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General discussion

Wired set up needs to go on air

May 26, 2005 12:39AM PDT

I have a wireless PDA and hopefully buy a laptop soon. My current home config is one desktop that is connected to the internet via a wired adsl modem. I am wondering how I can set up a reasonable wireless network. People here was suggesting to someone to buy a wireless router and hook it up to the wired modem. But my SpeedTouch-330 modem does only have a USB output and a phone-line input. How can I hook it up to a router then? What would you recommend?

Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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start with a new DSL modem...
May 26, 2005 12:51AM PDT

The USB connection was a kludge invented by the DSL modem industry years ago to get around computers that back then often didn't have a network card. It was, and remains, a one-dog show (and a tired ugly dog at that...). Wireless routers (which have several wired ethernet ports, BTW) don't do USB input. Thus your only reasonable solution is contact your ISP and see if you can obtain a newer modem with an ethernet output. Then you can make your pick of any of the common wireless routers on the market.

dw

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What about US Robotics?
May 26, 2005 5:00PM PDT

I'm thinking to buy USR as a router or adsl modem/router. Any experience or advice for USR would be appreciated.

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DSL modems...
May 26, 2005 11:09PM PDT

Dunno about USRobotics routers. They made good dial-up modems back when the world was still flat. No reason to think their routers are any worse or better. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. DSL modems are not universally interchangable. There are a variety of technologies and methodologies used at the telco central office end of the connection. The modem at the customer's end must be compatible. Sometimes that is a simple as changing a few parameters in the modem configuration; sometimes you need a completely different modem. Before going out to buy any particular DSL modem or modem/router combo, check with your ISP's tech support to learn if that modem is compatible with whatever they are running at their head end.

dw