DSL Modems/wireless routers

[Guest]

So, my Westell Wirespeed that Bellsouth "gave" me 7 years ago is acting up...Sometimes no internet connection at all, on any wireless device or on the desktop that I have the modem connected to. I unplug the modem and it works again fine - for another week or so.

I suppose modems have a shelf-life like any other electronics, and I'm looking for a good replacement. I'm using a Linksys wireless-g router with it.

I was thinking of getting a combined modem and wireless router. Any suggestions?

[GRWatcher]

(1) Did you call at&t to see what they have available? Might not cost you anything.

(2) Avoid combined modem/routers. It will not pass an IP to your Linksys and I assume that you have settings on there that are important. However, if it is from at&t they will talk you through bridging the modem/router so it becomes a dumb modem and your Linksys is good again. The other DSL companies in NC do not offer much help with it.

I deal with broadband modems/routers almost every day at work at the apartment complexes we manage. We use Linksys/Cisco routers behind them because of programs & devices like security cameras, connection software, the wirless encryption, etc and the little DSL companies in NC are by far the hardest to deal with. One out east last summer kept sending my calls to the residential techs who said we couldn't bridge their equipment. The business tech finally gave us the phone number for the business field tech who has no problem bridging it because the Far Indian residential techs reset it back to router mode. Now we just call him.

So be careful what you end up with and from whom. Understand what you are getting. I have a Westall available at home about the age of yours if you want it. Haven't used it in about 2 years.

[Guest]

I could call AT&T but I've heard the "free" modem means another contract. I will see though.

Weird thing about bridging...my modem is set for PPoE, not bridging. And has worked fine up until now. Related you think?

[Paintballr]

I agree with staying away from the dsl modem/wireless router combo's. Ask AT&T bout the replacement. Maybe they will maybe they won't. You can go to Best Buy and they have a few different DSL modems you can but for around 40-60 bucks instead of paying a rent fee from AT&T.

Alot of devices now that you buy have N Network cards in them. They are backwards compatible and can work with older routers and connections etc. So if you plan on buying a new comp/tv etc you can get a new router also that will have better connection/signal and speed.

I had to setup my g/f's grand ma's router and she had a Westtell modem/router combo. Was the worst setting up just because AT&T wouldn't let me access their "advanced" modem settings without calling them first and then I had to talk to their "advanced" technicians to let me access the modem and bridge the connections haha.

[GRWatcher]

I could call AT&T but I've heard the "free" modem means another contract. I will see though.

Weird thing about bridging...my modem is set for PPoE, not bridging. And has worked fine up until now. Related you think?

No. The modem side of the modem/router will always have some DSL setting, usually PPoE or Static IP. It is the router side that you will want bridged. So basically only the modem is working.

My Westall was set for PPoE even though I had a Static IP and it worked fine.

I went with at&t uverse tv/internet at home so got a new modem/router (2-wire). With no contract.

Can't hurt to call them. Give it a try. They'll probably mail one.

[GRWatcher]

I agree with staying away from the dsl modem/wireless router combo's. Ask AT&T bout the replacement. Maybe they will maybe they won't. You can go to Best Buy and they have a few different DSL modems you can but for around 40-60 bucks instead of paying a rent fee from AT&T.

Alot of devices now that you buy have N Network cards in them. They are backwards compatible and can work with older routers and connections etc. So if you plan on buying a new comp/tv etc you can get a new router also that will have better connection/signal and speed.

I had to setup my g/f's grand ma's router and she had a Westtell modem/router combo. Was the worst setting up just because AT&T wouldn't let me access their "advanced" modem settings without calling them first and then I had to talk to their "advanced" technicians to let me access the modem and bridge the connections haha.

But at least at&t did help you bridge the sucker. These smaller DSL companies don't want anyone residential to bridge their equipment. And, believe me, you don't want to be paying the "business" prices just to bridge the modem. Google is your friend!

[Paintballr]

But at least at&t did help you bridge the sucker. These smaller DSL companies don't want anyone residential to bridge their equipment. And, believe me, you don't want to be paying the "business" prices just to bridge the modem. Google is your friend!

Oh yeah thank god they did or I would have just told her to switch ISP. It wasn't the headache or the 3-4 day wait for them to send someone out to "replace their modem" because they didn't want to believe me all I had to do was bridge it haha

[Guest]

No. The modem side of the modem/router will always have some DSL setting, usually PPoE or Static IP. It is the router side that you will want bridged. So basically only the modem is working.

My Westall was set for PPoE even though I had a Static IP and it worked fine.

I went with at&t uverse tv/internet at home so got a new modem/router (2-wire). With no contract.

Can't hurt to call them. Give it a try. They'll probably mail one.

Done. I called and they are sending me a new modem for $40. Motorola.

[Davidson Deac II]

I am curious about the bridging. Never had to worry about that before. I had roadrunner, and was able to was able to plug my linksys router into it with no problems. And didn't have any problems connecting the linksys to my 2wire when I switched to ATT. I eventually got rid of the linksys because it wasn't really necessary with the 2wire. But when I used it, didn't have a bit of problem. It grabbed an ip from the 2wire, created its on network behind and allowed me to plug as many pc's as I wanted into it. Which companies actually prevent this or turn it off on their modem by default?

[cookinwithgas]

either the DSL modem or the router can act as a DHCP server, but you only want one to do that.

I had the same problems you describe and it was bad wiring in the house - a noisy line for one, and some messed wires in the connection box outside. Try speedtest.net and see if you are getting the speeds you should be, that can be an indicator of a wiring issue.

[GRWatcher]

I am curious about the bridging. Never had to worry about that before. I had roadrunner, and was able to was able to plug my linksys router into it with no problems. And didn't have any problems connecting the linksys to my 2wire when I switched to ATT. I eventually got rid of the linksys because it wasn't really necessary with the 2wire. But when I used it, didn't have a bit of problem. It grabbed an ip from the 2wire, created its on network behind and allowed me to plug as many pc's as I wanted into it. Which companies actually prevent this or turn it off on their modem by default?

I don't remember the names of the smaller DSL outfits now that it's the weekend. Try to leave work at work. One area is those that were formally Verizon who recently sold all their DSL ISP's in North Carolina. at&t sometimes sends the modems out already bridged. My Westall was. The uverse tech had just gotten done with training and wasn't real good about connecting the computer, I probably taught him a few things. But he was excellent with setting up my HD TV and that was most important to me.

TW business class rocks. Never had RR but my son loves it. I live at the edge of Statesville and the TW cable service here sucks big time so I've stuck with DSL. If the TV service doesn't work well, I can't imagine the internet service would be any better.