Hullo -I need a brief how what where for ADSL broadband - planning on joining when I move soon'ish.

When I was on cable at uni, NTL just plumbed in a cable out the road into my room which I plugged a co-axial cable into, then that went into my modem and then there was another chunky cable which plugged into my ethernet port.

Is ADSL fairly similar? Does it run off a second phone line or simply go through your existing phone line and allow 512kbps broadband AND the normal phone service too? I still have the ethernet card in my PC, unused since uni, so do they normally work off that, or USB (which I have both ports occupied)

Also need pointers for modems. Getting rapidly confused by various descriptions of things all mentioning ADSL, but also "hub,ethernet,router,modem..."

Any help + pointers gratefully received.

Jason, most providers will use a USB modem (I use Virgin with an Alcatel USB modem). If you only have 2 ports and they are both used, you will need to buy a SELF POWERED USB Hub. The self powered bit is important as an ADSL modem draws the maximum port power. The cheaper non powered hubs will struggle. If you only have 1 PC this is the easiest way to go.

If you have a home network, then an ADSL switch will be better, preferably one with a built in hardware firewall, but will be trickier to set up. I have a network of 4 machines that all use Internet Connection Sharing via the host machine with the modem attached and it all works fine, but you need a software firewall on each machine.

Either way, both use your existing phoneline, but you need to be within approx 5-6km of the exchange. The BT website has online checking of your phone number for this. For it to work properly though, you will need to get ADSL splitters. These are little boxes with filters in that split the high frequency ADSL signal from the standard phone frequency do that you can use both at the same time. Do be aware though that you will need a splitter for EVERY phone socket in use, NOT just the one the modem is plugged into.

For a lot more info on the hardware/which ISP etc. go to www.adslguide.org.uk for loads of info, and check www.ebuyer.co.uk for superb hardware prices and user reviews/tips on stuff they have bought.

Hope this helps

Dook

Pretty much couldn't ask for much more - time to grab a bargain on ebay then.

BTW - one of the USB ports is just for the digital camera link, so that can be detached for the broadband link, or if necessary I'll simply what the printer / camera USB cables over as and when I need then...

I've noticed recently that PCs come with up to 6 USB ports, and I've always thought "WHY?" - now I know...

Hi,

I've just had a 1Mbps TeleWest cable Broadband connection installed in out home, and I have to say that I am very impressed by it. I decided to go cable instead of ADSL because of one or two factors.

Firstly, as far as I could make out, and ADSL link speed is not only dependant on the conditions of the internet at any given moment, but also the ADSL "load" on your local node (think of it like a telephone exchange). This node is shared by upto 16 properties in both directions (I think but that may have changed), so if you live in an area where there has been little ADSL take-up, then you can expect a good speed in return. However if ADSL take-up is high then your download times can be seriously hit. Cable from TeleWest on the other hand is only 4 properties in either direction.

Secondly, ADSL connections are as far as I know, all USB connected modems. We haven't got any spare USB ports and I dislike the lack of direct control that you have on them, so it was I decided on cable. TeleWest can connect via network adapter OR USB so I decided network adapter so I can configure it more easily.

Thirdly, cable routers and equipment tends to be a little cheaper to buy than ADSL devices.

Fourthly, TeleWest broadband offers a 2Mbps connection which no one else (cable/ADSL) get close too. I am pretty sure that ADSL 1Mbps is technically the fastest possible... but I maybe wrong.

Other than that, the only other thing that swayed me was that all my friends and colleagues use cable broadband instead of ADSL, and all the more technical ones seemed to shake their heads in disgust when I mentioned ADSL.

On the upside, ADSL can be installed by yourself, but cable needs a new wire infra-structure to be installed by a professional.

All in all, I hope that helps.

2mb links are available for broadband - my ISP offers it for

2mb links are available for broadband - my ISP offers it for

Fourthly' date=' TeleWest broadband offers a 2Mbps connection which no one else (cable/ADSL) get close too. I am pretty sure that ADSL 1Mbps is technically the fastest possible... but I maybe wrong.

[/quote']

2Mbs downlink via ADSL fastest at the moment

Eerie. I've just bought a Netgear WGT624 for our cable connection. It's a wireless route that xfers at upto 108Mbps with a NAT and SPI firewall inbedded. It's got 4 wired connections on it and god knows how many wirelessly.

I've got the model that was released a while back that only does the 11Mbps wireless, but works a treat! My two PCs are linked up using the wireless portion, and the x-box is plugged into one of the ports on the box itself.

When I feel like upgrading it, I'll go for netgear again...

Netgear DG834G - All in one box - ADSL Modem/Router/4 port switch/Wireless (802.11g 54Mbps) and Firewall. Take it out of the box and 5 mins later you'll be on the Interweb. Can't fault mine one little bit.

(And no, I don't work for Netgear!!)

Other all-in-ones are available - IIRC the Belkin one is slightly cheaper @ the mo from eBuyer.

Netgear DG834G - All in one box - ADSL Modem/Router/4 port switch/Wireless (802.11g 54Mbps) and Firewall. Take it out of the box and 5 mins later you'll be on the Interweb. Can't fault mine one little bit.

(And no' date=' I don't work for Netgear!!)

Other all-in-ones are available - IIRC the Belkin one is slightly cheaper @ the mo from eBuyer.[/quote']

Howard,

I take you are running this wirlessly....what firmware version has it got? I hear the latest version is pants. I think that's 1.04 and version 1.03/1.02 are much better. Connections keeps dropping supposedly and reconnecting is difficult.

J,

don't bother with Tiscali...service is cr*p apparently. Been trawling the ADSL forums and you wouldn't believe the amount of negative reviews Tiscali gets. Heard lots of good things about BlueYonder/Telewest.

hmm, the netgear was looking a solid buy, if a little pricey....anyone got any experience with the Linksys/Cisco router/adsl/wireless thingy (WAG54 I believe)? Slightly cheaper and chunkier than the netgear.....

As for provider, yeah, Tiscali are absolutely garbage. friend of mine got suckered into the 150Kbps "midband" thing which they advertise as broadband....told him not to, but's he's a bit cheap. His connection is alwys flaking out and re-synchronising with the exchange all the time.

personally, i use Pipex for my ADSL link, the Xtreme Solo package. it's been rock solid for the last two years, not a hiccup, not missed a beat. It's re-synch'd twice while active in that time, otherwise faultless - all for

Howard' date='

I take you are running this wirlessly....what firmware version has it got? I hear the latest version is pants. I think that's 1.04 and version 1.03/1.02 are much better. Connections keeps dropping supposedly and reconnecting is difficult.

[/quote']

Adrian,

I run this both wired and wireless, as Fen Jr has a wireless card in his PC. I haven't had any problems at all. I'll check the firmware version when I get home.

Cheers,

Most providers give you a free USB ADSL modem -but I've got an Intel one you can have for not many pennies -it's redundant since I put in my wireless router.

My wireless stuff is all Ebuyer.com cheapy stuff, made by Origo -and it works a treat!

Phil

2Mbs downlink via ADSL fastest at the moment

I stand corrected. Things change so quickly...

Hi,

Thought that you might want to know that Cable Telewest Broadband yesterday announced that all subscribers will receive a free and permanent increase in download speeds - by 50%!!! - starting at the end of May 2004.

That means that if you've got a 512kbps line, it becomes a 768kbps.

If you've got a 1Mbps link, you'll get a 1.5Mbps link.

And if you've got a 2Mbps link, you'll get an astonishing 3Mbps link.

See http://www.blueyonder.co.uk for more information.

See also http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3646825.stm .

Don't forget ffelan and rapid (see discounts) for DSL gear, call Simon.

I went with DSL over cable as it's slighlty more secure and everybody locally seemed to have cable boxes. Never experinced contention issues, presently and always have been with ZEN, very fast and I can only recall one afternoon when the line was down. Buying a hardware router over a "usb" modem is a must as it's always on, secure, i.e. not prone to virus disabling proggies in emails.

I have an intertex ix66 edflc, a bit OTT for most, even for me, but it'sa bout the size of a dvd case and is amazingly solid.

NTL also have rules about connections to home pc's i..e not really allowed, eg leave pc on with webserver for pics = bad boy. Zen and others offer fixed ip addresses such that you could should you wish run a website from home and not pay for it elsewhere. Far easier to upload a 600mb movie to your lan server than a server in the us at 256k.

Thats the other difference, dsl 256k up stream, 128k for cable as an average. Matters not if you are surfing, yes matters if web work as thats twice as fast uploads, gaming servers helps aswell allows more players to enjoy your connection.

It's swings and roundabouts, personally very happy on dsl with Zen, but really enjoy friends 1mb cable line for downloads. Read adslguide and decide, be wary of long contracts, Zen offer a month by month with no minimum term.

Please dear god avoid the "cheap and cheerful providers" they are for a reason. Anybody recall breathe, red ant, bt unlimited before dsl Unlimited calls etc etc..after a few months of being swamped, people were barred for excessive use, we see similar now on broadband services. I think NTL have a cap as do some of the DSP providers. If Zen have one I have never hit it, but don't download as much now as I uesed to...need more disks.

Im with BTopenworld. had no problems at all (apart from useless DNS servers) and have also never had a problem with contention. as for downloading stuff.... ive got a VPN to ma bros PC at bolton uni... reguarly download stuff over their net connection @ 400k per second

i also prefer ADSL to cable, as it says in the name, its Asyncronous unlike cable which is good for hosting net games.