Check the /proc/config.gz file or /lib/modules/ dir, to check if the support is compiled into the kernel you are using. Often provided kernels do have a lot of stuff disabled to save space and compile time (but it is a pain to recompile stuff manually with things you want actually enabled). I would prefer more drivers to be compiled as modules, just like other distros (i.e. Debian, Ubuntu, etc), are doing. The kernel itself will not grow that much, and you can fit all the modules from the kernel in around 170MB or so of space.
Also, if it is USB, what dmesg is showing after you plug it in?
lsusb ?
Also, if it is USB, what dmesg is showing after you plug it in?
lsusb ?
