Router for Version DSL

Question

We are going with Version DSL 786/128 kbs for $14.95. They offer a modem/router combo but not sure if it's worth buying. I'm looking at routers and found this Netgear WGT624 - 108Mbps Wireless Firewall Router - WGT624NA $49.99 after rebate free shipping and no sales tax at buy,com. Now i have some questions and version doesn't answer any on their site.   1) Is there a seperate cable for DSL or is it over the regular phone line in your home? 2) Does it have to be hooked to the tower computer in the basement or the laptop? 3) We already have a Hawk 802.11g PCMCIA card for the laptop which works fine with out friends belkin router so will it work fine with this? 4) The tower is running Windows 98SE so will that be a problem if the DSL & router is hooked to that? 5) Will the tower in the basement be a problem?  6) Just how fast is DLS really since the service is 786/128 kbs rates?

volcano11 · Answer

We are going with Version DSL 786/128 kbs for $14.95. They offer a modem/router combo but not sure if it's worth buying. I'm looking at routers and found this Netgear WGT624 - 108Mbps Wireless Firewall Router - WGT624NA $49.99 after rebate free shipping and no sales tax at buy,com. Now i have some questions and version doesn't answer any on their site. Note that 108 Mbps is overkill if all you are going to do is use the internet.  Even the fastest dsl and cable max out at about 6 Mbps.  Furthermore, in order to take advantage of speeds high than the standard 802.11g of 54 Mbps, the wireless network card in the computers have to be from the same manufacturer as the router.  You can save some money by sticking with a standard 802.11g router.   1) Is there a seperate cable for DSL or is it over the regular phone line in your home?  DSL uses a standard phone line   2) Does it have to be hooked to the tower computer in the basement or the laptop?  With a wireless network, it is always a good idea to have at least one computer wired to the network so you can troubleshoot the wirelesss network if there are problems.  Normally this would be a desktop computer because you want the laptop to be free to move around.   The dsl connection will require a telephone line going to the dsl modem.   You would then connect the modem to the router with a standard CAT5 ethernet cable and connect the router to the desktop computer with another ethernet cable.   The laptop would connect through the wireless connection.   3) We already have a Hawk 802.11g PCMCIA card for the laptop which works fine with out friends belkin router so will it work fine with this? Yes   4) The tower is running Windows 98SE so will that be a problem if the DSL & router is hooked to that?  No problem   5) Will the tower in the basement be a problem?  It depends to a large extent on the material and density that makes up the floor/cieling  between the basement and upstairs. It is hard to know until you try it.   6) Just how fast is DLS really since the service is 786/128 kbs rates?  It will be significantly faster than 56 K dialup, but not as fast as 6 Mbps cable.   Steve

eqmaven · Answer

I just went from Comcast cable to Verizon DSL, for a couple of reasons. The Verizon promotion was very attractive, and I thought I'd check it out. I must admit that I had been looking for an alternative to cable for some time. Cable was $39.95 a month, add another $3 for modem rental (I had my own modem, which could never really get working consistently. This was a long-drawn out issue, so I caved and went with the rental modem.)  I would have paid this without much fuss, except for the fact that the service was subject to outages for no particular reason (which were never compensated); there were speed issues, the speed can vary by time of day; there were disconnect issues, particularly with online games. DSL has been a big improvement so far. Have not had one in-game disconnect, for example. I bought an SMC7004VBR router, which is non-wireless. It works fine. I have a wireless access port that I could add, if needed. For me, getting a reliable connection is more of a factor than speed, so DSL fills the bill.

jmwills · Answer

More than likely, the speed variations you saw were because the cable is a shared connection from the node in your neighborhood.

lordmenace · Answer

My tower doesn't have an ethernet card, will i need one? What does the modem supplied from version come with? Would their modem/router for $14.99 be a better choice  also do i get to keep the modem since they charge a $20 shipping fee or is it a rental?

eqmaven · Answer

You will need an ethernet port, but the modem may have USB capability. Ethernet is recommended either way. I didn't have the option of the router/modem, but if I recall these would have four ports. Not sure about wireless. For $15 it may we worth a try. The DSL kit comes with the standard modem (one port) and some line filters, as well as a demo/install disk. As to who owns the modem, I would assume Verizon. I don't believe there is any monthly rental fee, but I don't have any billing yet from them.

lordmenace · Answer

about our phone lines. We have one phone line that breaks off to 3 phones and 2 computers. The phone line comes in upstaires and connects to a power strip with a spliter that connects to the fax and laptop upstairs and down a 25ft phone cord to the basement which goes into  another power strip which goes into a 5 spliter that connects to the tower & phone which also power the phone in the kitchen. Since the tower is in the basement the router will have to be there connected to the 25ft phne cord. Will this be a problem since all phones work well and pretty much have the same strength.

lordmenace · Answer

So i would have to buy a ethernet card for my tower?

Oh yea and Verizon doesn't know if they have an access number when we are
down in Florida. Just wondering if they did how would that work? Would we
need to bring a DSL modem down with us for the laptop? Sprint is the local
phone service in FL.

eqmaven · Answer

The kit included cables for ethernet or usb connection to the computer. Ethernet is the preferred connection, if available. I'm not sure how transportable the DSL service is. My understanding was that you could add DIALUP access to your account for a modest fee, for out-of-town access. I believe the DSL would have to be provisioned on whichever line you are using. So if they service that market, you'd be looking at purchasing another DSL service for your other location.

lordmenace · Answer

Do you connect it to the computer or is it ok to a USB hub? My computer is USb 1.1 but the hub is 2.0. Is thrie a better brand of ethernet card i should buy that isn't big $$$$.

jmwills · Answer

Direct connection would be preferred but a hub will work.  My guess is that your DSL connection is not going to work away from the locale where the home ISP is, regardless if the parent company is the same.

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