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
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?

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