Hare-Brianed Scheme #603-B

[TMAN]

Is it possible to become your own totally small time ISP using just a dsl capable phone line and a few NIC's serving like 3 home computers independent of all the AOL's and MSN's? What kind of hardware would I need? I know you could do this with linux. Would I need to get T1's and E1's and switches and pay thousands for backbone? Would I save any money and gain any speed? Thanks for your input!

[homer15]

you can't get an e1 in america.

i've actually thought of this, too. if you were to lease a t1 line, and then just break it off to several other locations, you could in essence provide you're own isp service. it'd need a lot of hardware, though. you could go cheap on equipment, either.

doing this with a dsl line wouldn't work, because the length the cable would have to run would be too long. too much attenuation of signal.

[TMAN]

??? I always thought that T1's were used by ISP's because they could serve up the required bandwith to such-and-so many customers. If I were to just serve no more than 3 computers I couldn't do it on a dsl line? Could you give me a diagram or a more thorough explanaton of why this is? And if I really can't do it, how much would a T1 lease cost and where in the world would I be able to find a T1!? I thought my biggest problem would be getting my own static IP all for me myself and I- and I don't even know how that works!

[homer15]

in theory, it would work, but the cables would have to run too far from your dsl line, and the signal would fade and become distorted. there's no doubt that the line would be able to handle the computers of the three households, but the distance would span too far... as for leasing a t1, it's very expensive. unless you're all willing to pony up a lot of money, it would be worth it for the other houses to get dsl for themselves.

[TMAN]

Actually it's just the three compy's in my family's house. Does the same apply for cable modems?

[homer15]

oh, man, you're just talking about a home network! sorry, i must've totally misunderstood what you were talking about. yea, that's possible. just get a dsl router and some nics, and you're good to go. there are tons of threads on this site about doing that.

[TMAN]

But wouldn't that just accomplish Internet Connection Sharng? To do that I'd have to get service from an ISP like AOL and MSN and Earthlink. I'm inquiring about doing this without the AOL's, MSN's, and Earthlink's if it's possible- and not too much cost.

[HAL9000]

It would cost much more than it's worth to bypass the ISP, especially for only 3 machines.

[homer15]

so, you wanna setup your own dsl line without an isp? that's crazy. if you were going to do something like that, i think you would first have to understand the intricate workings of dsl, your phone lines, and the complex nature of networking... not to mention the equipment costs and major strain on your electric bill.

[TMAN]

Ahh. Well, at least it was an appropriate title for the post :-)