AOL DSL Broadband - USB wireless router ?

Hi all,

I want to upgrade my parents from dial-up AOL to broadband via ADSL.

I believe AOL's ADSL is delivered to an ADSL modem that then provides
a USB connection to a PC - is there a wireless router that can accept
a USB input ? Or is it as simple as ditching the modem that AOL
supply and using something more "normal" - Linksys, Netgear etc ? Any
issues with AOL doing things in a proprietary way ?

I've seen a thread below that says there is a whole load of help in
the AOL Help, but you need to be using the AOL s/w to get into that,
so any advice would be appreciated.

Oh, and yeah I realise that PlusNet, Freeserve and the rest can
provide a more conventional ethernet presentation, but I don't think
I could bear the support nightmares of getting my folks to shift from
their AOL email to something else ;-) !!

Thx in advance.



uj

"uj" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:40766a2d$0$4346$(E-Mail Removed) .net...
> Hi all,
>
> I want to upgrade my parents from dial-up AOL to broadband via ADSL.
>
> I believe AOL's ADSL is delivered to an ADSL modem that then provides
> a USB connection to a PC - is there a wireless router that can accept
> a USB input ? Or is it as simple as ditching the modem that AOL
> supply and using something more "normal" - Linksys, Netgear etc ? Any
> issues with AOL doing things in a proprietary way ?
>
> I've seen a thread below that says there is a whole load of help in
> the AOL Help, but you need to be using the AOL s/w to get into that,
> so any advice would be appreciated.
>

You could ring the free AOL help line


> Oh, and yeah I realise that PlusNet, Freeserve and the rest can
> provide a more conventional ethernet presentation, but I don't think
> I could bear the support nightmares of getting my folks to shift from
> their AOL email to something else ;-) !!
>
> Thx in advance.
>
>
>
> uj

Ditch the usb modem that comes with AOL and also ditch the software.

You can use a wireless ADSL router and just plug the phoneline into that.
Set up a dedicated screenname for the router

Don't use the normal AOL software but get AOL Communicator from their
website which allows access to email


"uj" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:40766a2d$0$4346$(E-Mail Removed) .net...
> Hi all,
>
> I want to upgrade my parents from dial-up AOL to broadband via ADSL.
>
> I believe AOL's ADSL is delivered to an ADSL modem that then provides
> a USB connection to a PC - is there a wireless router that can accept
> a USB input ? Or is it as simple as ditching the modem that AOL
> supply and using something more "normal" - Linksys, Netgear etc ? Any
> issues with AOL doing things in a proprietary way ?
>
> I've seen a thread below that says there is a whole load of help in
> the AOL Help, but you need to be using the AOL s/w to get into that,
> so any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Oh, and yeah I realise that PlusNet, Freeserve and the rest can
> provide a more conventional ethernet presentation, but I don't think
> I could bear the support nightmares of getting my folks to shift from
> their AOL email to something else ;-) !!
>
> Thx in advance.
>
>
>
> uj


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.647 / Virus Database: 414 - Release Date: 29/03/2004

"uj" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:40766a2d$0$4346$(E-Mail Removed) .net...
> I want to upgrade my parents from dial-up AOL to broadband via ADSL.
>
> I believe AOL's ADSL is delivered to an ADSL modem that then provides
> a USB connection to a PC - is there a wireless router that can accept
> a USB input ? Or is it as simple as ditching the modem that AOL
> supply and using something more "normal" - Linksys, Netgear etc ? Any
> issues with AOL doing things in a proprietary way ?

If you really want to use AOL ADSL for your parents, then its possible to
ise an Ethernet ADSL modem/router, as long as the model you choose allows
you to do a couple of things like change MTU size.

If you can't access AOL's web pages, try reading/searching
http://bbs.adslguide.org.uk/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=aol or telephoning AOL.

I *think* AOL recommend Alcatel/Thomson ADSL equipment.. but anything with
the correct config options should work

Regards
Sunil