dsl modems

[dakota81]

Had a conversation with a guy today about his dsl setup with SBC Ameritech. From what I gathered, Ameritech provided a modem / router / switch in one unit which has gone bad. The Ameritech rep also suggested to just buy a new modem at Best Buy instead of the higher prices directly from them.

I looked at Best Buy's website & only see cable modems. So my question is, what am I looking for in a dsl modem, and where will I find one?

 

[noobtechie]

try ebay

 

[TomCologne]

After 2 days of research for an alleged DSL connection problem, I'm not an expert on the topic, but I understand that at least some providers require specific modems for their services.

This link leads to a FAQ for SBC:

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/sbc

Looking up the telephone company's help site might render better results than the ISP's.

The cause of the problem I had turned out to be the W32.Welchia worm and was actually not related to DSL itself.

Hope this helps,

TomCologne

 

[CitrixEngineer]

For DSL you would probably be better off with a router than a modem. Routers are ISP independent (unless you're with AOL), more flexible and offer greater security features. However, modems are, of course, cheaper. Check this link for more;

http://compnetworking.about.com/library/weekly/aa111200a.htm

Any router that supports NAT, has a built-in firewall and intrusion detection would be great. NAT (Network Address Translation) is a way of hiding your computer's private IP Address from the internet such that all the outside world sees is the IP address of your router. It's a very valuable extra layer of security at the network level.

http://www.adslguide.org.uk

is a great site for UK information - and general ADSL concepts. I don't know of an international site that's anywhere near as good - check out the page

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/qanda.asp

for loads of free info, including hardware reviews. There's also a speed test to check your current connection.

 

[edfair]

My experience with Bellsouth DSL using Speedstream equipment originally provided to other BabyBells leads me to the conclusion that the equipment is the same, just a difference in configuration.
The equipment linked immediately but BS couldn't see it. Tech at the other end saw one wrong parameter and after finding the manual on the web and changing the one item it came up. Then went thru the same scene with the backup hardware.
Net cost was about 130.00 for 2 speedstream 5260 off ebay.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[BillyA]

got it workin..
bellsouth has westell little white dsl modem (A90 210030-04) and i found out today that it had been used as a router.. so i logged in via I.E. 192.168.1.254 -> expert mode (LOL) ->configure--> nat--> and bud it has all games, phones, pcanywhere and so on.. enable what service yu need and it opens port..
hmm what a cluster port forwarding on modem then port forwarding thru linksys thru wall to thru norton firewall security suite to my pcanywhere.. YEA they told me to buy another modem too...

hope it helps yu and/or others..

bill