Broadband Pitfalls

I am considering upgrading to a Broadband ISP offered by my phone company.
Just wondering what pitfalls I might run into, like should I be all right
with the modem and router or am I apt to have problems looking for drivers.
Wouls appreciate any feedback.

Richard

 

Richard, I use bellsouth.net for my DSL provider and it works fine.
I would suggest that you don't use a USB modem, instead use a modem that
will work with your network card.
USB has some issues still and as long as your NIC works, you should be "Good
To Go"

Al Swearengen Proprietor
Gem Saloon
Deadwood
Dakota Territory

Post On

 

As Al wrote, use your onboard NIC to connect to your DSL modem.


Wayne

 

What Type of Broadband are you getting. there are 2 types Cabel and DSL.

Over here in the UK i have Cable and the modem i have has both USB and
ethernet on it.

Some companies i know only use USB modems (both cabel and dsl) over here
which i don't see why.

If possible get one with ethernet and not USB since it will run better and
not need additional drivers since it will run of your network card and as
wayne wrote if you have onboard ethernet use that with the modem.

If your linking more than 1 PC to the internet it would be worth getting a
router if your just connecting the one PC i would'nt bother a router but
thats down to you.

Remember if you get a Router it has to be compatable with your connection
either DSL or cable.

 

If you are purchasing the modem, make sure you get one with an in-built
firewall.
If not, get a small firewall box regardless. It will make life easier in the
long run.

Make sure the firewall is configured correctly. The default configuration of
every firewall I have come across recently has been OK to start with.

The biggest pitfall with permanent connections is that it makes installation
of trojans and spyware a lot faster and easier. Once you inadvertantly have
one installed, the rest tend to follow crippling systems. So, Firewall, AV,
and Anti Spyware are a must.

- Tim

 

Richard -
You should be fine with a modem+router combination. I would encourage you
to leave the Windows Firewall enabled, since you're "always there" and thus a
better target. You don't, by the way, technically need a router/gateway, but
I think it's a good idea anyway. It makes it easy to connect multiple
computers to a single connection, and hides them behind an additional layer
of protection. It also provides a very OS agnostic system.

 

Actually, it would be more appropriate to say, a poly OS system. Agnositics
are those that aren't sure what they believe. While a polythiest is one that
believes in several dieties. LOL



Wayne

 

Ah, OS's as deities. Somehow, I don't think so.

 

ROFLMAO.

 

Speaking of broadband, mine just stinks!

 

What kind of broadband do you have Andre, cable or DSL?


Wayne

 

So Does NTL broadband which is currently payed for by my parents. But the
worst is BT especially with the fast speeds and super redickulas caps to
match it.

BT 2Mbps (1Gb limit a month) (basic £15.99)
NTL 1Mbps (3Gb limit a month)
my parents had the option to move to the 1mb line with ntl but kept the
300kbps which is 30Gb a month usage. and i alone use more that 3Gb playing
online games.

The faster ones are a little more reasonable but i feel they should be a
little more higher to match the speeds.this is in my area listing the 2
biggest (there are more providers but this is an ilustration)

NTLs
NTL 1Mbps (3Gb limit a month) (£17.99)
2Mbps 1Gb a day limit (£24.99)
3Mbps 1Gb a day limit (£37.99)

BTs
BT 2Mbps (1Gb limit a month) (basic £15.99)
2MB 15Gb a month limit (noraml £22.99)

BT Yahoo
2Mbps 15Gb a month (£24.99)
2Mbps 30Gb a month (£27.99)

 

That bites. Ouch!!!!

I have a 3mbs connection, and can share it with 4 other Internet ready
devices ... (computers, XBox, PS2, etc...) and I only pay 39.95 a month for
this. It is soon going to 5mbs for the same price. Oh, and btw, no limit on
usage. ;o)



Wayne

 

My closest broadband connection is 7 miles away :-( or I can cut down 5
trees and pay 99.99 a month with very limited bandwidth :-((

 

There is only one but its DSL (same as BT). theres is unlimited (no
bandwidth caps) 8mbps down and 400kbps up and thats only £17.99 which i want
my parents to switch to.

Which would be overall better and clearly is more value for money than what
the bigger companies are offering. the 2 best over here are blue beyonder
(not avilable in my area and owned by telewest) and bulldog. they are
smaller companies and can clearly offer better than the bigger guys.

but the uploads is still shit on my 300k line its only 64k up the 1mbps is
100k.

well when i get my own place and paying the bill its not going to be ntl or
bt for broadband. but ntl is cheap for phone calls so i stay with them and
so is there cable package compaired to sky which is an alternative for tv
channels.

 

Maybe it is time to move? ROFLOL (just kidding)



Wayne

 

DSL

 

Not unless its worth your while. The reason why I got broadband in the first
place was to simply stop waiting on webpages, but I don't see the major
difference since I got this 512kbps line, dial up is just the same. I'm
hoping this will change over time, since my ISP Cable & Wireless is starting
a campaign to make dial up ubiquitous throughout the island, but at this
rate I have to say its rather crappy.

It is so unreliable, its always disconnecting messenger, messages stop
downloading, its just horrible.

I'm paying US $50 for it.

 

Do they wear a mask and hold a gun on you when you pay your bill? LOL
(might look more realistic if they did. LOL) Don't they have Cable Internet
where you are yet?

 

Have you never said "OMIGOD!" while running your computer?