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TwoRails · 07-20-2002, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pmaddock
I have a Cisco 675 DSL external modem, if you want it.

PM

Thanks, pmaddock, for the offer. I do appreciate it, but I'll pass right now.

will explain in a PM - check you PM...

TwoRails

BFD Deadeye · 07-20-2002, 12:46 PM

3 Rivers Telephone Co-op is my DSL provider, and they are the ones that sent it to me. 1-800-987-8865. Ask for Rob on Monday, or if you dont want to wait, just ask for a DSL tech. They may be willing to sell you one, but make sure it will work with your ISP before you go that far. On the other hand, they may not be willing to sell you one. Not sure about that, but may be worth a try. Also, try www.pricewatch.com and type in "ADSL Modems" in the search field, I found a lot of hits doing that.

Good luck, fellow norwesterner

TwoRails · 07-20-2002, 01:08 PM

Thanks, BFD Deadeye!

I finnaly found DSL modems!! I also figured out, thanks to you, why my prior searches yielded such poor results!! I was using "DSL modem" Not "ADSL modem" as the critieria !!

I did find some Speed Streams at Pricewatch, but they started out in price for what I can get my DSL's "recommenced' and supported modem for. And, of couse, the prices then went a lot higher.

TwoRails

TwoRails · 07-20-2002, 01:20 PM

Hi All !!

I just want to say a very big THANKS !! for all the help and support you gave !!!

I'm about 95% sure I'll get the modem supplied by my DSL company, mainly because, besides being recommended, it it supported by them. But, I have to wait till Monday to call on the Cisco 678 modem because it is supplied thru the "business office" only. (With my luck, they still could be a snag.... Like they deal with SOHO customers only or something.)

I figure I can get it hooked up and running on just one system and have free 24/7 tech support in the process (and I'll probably need it!).

After it's running, I can network it to the other computers. My DSL company does Not offer network support. I hope it is as easy as suggested, as I've never networked before !!

Thanks again !!

Confused · 07-20-2002, 09:12 PM

With a router it's a very easy. None of the ISP's I'm aware of support networks. With my router (SMC 7004R Barricade) I was up an running with it and one PC in about 10 minutes reading setup instructions that came with it. A few months I added this second PC without any problems.
Chas

BFD Deadeye · 07-21-2002, 02:11 AM

I think what Confused is trying to say, is; most ISP, whether it's DSL or cable, when you use a router, it splits your connection. Then you split your speed with whoever else is on the connection with you. If comp "1" is d/loading from site "a" and d/loading at a 192 KB's a sec, and your ultimate d/load speed is twice that, then you will only get the other half of that speed on a second computer. Modem reads the full speed, but any comps pulling off of that speed are limited to the whole of the sum. More computers pulling off it, = less overall speed for everyone.

But you probably knew that already.

But some people don't...hence my rambling.

TwoRails · 07-21-2002, 06:32 AM

BFD Deadeye: No, I am one that doesn't... So please ramble away !!

Hi Confused: It is reassuring to hear that it should be simple!!

I already returned the cable modem the unknowledgable salesman sold me. But I did keep the D-Link router model DI-604, and the 3 "Adapters," D-Link DFE-530TX+. I assume the Adapters are NICs. After rebates they will cost very little..... But If they are not the ones of choice or are incomatable, I will return them also.

The above componets are 10/100Mb Fast Ethernet, and per the salesman, are designed to work together. Is this setup OK for the Cisco modem and DSL?

Thanks

TwoRails

Confused · 07-21-2002, 09:47 AM

What I ment by ISP and network support is that they will supply a link to a PC. When I got my cable modem, I had the router but they would only hook to a PC. After they left is when I added the router myself. If I have a connection problem and request their help, I will have to take the router out and plug the modem straight to one PC.

Concerning what BFD was talking about. Connections are measured in bps that can be transfered. Hence a 56k connection means a maximum of 56,000 bits can be transfered per second (actually not quite that since we have some overhead for headers, error checking/correction ect.) but you get the picture. Your DSL connection will have a maximum speed. When you hook your router and PC's up, they will share that bandwidth. You will not notice any degradation with normal surfing because that is interactive and is dealing in small amounts of data to fill the screen.

But if PC "A" starts a download of say 16M, PC "B" will probably notice a slowdown in surfing until the download finishes because PC "A" is hogging the available bandwidth. The more bandwidth you have means the faster download finishes and PC "B" surfing returns to normal.

For the same reason the net is much faster at 3AM than 9AM because of traffic on the entire network.
Chas

TwoRails · 07-21-2002, 04:37 PM

I don't think that splitting the speed will be a problem. It took years for my wife to even want her own computer !! She want's it mostly for email (speaking Internet wise, as she'll do the typical stuff offline...).

That, and I don't think she be surfing much... as least so she sez.....

If she ever gets the "bug," however, then things might change.

I don't think she knows what a fantasic thing / place it can be.

TwoRails

***glc*** · 07-25-2002, 01:58 AM

Your router and nics will work just fine with any modem and any version of Windows (95 or newer). D-Link is a quality company. I've never set up one of their routers, but it should be very similar to setting up a Linksys or a SMC, which is a piece of cake. Those particular nics are a very popular cheap nic - SBC/Ameritech provides one in each ADSL self-install kit they ship out, along with an Efficient 5360 modem. The drivers install very easily.

TwoRails · 07-25-2002, 05:41 PM

Hi All,

Again, thanks for all the tips!! But, I have a spot of bad news...

My DSL company doesn't want to send me the Cisco 678 modem. This is their recommended and supported modem. They were also my ISP, but THEY forced me to switch to MSN.... And now, they say that since they are not my ISP, they won't ship me a modem!!!

Talk about catch 22!! ...So now I'm searching for a "networkable" DSL modem... I search for the Speed Stream and Efficient 5360 modems to see what I can find...

Signed, the un-internet-sharing TwoRails

Confused · 07-26-2002, 06:31 AM

Go to www.pricewatch.com Select modems and do a search on ADSL.
Chas

TwoRails · 07-26-2002, 10:32 PM

Things are looking very grim.... I finally got to speak with a supervisor who sez that my connection is a CAP and is not networkable, and therefore they will Not send me the modem.

I emailed Speed Stream and asked them if their modems are compatible......

What is CAP?? -- I do know that I have a "grandfathered-in" DSL hookup, so maybe it's an old technoligy.....

TwoRails

Jomama · 07-26-2002, 10:48 PM

Go ahead and rent for now. Maybe the prices will come down. when I first got cable, the rental was 15 bucks a month or buy it at compusa for 350.00. that was 2 years ago. a couple of months ago i bought a motorola for 80 bucks and I had a choice of maybe 20 others.
Supply and demand, i guess.

TwoRails · 07-26-2002, 11:07 PM

Hi Jomama,

I'd love to rent it, but they won't let me!! "They" tell me that my "CAP" DSL service won't work with the DSL modem, and I've have to upgrade to "DMT" type of DSL, at, of course, more per month. I can't afford it.

With the ease of getting stuff to network Cable, I might think about switching to Cable broadband. But that would also be more per month, so I'm still in a Catch 22 situation....

TwoRails

Jomama · 07-26-2002, 11:25 PM

Well, I wouldnt call it Catch 22 , more like got you by the short hairs. And cable isnt perfect either. Thisweek i have been running at 1.0 ~ 1.2 M on my cox cable. At times it is slower than 56k. Because cable is a network. First you get on the nw then you vie for the internet. Here it is 30 bucks a month. because I also have their cable tv. DSL can be worse. they charge for speed (if you want to call it that) in increments and have the same speed and nw problems as cable often.
so here is a warning, do not choose cable. you will never want to go back to anything else!
Life is choices, right?

***glc*** · 07-27-2002, 04:03 AM

My recommendation? Bite the bullet and upgrade your service to standard PPPoE ADSL or get cable. Otherwise you will be stuck with using ICS instead of a router.

TwoRails · 07-27-2002, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by glc
...snip... Otherwise you will be stuck with using ICS instead of a router.

Excuse my ignorance here, but I guess that ICS could stand for Internet Connection Sharing?? I did a quick search in Windows Help but didn't find anything about Internet Sharing...

I'm running Win 98 SE, but will probably put my copy of Win ME on my wife's machine, if that matters on anything.

Frustrated...

TwoRails

PS: really don't have the extra bucks for the newer DSL service, but more importantly, I have a Consistant 640KB download connection. The cheapest "new" service is only 256KB, and since I download a lot, I'd diffenately notice the diff. The next step up (meaning another extra $10 month) offers only "up to" 640 KB. Then they go right into "business" connections......

07-20-2002, 09:12 PM	#35
Confused Member (13 bit) Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Mt Washington, KY Posts: 4,927	With a router it's a very easy. None of the ISP's I'm aware of support networks. With my router (SMC 7004R Barricade) I was up an running with it and one PC in about 10 minutes reading setup instructions that came with it. A few months I added this second PC without any problems. Chas __________________ I may not be much, but I'm all I think about.

07-26-2002, 10:48 PM	#44
Jomama Member (10 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Fairfax, Va Posts: 998	Go ahead and rent for now. Maybe the prices will come down. when I first got cable, the rental was 15 bucks a month or buy it at compusa for 350.00. that was 2 years ago. a couple of months ago i bought a motorola for 80 bucks and I had a choice of maybe 20 others. Supply and demand, i guess. __________________ After 40, its a matter of maintenance

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07-20-2002, 12:46 PM	#32
BFD Deadeye Member (10 bit) Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Conrad, Montana USA Posts: 903	3 Rivers Telephone Co-op is my DSL provider, and they are the ones that sent it to me. 1-800-987-8865. Ask for Rob on Monday, or if you dont want to wait, just ask for a DSL tech. They may be willing to sell you one, but make sure it will work with your ISP before you go that far. On the other hand, they may not be willing to sell you one. Not sure about that, but may be worth a try. Also, try www.pricewatch.com and type in "ADSL Modems" in the search field, I found a lot of hits doing that. Good luck, fellow norwesterner

07-20-2002, 01:08 PM	#33
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	Thanks, BFD Deadeye! I finnaly found DSL modems!! I also figured out, thanks to you, why my prior searches yielded such poor results!! I was using "DSL modem" Not "ADSL modem" as the critieria !! I did find some Speed Streams at Pricewatch, but they started out in price for what I can get my DSL's "recommenced' and supported modem for. And, of couse, the prices then went a lot higher. TwoRails

07-20-2002, 01:20 PM	#34
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	Hi All !! I just want to say a very big THANKS !! for all the help and support you gave !!! I'm about 95% sure I'll get the modem supplied by my DSL company, mainly because, besides being recommended, it it supported by them. But, I have to wait till Monday to call on the Cisco 678 modem because it is supplied thru the "business office" only. (With my luck, they still could be a snag.... Like they deal with SOHO customers only or something.) I figure I can get it hooked up and running on just one system and have free 24/7 tech support in the process (and I'll probably need it!). After it's running, I can network it to the other computers. My DSL company does Not offer network support. I hope it is as easy as suggested, as I've never networked before !! Thanks again !!

07-21-2002, 02:11 AM	#36
BFD Deadeye Member (10 bit) Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Conrad, Montana USA Posts: 903	I think what Confused is trying to say, is; most ISP, whether it's DSL or cable, when you use a router, it splits your connection. Then you split your speed with whoever else is on the connection with you. If comp "1" is d/loading from site "a" and d/loading at a 192 KB's a sec, and your ultimate d/load speed is twice that, then you will only get the other half of that speed on a second computer. Modem reads the full speed, but any comps pulling off of that speed are limited to the whole of the sum. More computers pulling off it, = less overall speed for everyone. But you probably knew that already. But some people don't...hence my rambling.

07-21-2002, 06:32 AM	#37
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	BFD Deadeye: No, I am one that doesn't... So please ramble away !! Hi Confused: It is reassuring to hear that it should be simple!! I already returned the cable modem the unknowledgable salesman sold me. But I did keep the D-Link router model DI-604, and the 3 "Adapters," D-Link DFE-530TX+. I assume the Adapters are NICs. After rebates they will cost very little..... But If they are not the ones of choice or are incomatable, I will return them also. The above componets are 10/100Mb Fast Ethernet, and per the salesman, are designed to work together. Is this setup OK for the Cisco modem and DSL? Thanks TwoRails

07-21-2002, 09:47 AM	#38
Confused Member (13 bit) Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Mt Washington, KY Posts: 4,927	What I ment by ISP and network support is that they will supply a link to a PC. When I got my cable modem, I had the router but they would only hook to a PC. After they left is when I added the router myself. If I have a connection problem and request their help, I will have to take the router out and plug the modem straight to one PC. Concerning what BFD was talking about. Connections are measured in bps that can be transfered. Hence a 56k connection means a maximum of 56,000 bits can be transfered per second (actually not quite that since we have some overhead for headers, error checking/correction ect.) but you get the picture. Your DSL connection will have a maximum speed. When you hook your router and PC's up, they will share that bandwidth. You will not notice any degradation with normal surfing because that is interactive and is dealing in small amounts of data to fill the screen. But if PC "A" starts a download of say 16M, PC "B" will probably notice a slowdown in surfing until the download finishes because PC "A" is hogging the available bandwidth. The more bandwidth you have means the faster download finishes and PC "B" surfing returns to normal. For the same reason the net is much faster at 3AM than 9AM because of traffic on the entire network. Chas

07-21-2002, 04:37 PM	#39
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	I don't think that splitting the speed will be a problem. It took years for my wife to even want her own computer !! She want's it mostly for email (speaking Internet wise, as she'll do the typical stuff offline...). That, and I don't think she be surfing much... as least so she sez..... If she ever gets the "bug," however, then things might change. I don't think she knows what a fantasic thing / place it can be. TwoRails

07-25-2002, 01:58 AM	#40
*glc* Forum Administrator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 41,163	Your router and nics will work just fine with any modem and any version of Windows (95 or newer). D-Link is a quality company. I've never set up one of their routers, but it should be very similar to setting up a Linksys or a SMC, which is a piece of cake. Those particular nics are a very popular cheap nic - SBC/Ameritech provides one in each ADSL self-install kit they ship out, along with an Efficient 5360 modem. The drivers install very easily.

07-25-2002, 05:41 PM	#41
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	Hi All, Again, thanks for all the tips!! But, I have a spot of bad news... My DSL company doesn't want to send me the Cisco 678 modem. This is their recommended and supported modem. They were also my ISP, but THEY forced me to switch to MSN.... And now, they say that since they are not my ISP, they won't ship me a modem!!! Talk about catch 22!! ...So now I'm searching for a "networkable" DSL modem... I search for the Speed Stream and Efficient 5360 modems to see what I can find... Signed, the un-internet-sharing TwoRails

07-26-2002, 06:31 AM	#42
Confused Member (13 bit) Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Mt Washington, KY Posts: 4,927	Go to www.pricewatch.com Select modems and do a search on ADSL. Chas

07-26-2002, 10:32 PM	#43
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	Things are looking very grim.... I finally got to speak with a supervisor who sez that my connection is a CAP and is not networkable, and therefore they will Not send me the modem. I emailed Speed Stream and asked them if their modems are compatible...... What is CAP?? -- I do know that I have a "grandfathered-in" DSL hookup, so maybe it's an old technoligy..... TwoRails

07-26-2002, 11:07 PM	#45
TwoRails Member (14 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Great NorthWest Posts: 12,594	Hi Jomama, I'd love to rent it, but they won't let me!! "They" tell me that my "CAP" DSL service won't work with the DSL modem, and I've have to upgrade to "DMT" type of DSL, at, of course, more per month. I can't afford it. With the ease of getting stuff to network Cable, I might think about switching to Cable broadband. But that would also be more per month, so I'm still in a Catch 22 situation.... TwoRails

07-26-2002, 11:25 PM	#46
Jomama Member (10 bit) Premium Member Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: Fairfax, Va Posts: 998	Well, I wouldnt call it Catch 22 , more like got you by the short hairs. And cable isnt perfect either. Thisweek i have been running at 1.0 ~ 1.2 M on my cox cable. At times it is slower than 56k. Because cable is a network. First you get on the nw then you vie for the internet. Here it is 30 bucks a month. because I also have their cable tv. DSL can be worse. they charge for speed (if you want to call it that) in increments and have the same speed and nw problems as cable often. so here is a warning, do not choose cable. you will never want to go back to anything else! Life is choices, right?

07-27-2002, 04:03 AM	#47
*glc* Forum Administrator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 41,163	My recommendation? Bite the bullet and upgrade your service to standard PPPoE ADSL or get cable. Otherwise you will be stuck with using ICS instead of a router.

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