recognizes the device and it shows up in the hardware list in Skype Options. However "USB Handset" is offered as both "hw:Handset,0" and "plughw: Handset,0" ... and I can find nothing which tells me what the difference is between the two choices. Can anyone explain?

TIA for _any_ assistance or suggestions.

--
CL


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