DSL - A modem is a modem is a modem, right?

In the config I am working with I have a UHP DSL Modem (Earthlink
supplied) connected to a 11b/g wireless router.

Repeatedly (and often) the modem enters this 'diagnostic' phase where
is blocks internet access and displays Earthlink's "Fix and/or Retry"
page.

- The modem is currently in DHCP/NAT/PPPoE Mode, I'd like to disable
this and have the Router do the PPPoE dialing.

- The modem is supplying DHCP to the Router. Seems it would be better
to hard code some static IPs in there between the Modem and the
Router, right?

- re: the Subject Line, I have another, extra, DSL modem at hand and I
am thinking to swap it out to divide and conquer the 'problem'. Any
problem(s) with swapping DSL modems like lego blocks?



TBerk

On Jul 22, 8:25*am, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:33:39 -0700 (PDT), TBerk
>
> <bayareab...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >In the config I am working with I have a UHP DSL Modem (Earthlink
> >supplied) connected to a 11b/g wireless router.
>
> >Repeatedly (and often) the modem enters this 'diagnostic' phase where
> >is blocks internet access and displays Earthlink's "Fix and/or Retry"
> >page.
>
> >- The modem is currently in DHCP/NAT/PPPoE Mode, I'd like to disable
> >this and have the Router do the PPPoE dialing.
>
> >- The modem is supplying DHCP to the Router. Seems it would be better
> >to hard code some static IPs in there between the Modem and the
> >Router, right?
>
> I don't think you can do that. *The IP addresses supplied by Earthlink
> arrive via PPPoE (not DHCP).

Well, I _am_ running the PPPoE via the router now. I just let the IP
numbers etween the router and modem take care of themselves.

>*You have to have a PPPoE client running
> somewhere.

Yeah. Thx Jeff, so far with the modem in 'I'm only a modem' mode all
seem well, no swapping to report as of yet.


TBerk

On Jul 24, 4:01*pm, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:
Snip>
> >Yeah. Thx Jeff, so far with the modem in 'I'm only a modem' mode all
> >seem well, no swapping to report as of yet.
>
> It's called "bridge mode" in most modems.
>
> --
> # Jeff Liebermann

Yeah, sorry, I've been less than precise with actual details. I
changed the modem to bridge mode and the router to PPPoE to do the
connecting, etc.

I'm just posting quickley tonight, more details in another thread.


TBerk

On Jul 21, 6:33*pm, TBerk <bayareab...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> In the config I am working with I have a UHP DSL Modem (Earthlink
> supplied) connected to a 11b/g wireless router.
>
> Repeatedly (and often) the modem enters this 'diagnostic' phase where
> is blocks internet access and displays Earthlink's "Fix and/or Retry"
> page.
>
> - The modem is currently in DHCP/NAT/PPPoE Mode, I'd like to disable
> this and have the Router do the PPPoE dialing.
>
> - The modem is supplying DHCP to the Router. Seems it would be better
> to hard code some static IPs in there between the Modem and the
> Router, right?
>
> - re: the Subject Line, I have another, extra, DSL modem at hand and I
> am thinking to swap it out to divide and conquer the 'problem'. Any
> problem(s) with swapping DSL modems like lego blocks?
>
> TBerk

This may or may not be applicable, but I installed a rwifi outer on a
Verizon DSL and discovered that the DSL modem was a one port router.
To get things working, all I had to do was change the default address
on the wifi router I was installing. That router had a mac clone
feature, but I didn't need to use it.

On Jul 27, 6:45*pm, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 17:32:12 -0700 (PDT), m...@sushi.com wrote:
> >This may or may not be applicable, but I installed a rwifi outer on a
> >Verizon DSL and discovered that the DSL modem was a one port router.
> >To get things working, all I had to do was change the default address
> >on the wifi router I was installing. That router had a mac clone
> >feature, but I didn't need to use it.
>
> There are some like that. *The original 2-wire DSL
> modem/router/wireless router only had room for one ethernet port. Same
> with ActionTec GT701. *Not every router has room for 4 ethernet ports.
> However, the functions are unchanged. *They can do NAT to 254 IP
> addresses. *If you need more ethernet ports, just add an ethernet
> switch with 5/8/16/24 ports.
>
> --
> Jeff Liebermann * * je...@cruzio.com
> 150 Felker St #D * *http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060http://802.11junk.com
> Skype: JeffLiebermann * * AE6KS * *831-336-2558

What I was hoping this thread was going to cover is quality of DSL
modems. Pretty much you use what the ISP "gives" you, but certainly
some DSL modems work better than others in terms of bit error rate,
etc The Prestige modem I got with Covad would hang once in a while. I
complained to Speakeasy, which sent me a "free" modem from Creative.
No hang conditions, but the power on reset internal to the modem is
crap cubed. Get a power glitch and it can't restart. I have a few more
months before my contract expires, that is, I can't dump Speakeasy
unless I want a bill for that piece of crap they sent me.

It's an analog world, dammit! Quality is not a feature checklist.

On Jul 27, 10:22*pm, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:14:45 -0700 (PDT), m...@sushi.com wrote:
> >What I was hoping this thread was going to cover is quality of DSL
> >modems.
>
> Ummm... this is a wireless newsgroup. *We don't do no stinkin wires.
> You'll probably do better in a DSL harware newsgroups.
>
> Reviews of some DSL modems (in UK).
> <http://www.thinkbroadband.com/reviews.html>
>
> The real difference between the various modems is in the DSL chipsets.
> <http://www.chipweb.de/dsl/index.php?menu=1&level=9>
> Sure, there are problems with flaky router sections, lack of fail safe
> timers, and lousy firmware, but those come and go as firmware gets
> updated. *However, if you're after connection reliability, stability,
> uptime, and speed, it's the chipset that makes it happen.
>
> Incidentally, I have not seen a DSL modem that hasn't hung at some
> point. *The causes are usually power glitches. *A UPS does not seem to
> help. *I even have two that are running on battery power. *They both
> hang. *I have some on mountain top sites, where the power and RF
> environment certainly doesn't help.
>
> My ill considered opinion is that the Ti chipset is the best of bunch.
> Westel uses Ti. *Speedstream uses Alcatel, which tends to hang, but
> otherwise works ok. *2-wire uses STMicroelectronics Ascot DSL chipset,
> whcih seems to work quite well. *I mostly like it because of the nifty
> diagnostics. *I don't get many hangs with 2-wire routers, but I'm
> starting to see some failures, especially the wall warts.
>
> >It's an analog world, dammit! Quality is not a feature checklist.
>
> Maybe. *However if you're in marketing, it's a digital world. *There's
> only one digital parameter of interest:
> * 1 = customer buys the product
> * 0 = customer does not buy the product.
> There are no states in between.
>
> --
> Jeff Liebermann * * je...@cruzio.com
> 150 Felker St #D * *http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060http://802.11junk.com
> Skype: JeffLiebermann * * AE6KS * *831-336-2558

Asa you probably know, the wall-wart is farmed out to China. It is the
one piece that could get a company in serious trouble since it
connects to the AC line. Best to let some other vendor deal with the
wrongful death lawsuit. Oh wait, sue a Chinese company. That won't
happen.

The broadband review site didn't really have want I want. I'd like to
see bit error testing at different SNR. Yes, I ask for too much.

msg wrote:
> Too bad the FCC site has been purging material older than 10 years;

Too bad the FCC isn't purging political appointees with no radio
communications experience, much less anything the FCC is mandated
to regulate. At one time long long ago, most of the staff had
a radio amateur ticket.

On Jul 28, 8:31*am, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:19:36 -0500, msg <msg@_cybertheque.org_> wrote:
> >Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> ><snip>
>
> >> My ill considered opinion is that the Ti chipset is the best of bunch.
> >> Westel uses Ti. *Speedstream uses Alcatel, which tends to hang, but
> >> otherwise works ok.
> >I wonder what's in the Efficient (Speedstream) 5861; I use one in a rather
> >hot place and it has never hung over several years of operation. I can't
> >look inside it while the net is up ;-)
>
> >Michael
>
> No guts, no gain. *Anyone can't disassemble a device when the power is
> off. *It takes a real hacker to do that while it's running.
>
> Do you have the FCC ID number? *If so, look it up on the FCC ID web
> pile. *There will be photos of the insides, which might include the
> chip numbers. *Probably Alcatel something.
>
> Incidentally, don't assume that just because it hasn't required a kick
> start that it's uptime is equivalent. *Some routers have automatic
> reboot features. *Others have watchdog timers that reboot if hung.
> Check the logs to be sure.
>
> --
> Jeff Liebermann * * je...@cruzio.com
> 150 Felker St #D * *http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060http://802.11junk.com
> Skype: JeffLiebermann * * AE6KS * *831-336-2558

Funny thing is my most dependable DSL setup was from Direct TV, the
old Telegy (Telogy?) out of Cupertino. Unfortunately, the modem
didn't work with other ISPs. Also unfortunate that DiectTV decided to
can the company after buying it.

On Jul 27, 10:22*pm, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:14:45 -0700 (PDT), m...@sushi.com wrote:
> >What I was hoping this thread was going to cover is quality of DSL
> >modems.
>
> Ummm... this is a wireless newsgroup. *We don't do no stinkin wires.
> You'll probably do better in a DSL harware newsgroups.
>

Yeah. (I'm the OP) I was also hoping for DSL modem lists of have and
have nots, quality wise.

And yeah, I understand about posting in a wireless NG, but I get my
networking from a wire, before it goes wireless.


> Reviews of some DSL modems (in UK).
> <http://www.thinkbroadband.com/reviews.html>
>
> The real difference between the various modems is in the DSL chipsets.
> <http://www.chipweb.de/dsl/index.php?menu=1&level=9>
> Sure, there are problems with flaky router sections, lack of fail safe
> timers, and lousy firmware, but those come and go as firmware gets
> updated. *However, if you're after connection reliability, stability,
> uptime, and speed, it's the chipset that makes it happen.
>
> Incidentally, I have not seen a DSL modem that hasn't hung at some
> point.
<snip>

Well, my follow up so far is that by removing the duty from the DSL
modem to provide both connectivity and DHCP to the router (I believe
it's in BRIDGE mode now) I have avoided the 'Earthlink is going to run
diags now..." bullshhhhh it got to doing every night.

So, I never got around to changing out the other DSL modem after all.

TBerk

On Jul 28, 12:08*pm, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:34:30 -0700 (PDT), m...@sushi.com wrote:
> >Funny thing is my most dependable DSL setup was from Direct TV, the
> >old Telegy (Telogy?) *out of Cupertino. Unfortunately, the modem
> >didn't work with other ISPs. Also unfortunate that DiectTV decided to
> >can the company after buying it.
>
> Telocity. *It should have worked with AT&T. *We had a few of those
> around here. *They used SBC line, but ran their own authentication
> servers. *The problem was probably the wrong VPI/VCI (ATM virtual
> circuit numbers) which need to change to the usual 0/35 for AT&T.
>
> --
> Jeff Liebermann * * je...@cruzio.com
> 150 Felker St #D * *http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060http://802.11junk.com
> Skype: JeffLiebermann * * AE6KS * *831-336-2558

Not that I know what the VPI/VCI is, but how do I change it? Somewhere
in the path, I have covad as a provider, with Speakeasy essentially
reselling the bandwidth, if that makes a difference.