UK AOL Silver Package specifics and advice

Hi,

Again I find myself asking about an ISP for a friend that I'd be
reluctant to use myself, however:

My next door neighbour has a "Classic" AOL broadband package - USB
modem, AOL specific front-end etc.

She wants to arrange it so that it can be shared, and AOL responded
with an offer of their Silver package. I questioned the rep about a
few things but he seemed equivocal on a few things, so if anyone has
any actual experience:

1) Does the supplied equipment (unnamed Netgear or SpeedTouch) allow
"standard" connection sharing, i.e. only the router/nat need be
active, not some flavour of ICS?

2) Which specific models of router are typically supplied - I couldn't
get an answer on this.

3) Is USB taken out of the equation altogether, i.e. Ethernet (wired
or wireless only) to the router

4) Do the client PCs need *any* special AOL software or settings
(aside from initial setup)?

In other words, do they supply a flavour of broadband which is
"standard" as opposed to the rather proprietary current system?

TIA

Sean

seani wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Again I find myself asking about an ISP for a friend that I'd be
> reluctant to use myself, however:
>
> My next door neighbour has a "Classic" AOL broadband package - USB
> modem, AOL specific front-end etc.
>
> She wants to arrange it so that it can be shared, and AOL responded
> with an offer of their Silver package. I questioned the rep about a
> few things but he seemed equivocal on a few things, so if anyone has
> any actual experience:
>
> 1) Does the supplied equipment (unnamed Netgear or SpeedTouch) allow
> "standard" connection sharing, i.e. only the router/nat need be
> active, not some flavour of ICS?
>
> 2) Which specific models of router are typically supplied - I couldn't
> get an answer on this.
>
> 3) Is USB taken out of the equation altogether, i.e. Ethernet (wired
> or wireless only) to the router
>
> 4) Do the client PCs need *any* special AOL software or settings
> (aside from initial setup)?
>
> In other words, do they supply a flavour of broadband which is
> "standard" as opposed to the rather proprietary current system?

If you are using standard adsl equipment, over ppoa adsl, it all works like
any other isp.....

Gaz


> TIA
>
> Sean

On Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:04:46 -0800, seani <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Again I find myself asking about an ISP for a friend that I'd be
>reluctant to use myself, however:
>
>My next door neighbour has a "Classic" AOL broadband package - USB
>modem, AOL specific front-end etc.
>
>She wants to arrange it so that it can be shared, and AOL responded
>with an offer of their Silver package. I questioned the rep about a
>few things but he seemed equivocal on a few things, so if anyone has
>any actual experience:
>
>1) Does the supplied equipment (unnamed Netgear or SpeedTouch) allow
>"standard" connection sharing, i.e. only the router/nat need be
>active, not some flavour of ICS?

If the supplied equipment is a router, there is no difference from any
other ISP

>2) Which specific models of router are typically supplied - I couldn't
>get an answer on this.

Google for "AOL supported router"
Note, however, that any modem router with PPPoA works. They just don't
support it.

>3) Is USB taken out of the equation altogether, i.e. Ethernet (wired
>or wireless only) to the router

Just like any other broadband ISP

>4) Do the client PCs need *any* special AOL software or settings
>(aside from initial setup)?

No. Not even for initial setup. You need(ed?) special AOL sw to manage
your account. I have a VMWare image with a cut down copy of windows
and AOL's sw to fire up on the rare odd occasion.

>In other words, do they supply a flavour of broadband which is
>"standard" as opposed to the rather proprietary current system?

They offer a totally standard connection. AFAIK they never offered
proprietary ADSL connections.
The proprietary stuff is the content.

Lnz

PS I have been quite happy with AOL in terms of connectivity,
reliability, unlimitedness. Their Customer Support is a however
lottery: some knowledgeable people in a sea of incomprehensible
incompetence.

[L.]