DSL questions
 

I am consigned to dialup at this time. There is a possibility that DSL may soon be available.

#1- If I get DSL, am I REQUIRED to have a working phone account or does it just run through the phone wires, and if so, why do I have to maintain an open working phone account? Doesn't the signal run through anyway?

#2- If I have DSL, can I use Vonage or other VOIP phone service? Is there a way for the phone company to block this so I HAVE to use their phone service?

#3-Does a phone company who provides DSL have a dialup number as a backup if for any reason the DSL is out?

I remember how excited I was when we went from 18K to 32k to the screaming 50.2K that I get most of the time now. If I can work it out I am going for the DSL but I am not spending money to maintain a phone service on top of it.

I live in a VERY rural area and the phone co. gets us coming and going. We have been sold to every rinky dink phone company in the US and when they finally figure out that the wires haven't been upgraded since they were first installed, they sell us off to another company. At this point we have Fairpoint and it looks like they are planning to stick around for awhile. The state is requiring them to make major upgrades in their service areas because of their buyout of Verizon services in New England.

Any and all answers appreciated!
Thanks!!:)

my son has
 

DSL AT&T and has no dedicated phone line. It was a small hassle at first getting it going. But no you don't need a landline phone.

Our DSL does not have a back up dialup. It does not go down much...never for a whole day. Maybe 4 times a year for an hour or so. Sometimes it does need rebooting which is not hard.

I believe Vonage needs high speed to work (cable)
I have never tried the other voice programs so maybe someone else here will have an answer for you.

We have basic DSL and it works just fine for us. But we are not gamers or heavy downloaders. I did download some MP3s recently and they were very fast, anyway.

Can i add mine? :p

I have AT&T DSL. I have a Linksys wireless router that is not hooked up.

Lil'Monkey bought herself a Dell PC before Christmas.

What do I need to do to hook her up to the internet?

She is big time supervised on the internet and doesn't have access to her own passwords. :wink: Her computer is in her room. Scary I know, but with her music and school work, one computer wasn't working for us. :o

Sorry to hyjack RW. :hug: I hope you can get DSL. I had dial up until we moved here. The phone wiring in my house wouldn't support DSL. :(

Does she have wireless on that PC?
 

If no wireless, then you need a cable to connect.

We have a linksys G2.4GHz wireless router for a year now, works fine.
(replaced our previous one what caused many problems=NetGear blech)

Ours Linksys has 4 ports for cables.

The yellow cord (ours is yellow) from the DSL modem goes to the
router in the main port (the one separate from the 4 access ports).

So you can do it by cables. We have my husband's work laptop set up with this router with a cable. My unit here goes into the router also. The laptop upstairs uses the wireless router. There is a procedure for hooking the wireless...our son did that for us. It has a monster password access and naming.
You only need this once...this is done on the net. My son set it up for us...you must have the directions? If not, go to their website. My husband says the router "talks" to the main frame somewhere to do the work...that this is pretty complex in theory but not so difficult to do yourself (I personally don't get most of it !) ...

If your DSL goes down you have to reboot in a certain order.
1) computer off
2) router off (pull the little jack out of the unit.
3) DSL modem off switch
4) DSL modem unplugged --the little jack in the back.

wait

reverse to log back on and wait about 2 minutes between each step in booting back up. Some time is needed while everyone talks to each other, so be patient.

My son is not answering his phone, so that's all I can do for now.

my husband says...
 

If your house/apartment is not wired for phone (previous owner)
we are not sure if you can get DSL...

My son lives in a townhouse but has no phone service. He has cell phone only. He had to get some "connection" to the phone jack that is dormant for him.

My husband doesn't know if there is no jack in your home, if you can get DSL...you might have to be wired and there might be a charge for that.

My husband says that initial start up of the DSL is very slow, and takes up to a 24hr period to get up to speed, so if you get it, don't despair the first day.

No wireless. Running a cable from the wireless router would be a pain. Cross a hallway. I can see her tripping..over and over. :wink:

So on her list, a wireless card or the the type that plugs into a USB port. Good thing she cashed a payckeck. :D

Thanks MrsD.

I unhooked the Lyksys when I had problems with my AT&T modem. I have all the paperwork, so hooking it back up should be a breeze. :rolleyes:

No problem, Oh Monkeyed One!

Those would have been my next questions. The DSL I am being offered says that they supply the box, but I don't want their box either because if they don't get it back in time when you dump them you get charged for the box or if you don't keep the service for a certain amount of time they charge you for the box.

If I do go with the DSL, I want my own box, I want my own router, I don't want them to come here to hook it up, I don't want them near my house! Every time they come here they mess things up worse than they were before I called them! It took me six months for them to believe that their phone wire from 1960 was responsible for my slow connection and crackling calls! They came and replaced it and I ended up not having a phone connection for two weeks! Of course I couldn't CALL them to tell them and when they tried to CALL me BACK, they couldn't understand why I didn't get the message! AAARGH! :cool:

All I want is a faster connection, no phone service from them, a wireless router so I can unplug and move around the house with the laptop, and no fancy bait and switch stuff!!!:p

And isn't DSL high speed too? As I understand it you can get differing options of speed?

If you must have a phone line and don't want to go that route maybe consider Wild Blue satellite internet?

http://wildblue.com/

We got our DSL thru Yahoo...
 

We paid for the modem, and they rebated it in full. So we own it.

We have the slowest DSL...and it is pretty fast to us.
There is a "faster" one too, they offered, but we don't get it.

DSL has been pretty good. However, if you have a PROBLEM, they charge ($100 bucks) now to talk to you over the phone to fix anything! We discovered this last DEC when we had trouble staying on the net. It turned out that our Netgear router was working sometimes and sometimes not. My husband's new computer sort of fried it...some encrypted code from the government that the router did not support.
Support is not great with AT &T, it is in the Phillipines for AT &T and it is hard to understand the person answering questions. They do download programs on your computer (some of which I disabled), so they can look at your system remotely.
They can be enabled in start up fairly easily when you need them..

So it is good as long as it works. We have had the modem now for over 2 yrs, and it still works. The router we replaced last Dec with the Linksys...so far no problems with it.

with the evolving competition, a lot of the companies now offer wireless routers with their services when they get new clients.

I am with you, River to BUY your own router. For one, you'll pay so much more per/month usually for their router (but they usually give you an option to buy their router).

I don't like buying routers offered by the companies because they are usually subpar and actually cost more.

there are a lot of refurbished ones one can pick up cheap from buy.com or amazon.com

verizon is on top with their fiber optics connection (the fastest) and cable is consider second fastest while DSL is consider the slowest.

at current time, DSL runs at 3 meg while cable offers up to 10megs with FiOp offers up to 50 megs (depending on what you want to pay for, they usually have like a 3meg package, 5 meg package, 10 meg and so on and so forth)

so your DSL should be 1-3meg standard, however, your own computer and connection will have to be fast itself to utilize the whole 3 megs (doesn't happen for most of us unless you have allentgamer's computer. LOL) (a good example would be say your computer has high mghrtz processor and you use a cat6 ethernet cord vs. a slower processor and a cat5 ethernet cord)

my guess is your bit/rate conversion will be pretty fast as far as checking out pages but whenever you have to download videos, it'll probably clock slower (probably around 15-80kpb/sec)

if you have a workhorse puter it might give you a faster bit/transfer rate (like the Dell XPS puters)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

as far as wireless routers go, don't go anything below G band.

it goes B, G, then N band with N being the fastest.

the laptop's wireless network card is usually a G band and it is more secure.

but if you want to stay a step ahead, go ahead and get a N band router, they are on sale all over the place and they are backwards compatible. You just have to tweak it a bit by going to the router's site (either linksys or Netgear)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DSL doesn't need landline but they prefer it (they'll charge you a little bit for not hooking up to your landline and you can try to haggle with them about it like we did, it was a stupid $2.87/per month for us if we didn't hook it up to a landline and I argued [very nicely] about it and they took three months off and I plan on bugging them again. LOL)

vonage can use DSL but it MIGHT require you to hook it up to a landline (it doesn't have to be activated, I don't think but I'd call them to make sure)

http://www.vonage.com/help_vonage.ph...PR0706010001W1

they also let you check your speed before you hook up to see how good your connection will be.

We use vonage and we like it thus far. :)

my guess is your bit/rate conversion will be pretty fast as far as checking out pages but whenever you have to download videos, it'll probably clock slower (probably around 15-80kpb/sec)

I love it when you talk dirty!!!:D:D:D:D

I'm still trying to figure out malware!!!!

lol

LMAO...you think that's dirty...wait til I get into the megahrtz... ;)
LOL

one more thing about routers...like mrsD did...

please set it up so it is password protected and make sure your encryption is strong...

and try to make sure the setting is ON WPA or better (like WPA-Psk)

and this is probably the most important, IMHO, do NOT use the WEP setting...I can crack a WEP setting in about 3 minutes sitting across the street from you using something I've learnt from youtube and download something from a P2P place...(not that I've done it, well, I did it to ours in wep setting just to see if I could do it. LOL)


usually the initial login is "admin" and password is usually "password" then you just go in and change the settings as well as your password (don't forget to change the password. LOL)

if you have problems, contact the tech support...yes, I know what you're thinking but, hey, better tech support now than have your identity stolen, I say...LOL

some older routers might need a firmware update. So keep your eyes peeled for those firmware upgrades (usually at your initial log in, they'll ask you if you want to check for update)

these updates are IMPORTANT so don't neglect to update them, it'll keep your router run smoothly and avoid later headaches...

OK...I think that's all I know....:thud:

good luck! :D

Ok!
All good answers! Thanks!

I cannot get broadband. There is no cable available and won't be for a very long time, if at all.

Wild Blue is dropping their Maine ops according to another poster on here who uses them. They may still be available in the southern part of the state, but not here.

I cannot go through Yahoo or any other company because my telco will not allow them access. This has been an ongoing problem with this company and it limits our access to high speed internet service. Hopefully the Rural Access Program (feds) will force them to give us something more, but just to get a near 50 year old phone wire from their pole to my house changed was a major hassle, so I expect NOTHING from them soon.

I guess I am stuck with what I have or what they offer for now. They want an unholy amount of money for phone service and DSL. I was hoping to cut them out of at least one end of it!

Thanks for all your help!:)

We do have DirecTV, but their satellite internet service was too pricey for us last time we checked it. There's also a LOT of trees and placement of the original dish was hard.

We live on the water and we have a shoreland zoning ordinance that limits what we can do as far as clearing, so further upgrades are out unless the midnight cutters come by and accidentally cut down a few trees!:D
There's BIG fines for cutting!

You could get one of the plastic things/mats Office Depot sells for under chairs. These are heavy, and would push the cable into the carpet. I don't see tripping over that kind of solution. You could weight it down along the molding with some of your books! LOL
My son has a long heavy rubber strip to cover his cords, in his living room for his gaming stuff. But it keeps coming "up".
The mat would work better IMO.

Before we got the wireless set up, we had a cable running across the hall way .
But we had vinyl & laminate flooring so some duct tape and a throw rug covered most of it:o

depending on where your area is and because it IS DSL, they cover a broader base because of the Satellite. There should be more options vs. cable or FiOp

there is also a difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical services.

maybe do a search around your area and see who provides DSL services and then maybe ask your neighbors and see what they like or use.

The thing is even within ONE company, they provide different services in different areas.

such as Comcast will be more competitive and offer more channels in say Atlanta vs. Egypt, NC...

I am not sure where you are at, but I would think that there would be something out there for you that would help your budget. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~

curious, there is this thing called 3M hooks, a particular type is designed to hold the wires along the walls...they are quite strong. they sell it at Wal-mart, Lowe's and other places.

They are stickies, you press them for 30 seconds (that's the key, have to press them for 30 secs, get your big and strong hubby to do that. :p ) and they'll stick to the walls....and when you are ready to move, you just pull that white strip very carefully and it'll pull right off without damaging your walls...

I love them... :)

They hold Christmas stockings too. :wink:

I really think that long of cord isn't an option. It wouldn't be just going across a hallway. My computer area is in a alcove area by the stairs. The cord would have to run almost the whole length of the townhouse.

I wish we had the option of cable internet. She could hook right up easy then. Our complex has a contract with AT&T. DSL. :rolleyes:

The only issues I have with AT&T is the crappy customer service. Speed is on the OK side. Have never had down time because of service, just a modem that never worked right.

look at the back of that modem...you might be able to pick one up cheap...

they charge you around $3.00 a month anyways for that modem + tax....

so you might be able to get a refurb one of the same brand/model/type..

:)

and if you really want to buy a long long ethernet cable, Amazon has great prices on those. LOL

But if you get a router, get that N band, woman! ;)

PS, I'll pass along the Christmas Stocking tip to Moss, she might want to use it to hold other things *hint cup thingies. LOL...:thud: LMAO..........

Wait...you mean I can just hook up another regular modem....like the extra Speed Stream one I have? :confused:

I already have a Lyksys wireless router. It's just not hooked up.

huh?

no, just ONE modem...

but that modem you have might be subpar...IE, the amount of hrtz it has...

cable to modem, modem to router....

one modem, two modems mean TWO prices. LOL

what I am thinking is that the modem that they gave you is an old slow one...

you can usually buy a modem of similar model (refurb) that all the wires are "crossed" and works faster, it COULD be that....or it could be just the modem itself....

usually, a modem provided by the company themselves are refurb, older models....and they have the nerve to try to sell those things...

I would look up what model number, what type it is...if you want to, let me know and I'll do a search on it for ya. :)

is the linksys G band?

I am thinking maybe you should start your own thread so we'll stop hide yakking river's thread...:p

I need to back way up here.

I have the DSL modem plugged into my computer and the phone line. Can Lil'Monkey just plug into the phone line in her room and get internet?LOL. She hasn't even tried that. Friends at school told her had to have a wireless router.

no....LOL

it depends on the modem...

the newer modems might give you TWO ethernet cords (there are modem/router hybrids out there now). If that IS the case, then, YES, you can plug two computers in.

If it IS truly a modem/router hybrid, there is a likely chance that it might also be wireless, but it'll ususally say so...and I doubt it.

the ethernet cords look like phone jacks (I am sure you know this) but is BIGGER...

there are two types, Cat5 and Cat6. Cat6's are faster than cat5's...

what it looks like should be a cable co-axial (usually the round cable thing with a stick sticking out) to your modem.

Then, from your modem to your puter, is connected by ethernet cord.

They usually try to use red/yellowblue for the main connections for the routers and then white or grey for the conveyers(but usually don't make a difference in most cases)

if you have more then ONE ethernet connection in the back of your modem, you MIGHT be in luck so try running the other one to the laptop

if you only have ONE ethernet connection on your modem, then:

it goes from modem to router>>>>router splits it usually into 4 separate connections.

this is just for fun on how this works.

A router has its own gateway address, then you have your subnets IP address that are given by your routers. (this is good to know in case you are thinking about networking printers, you can go P2P printer or routing your printer,but that's another story for another time)

so, what's happening is the router is taking your modem's main IP address and splitting that and giving each one of your networks an individual address...

this is why security becomes important...(but that's another story)

if you have a modem with ONLY one ethernet cord, only ONE IP address is assigned there thus you cannot split that modem. A router will do that.

But if a modem is a hybrid, then it has that capability to give you another sub IP address...

:thud: LMAO....

I just realized what a geek/nerd I am...and how excited when I talk tech...gosh, I Need to get a life...LOLOLOL

PS. some newer Vonage modems also has two ethernet cords and can act as router....just an FYI

River,

IF you get dsl in your area and decide to get it then by all means do so. if you want the dsl line so you can use a voip program. once on dsl there are many alternatives.

but first let me explain what dsl is....

dsl is a digital subscriber line. it uses the copper wires in the phone lines to send the digital signal to and from your house lines to the switch in the telephone companys switching station. ideally the closer you are to the central office and its main switch the better the signal. the further you get from the office the weaker the signal. the phone companies use repeater stations along its rout to amplify the signal so it can send the signal further away from the central office. in your case unless your within a couple of miles from the central office of the phone cpmany in your town chances are the lines in the ground near your housing do not have the capability to run dsl.

the phone company needs to install special switches under the ground in its stations where the wires are routed. other wise it wont work. you can still have your phone line but it doesnt mean it can be used for dsl....



so answer to question number one is yes. as the lines that make the dsl work belong to the pnone company you will more than likely need to pay for thier service to use thier lines. if they are also the isp who sells the dsl then you will need to pay them for it as well.

to answer question number two.


the voip services that let you call people using the internet are going through a broadband connection. which is not the dsl connection.

broadband uses coax cable and does not use the phone companies landlines it uses the cable lines.


to answer question number three is yes. most isps who sell you dsl also have a backup phone number for dial up just in case the dsl service drops.


unfortunately because you do live in a rural area the powers that be that do provide you with any service will get you coming and going as you say. me being a geek i pay the price for not living rurakky but would prefer to do so,


we all give up something to get something else.

if you choose to use a satalite service you will get a dsl download and a dialup upload. it is not symetrical. and from my experience with customers its a step up from dialup but stil better than nothing.

i hope this explains this for you ..

as far as the dsl router not a box... its best to use the one the isp provides cause if something oges wrong with it the service provider will give you telephone support and also support for the service. if you purchase your own then no support from the isp for anything. so the little amount you think you will save at the beginning you will end up spending ten fold on the backside.

it is sad when folks get bad tech suport from an offshore support technician. just remeber this.

if you pay a telephone bill then the telephone cmpany is responsible to fix them. its thier equipment. dont take no for a n answer. older lines can cause a lot of problems with dsl.






roger.

curoius,


if you have att and dsl then your dsl service came with a dsl router. in order for your lil monkee to be able to use the internet let me know the following information.

1. the model number of the dsl router.

2. the model of the linksys router

3. the operating systems for the main computer the router goes to now and the operting system on the lil monkees new computer. and if possible the model number of the dell system also.

you can send these to me in a pm and i can assist you though email if you would like,



roger.