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General discussion

A New DSL Modem

Aug 17, 2008 12:31PM PDT

Hi. I have Verizon phone service with DSL, I've had it for around 4, maybe 5 years. The modem I'm using, a Westell Wirespeed B90-2XXXXXXX is now rather elderly. The modem Verizon sells now is the Westell Wirespeed "Liteline 6100". I have no problem with this, but I just can't get a Verizon person to acknowledge that I don't HAVE to use a Westell. I'd like to buy a Zyxel, remembering them from the old modem days. Can you use any DSL model if it's not geared toward a specific phone company?

And, if I got a modem/router, instead of 2 separate units, and I had trouble with the router, can I remove the functioning of the router and just used the modem? I had a Linksys router along with the Westell, but the router's IP address would change for no reason and I wouldn't be able to get on line. Once I disconnected the router, for the most part I stopped having that problem. Would a combi unit have this same type of problem?

Discussion is locked

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Just sharing.
Aug 17, 2008 12:38PM PDT

Unlike the cable modem that you must supply the MAC address for them to activate the connection I have yet to do that for a DSL modem. I just enter in the PPPoE information and it works.

HOWEVER there is no support for you if you don't use their gear. Seems fair to me.
Bob

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Since you like Verizon...
Aug 17, 2008 6:04PM PDT

Why not just ask them for a new modem-router and see what they say. It should be free but you pay for shipping. I am also pretty sure that other modem-router should work just as well.