Embedded 1.2.3 ep0 interface not loading

[gtivey]

ep0 (3com 3c589c) pcmcia module not loading in embedded v1.2.3
…
pccard0: <unknown card="">(manufacturer=0x0101, product=0x0589, function_type=6) at function 0
pccard0:    CIS info: 3Com Corporation, 3C589, TP/BNC LAN Card Ver. 2a, 000002
...
I have placed a copy of if_ep.ko in the /boot/modules directory, and I have also edited the /boot/loader.conf and added "if_ep_load="YES".
I am also unable to manually load the if_ep.ko module via kldload...

The livecd loads the ep module just fine when booting --- what the heck am I doing wrong?        Thanks all, Gary</unknown>