Anyone tried an Adslnation X-modem?

Having suffered a recent reduction of speed on my line (which looks
permanent, after my ISP got BT to do some tests, with no improvement) I'm
looking to maximise performance at my end.
I'm currently using an old Thomson Speedtouch 330 ("frog") USB modem and
thought I'd upgrade to a router.
I was also looking at the Adslnation filtered faceplate, which seems to have
good reviews here, and saw their ethernet X-modem on the website.
Before I commit myself, has anyone got any experience of these modems? Good.
bad, problems, etc.?
Or should I go for a different modem/router? Any recommendations/reasons?
I have only one computer. Wireless or additional wired ports are therefore
not required.
I have an NTE5 with one hard-wired phone extension and a 3-phone DECT
cordless system plugged into the main socket.
Bog-standard BT-supplied filters currently on the main and extension phone
sockets.

Any info would be helpful.

Thanks

George

"George Weston" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Having suffered a recent reduction of speed on my line (which looks
> permanent, after my ISP got BT to do some tests, with no improvement) I'm
> looking to maximise performance at my end.
> I'm currently using an old Thomson Speedtouch 330 ("frog") USB modem and
> thought I'd upgrade to a router.
> I was also looking at the Adslnation filtered faceplate, which seems to
> have good reviews here, and saw their ethernet X-modem on the website.
> Before I commit myself, has anyone got any experience of these modems?
> Good. bad, problems, etc.?
> Or should I go for a different modem/router? Any recommendations/reasons?
> I have only one computer. Wireless or additional wired ports are therefore
> not required.
> I have an NTE5 with one hard-wired phone extension and a 3-phone DECT
> cordless system plugged into the main socket.
> Bog-standard BT-supplied filters currently on the main and extension phone
> sockets.

I'd go for a router just because the NAT that happens in a router acts like
a hardware firewall which can't be a bad thing.

Yes, in my experience the ADSL Nation filters are good.

--

Brian Gregory. (In the UK)
(E-Mail Removed)
To email me remove the letter vee.

"George Weston" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Having suffered a recent reduction of speed on my line (which looks
> permanent, after my ISP got BT to do some tests, with no improvement) I'm
> looking to maximise performance at my end.
> I'm currently using an old Thomson Speedtouch 330 ("frog") USB modem and
> thought I'd upgrade to a router.
> I was also looking at the Adslnation filtered faceplate, which seems to
have
> good reviews here, and saw their ethernet X-modem on the website.

My ADSL Nation filter did not improve my line speed at all..... Made no
improvement over standard freebie filter that came with the router.

On Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:45:40 +0100, "Peter"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:


>My ADSL Nation filter did not improve my line speed at all..... Made no
>improvement over standard freebie filter that came with the router.

I used one when we first had ADSL and it was OK.
But I found that I got better speeds on our long line using a Flashed
Draytek 2600 (UK2 firmware, IIRC).

--
Locate your Mobile phone: <http://www.bizorg.co.uk/news.html>
Great gifts: <http://www.ThisBritain.com/ASOS_popup.html>

David Quinton wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:45:40 +0100, "Peter"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>
>> My ADSL Nation filter did not improve my line speed at all.....
>> Made no improvement over standard freebie filter that came with
>> the router.
>
> I used one when we first had ADSL and it was OK.
> But I found that I got better speeds on our long line using a
> Flashed Draytek 2600 (UK2 firmware, IIRC).

They have been cases where the Draytek has been found to be incompatable
with the DSLAM so they're not always the best way to go...

On Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:02:43 +0100, "kraftee"
<kraftee@b&e-cottee.me.uk> wrote:
>They have been cases where the Draytek has been found to be incompatable
>with the DSLAM so they're not always the best way to go...

Interesting, thanks.

IIRC I did get a few problems when it went to "up to 8Mb".
Then I changed onto a 2Mb fixed package and it's pretty solid:

ATM Statistics
TX Blocks RX Blocks Corrected Blocks Uncorrected Blocks
1234203069 1234202862 748984374 781977

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ADSL Status Mode State Up Speed Down Speed SNR Margin Loop Att.
G.DMT SHOWTIME 704000 2816000 9.0 56.0

(apologies for lack of formatting)
--
Locate your Mobile phone: <http://www.bizorg.co.uk/news.html>
Great gifts: <http://www.ThisBritain.com/ASOS_popup.html>

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) says...
> Having suffered a recent reduction of speed on my line (which looks
> permanent, after my ISP got BT to do some tests, with no improvement) I'm
> looking to maximise performance at my end.
> I'm currently using an old Thomson Speedtouch 330 ("frog") USB modem and
> thought I'd upgrade to a router.
> I was also looking at the Adslnation filtered faceplate, which seems to have
> good reviews here, and saw their ethernet X-modem on the website.
> Before I commit myself, has anyone got any experience of these modems? Good.
> bad, problems, etc.?
> Or should I go for a different modem/router? Any recommendations/reasons?
> I have only one computer. Wireless or additional wired ports are therefore
> not required.
> I have an NTE5 with one hard-wired phone extension and a 3-phone DECT
> cordless system plugged into the main socket.
> Bog-standard BT-supplied filters currently on the main and extension phone
> sockets.
>
> Any info would be helpful.
>
I don't think the ADSLnation Xmodem is compatible with ADSL+ (up to
24Mbps) on a quick read of the specifications so I wouldn't use one
these days, with BT ADSL+ trials running in some places and the service
roll-out about to start. It's generally better to use a modem/router
that specifies ADSL+ support for a measure of futute-proofing.

Definetly get rid of the frog or any similar USB modem, since they use
the attached computer to handle the ADSL line, which could result in a
slow-down if it is running out of resources. ADSL modem/routers handle
the ADSL line using firmware within the box and also have inbuilt
firewalls and/or NAT that "hides" your computer from the WAN.
--
John W
To mail me replace the obvious with co.uk twice

"John D.W." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
> In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
> (E-Mail Removed) says...
>> Having suffered a recent reduction of speed on my line (which looks
>> permanent, after my ISP got BT to do some tests, with no improvement) I'm
>> looking to maximise performance at my end.
>> I'm currently using an old Thomson Speedtouch 330 ("frog") USB modem and
>> thought I'd upgrade to a router.
>> I was also looking at the Adslnation filtered faceplate, which seems to
>> have
>> good reviews here, and saw their ethernet X-modem on the website.
>> Before I commit myself, has anyone got any experience of these modems?
>> Good.
>> bad, problems, etc.?
>> Or should I go for a different modem/router? Any recommendations/reasons?
>> I have only one computer. Wireless or additional wired ports are
>> therefore
>> not required.
>> I have an NTE5 with one hard-wired phone extension and a 3-phone DECT
>> cordless system plugged into the main socket.
>> Bog-standard BT-supplied filters currently on the main and extension
>> phone
>> sockets.
>>
>> Any info would be helpful.
>>
> I don't think the ADSLnation Xmodem is compatible with ADSL+ (up to
> 24Mbps) on a quick read of the specifications so I wouldn't use one
> these days, with BT ADSL+ trials running in some places and the service
> roll-out about to start. It's generally better to use a modem/router
> that specifies ADSL+ support for a measure of futute-proofing.
>
> Definetly get rid of the frog or any similar USB modem, since they use
> the attached computer to handle the ADSL line, which could result in a
> slow-down if it is running out of resources. ADSL modem/routers handle
> the ADSL line using firmware within the box and also have inbuilt
> firewalls and/or NAT that "hides" your computer from the WAN.

Good points, both of them - not that I'm likely to see ADSL+ in my village
for the foreseeable future :-(
Any pointers as to a good, reliable, modem/router that this old non-techie
doesn't have to bugger about with every day or so?

George

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) says...

>
> Good points, both of them - not that I'm likely to see ADSL+ in my village
> for the foreseeable future :-(
> Any pointers as to a good, reliable, modem/router that this old non-techie
> doesn't have to bugger about with every day or so?
>
> George

In our part of Scotland, we get a Q4 2010 date, whereas the next
exchange along is due next month, according to
http://www.samknows.com/broadband/search.php :-(

I've been using the ZyXEL P660R as replacements for USB modems for a few
years and never had a call-back due to them. They seem to restart after
line disconnections and handle marginal lines fine. I've had one
synchronise and transfer data on a line with a *negative* noise margin
that was eventually improved to a positive figure using an ADSLnation
faceplate.

Better ones may be avaliable now, but all I do "out of the box" is run
the setup wizard, set passwords, disable logon access to the router from
the WAN and set the computer for LAN internet access. It usually takes
longer to remove the c**p software driving the old USB modem, and the
other "features" added by the ISP's installation CD...

It's my opinion that anything provided "free" is merely a scam to
increase the ISP's call centre revenue :-)

--
John W
To mail me replace the obvious with co.uk twice

George Weston wrote:
> "John D.W." <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
>> (E-Mail Removed) says...
>>> Having suffered a recent reduction of speed on my line (which looks
>>> permanent, after my ISP got BT to do some tests, with no improvement) I'm
>>> looking to maximise performance at my end.
>>> I'm currently using an old Thomson Speedtouch 330 ("frog") USB modem and
>>> thought I'd upgrade to a router.
>>> I was also looking at the Adslnation filtered faceplate, which seems to
>>> have
>>> good reviews here, and saw their ethernet X-modem on the website.
>>> Before I commit myself, has anyone got any experience of these modems?
>>> Good.
>>> bad, problems, etc.?
>>> Or should I go for a different modem/router? Any recommendations/reasons?
>>> I have only one computer. Wireless or additional wired ports are
>>> therefore
>>> not required.
>>> I have an NTE5 with one hard-wired phone extension and a 3-phone DECT
>>> cordless system plugged into the main socket.
>>> Bog-standard BT-supplied filters currently on the main and extension
>>> phone
>>> sockets.
>>>
>>> Any info would be helpful.
>>>
>> I don't think the ADSLnation Xmodem is compatible with ADSL+ (up to
>> 24Mbps) on a quick read of the specifications so I wouldn't use one
>> these days, with BT ADSL+ trials running in some places and the service
>> roll-out about to start. It's generally better to use a modem/router
>> that specifies ADSL+ support for a measure of futute-proofing.
>>
>> Definetly get rid of the frog or any similar USB modem, since they use
>> the attached computer to handle the ADSL line, which could result in a
>> slow-down if it is running out of resources. ADSL modem/routers handle
>> the ADSL line using firmware within the box and also have inbuilt
>> firewalls and/or NAT that "hides" your computer from the WAN.
>
> Good points, both of them - not that I'm likely to see ADSL+ in my village
> for the foreseeable future :-(
> Any pointers as to a good, reliable, modem/router that this old non-techie
> doesn't have to bugger about with every day or so?
>
> George
>
>
Well I am running a seconhand ex-ebay Dlink 504 here..cots IIRC 16 quid.

after one nasty configuartion issue post firmware upgrade, its been
pretty good.It does flake out if left in the 19" rack with e door closed
though..doesn't like ambient over 40C.

Its slightly BETTER as far as I am concerned than the 90 quid netgear
router a customer just installed: that doesn;'t talk SNMP.

Basically justs get almost anything: and pick an ISP who realises that
customers can and do use their own kit.