Modem with router????

[HoneyBadger]

She went through Century Link. They wanted $100 for theirs. Wife said I could get it cheaper I guess. If it helps, it was 12, something, MB? GB?

Definitely Mb, not GB, lol

[68Charger]

She went through Century Link. They wanted $100 for theirs. Wife said I could get it cheaper I guess. If it helps, it was 12, something, MB? GB?

Depends on the flavor of DSL (yes, there are MANY different versions) In rural areas, Centurylink has been using VDSL2 to get higher throughput at longer distances from their equipment. The last time I checked VDSL2 has like 2 modem/routers available, and Centurylink only allows one.

I'm on VDSL2 in Penrose- get a solid 15Mbps Down/ 900Kbps up in an area that was previously only served by fixed wireless and satellite providers. The throughput depends on how far you are away from their equipment. If it's VDSL2, then get the equipment from Centurylink- you won't save anything significant, and they can't point fingers that it's your problem if it's their equipment.

ETA: There may be more options now: http://www.centurylink.com/static/PD...dem%20List.pdf
(We are "Legacy Qwest" on that list here in Colorado)

I'm using the ZyXel C1000A, and it's been pretty fair- sometimes I have to reboot it- we have lots of wifi devices.

[james_bond_007]

Uhhhh, I don't get it. But apparently its funny!

Nothing funny here.
That's where the word Modem comes from : MOdulator/ DEModulator = MO DEM = MODEM

Cable, DSL, and in the older days your Telephone are used as the mechanisms to "connect" your computer to the internet.
If you've ever sent a Fax, you typically hear all kinds of tones at the beginning of the transmission.

These are an example of the Modulation/Demodulation type signals that the two FAX machines use to transmit data.
Even though they mean nothing to you, the machines understand them. That is how they "talk" to each other when they send/receive your data.

The Modulator converts the computer data you are Sending into a form that is compatible with your hookup (typically Cable or DSL)
The Demodulator converts the computer data you are Reciving from your hookup (typically Cable or DSL) into a form that is compatible with your computer.

These are an example of the Modulation/Demodulation type signals that the two FAX machines use to transmit data.
Even though they mean nothing to you, the machines understand them. That is how they "talk" to each other when they send/receive your data.

[james_bond_007]

Basic Networking 101

Here's a picture of a basic home network


Definitions:

Computer - thing that wants to send/receive data (could be an iPad, computer, game system, network printer, etc,)
Router - a sort of "junction box" where all the computers are connected together so they can talk to each other and the outside worl

a) Wired - in this case, a physical cable attaches the router to the computer
b) Wireless - in this case, a WIFI (or similar) 2-way radio-like signal connects the computer to the router instead of a cable
Note: You may also hear the word Access Point used to describe a wireless router. In reality, there are 2 devices in one box: The Access Point (Wireless Connection part) and the Router same as above)

MODEM - the connection to the "Outside World" . It is one of the connections to the Router that the computers can access (on one side) and also know how to talk to the ISP (on the other side).

It is sort of a "translator" between your home network and the ISP.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) - This is the company that you pay to "allow" you to access the Internet. In reality, the ISP is connected to the Internet...not you.

For a fee, they will let YOU access the Internet through THEM.

To do this, they need YOU to connect to THEM so they can 1) Measure how much data you are using (kind of like an electric meter) and 2) Make sure you have paid your bill before they let you access the Internet (kind of like how the phone company will shut off your phone at their end if you didn't pay your bill). After your MODEM accesses your ISP, and if your bill is paid, they will then connect that MODEM to their Internet, so you can get data.

OVERVIEW

1. Your computer wants to see what is on Ebay today
2. It sends a request to the router via the Ethernet connection in your house (either wirelessly or via a cable) to "Go get me the Ebay Page"
3. The Router looks at the request and sees that it is for the "Outside world" rather than one of the computers in your house (doesn't really care that it is for ebay...it just wants to know 'THIS NETWORK?' or 'OUTSIDE WORLD?' ). So it passes the request to the MODEM (the thing that connects Your network to the OUTSIDE World) on that particular connection.
4. The MODEM sees that it has got a request to send something to the Internet from the router. It takes the request, translates it into something the ISP understands, and sends it to the ISP
5. The ISP sees that YOUR Modem is wanting to send something on the internet. It checks to see that your bill is paid, and then takes that request and sends it to the Internet.
6. Various other Routers on the internet see to whom the message is addressed. In your case it was Ebay. They they steer the message to Ebay. (This is very similar to mailing a letter and having the various Post Offices steer the letter to your house, based on the street,city, state, and Zipcode).

Hope this helps a bit ....

DISCLAIMER: I understand that there are MANY more details going on, and I COULD have gotten into all of them, but .... my target audience was a guy that needed a basic "What's going on" to get a high-level understanding of what is happening. Thus I used more common analogies that I thought would be more familiar and helpful to him.
If anyone would like to discuss anything in more detail, please start a new thread, so we don't confuse him.

[Zach O]

That actually helped a lot. Thanks 007. While i do not fully understand differences, I now understand what is going on. I went to WalMart, looked at a few modems, and left. I sent the wife a text telling her to have Century Link bring one of theirs. I'll pay a little extra to avoid another headache while moving.

[theGinsue]

That sounds like the best solution.

Aside from the wireless aspect, I deal with computers and networking for a living but when I have to rely on someone else's network that I can't modify, like my connection @ home) I prefer to let them start the dance by leading..I care modify/take over some things later after I've determined that my existing setup is stable.

[68Charger]

That sounds like the best solution.

Aside from the wireless aspect, I deal with computers and networking for a living but when I have to rely on someone else's network that I can't modify, like my connection @ home) I prefer to let them start the dance by leading..I care modify/take over some things later after I've determined that my existing setup is stable.

This is what I was trying to say, but Ginsue did it so much better from the carrier's perspective..

The term is "demarcation point"... the point where anything beyond that the carrier will say is "your problem"... if you buy the modem/router, it's likely the box on the outside of the house. if you buy/lease the modem/router from them- then they have to make it work to the ports/wifi on that device. Unless they're charging really high fees, then it's easier to make it their problem.

I design, build and implement networks for a living- so I CAN configure it, but when I saw what they were willing to charge for the router I said they can have it.

[Half Live]

Depends on the flavor of DSL (yes, there are MANY different versions) In rural areas, Centurylink has been using VDSL2 to get higher throughput at longer distances from their equipment. The last time I checked VDSL2 has like 2 modem/routers available, and Centurylink only allows one.

I'm on VDSL2 in Penrose- get a solid 15Mbps Down/ 900Kbps up in an area that was previously only served by fixed wireless and satellite providers. The throughput depends on how far you are away from their equipment. If it's VDSL2, then get the equipment from Centurylink- you won't save anything significant, and they can't point fingers that it's your problem if it's their equipment.

ETA: There may be more options now: http://www.centurylink.com/static/PD...dem%20List.pdf
(We are "Legacy Qwest" on that list here in Colorado)

I'm using the ZyXel C1000A, and it's been pretty fair- sometimes I have to reboot it- we have lots of wifi devices.

You are almost right. VDSL2 allows for higher speeds at shorter distances. ADSL/ADSL2+ has farther reach but slower speeds. Also Centurylink has 2 VDSL2 modems, C1000A and the C1000Z. As far as I know, the C1000A is the only VDSL2 modem sold at stores like Best Buy and Walmart and they are the same price as you can get from Centurylink.

[trlcavscout]

I bought the netgear DSL modem/router combo and it works great for the speeds I can get. The wireless works awesome on it.

But after dealing with the cum dumpsters at century link I recommend getting their pos gateway. When my wife set up service they told her to buy her own modem, so after I bought the modem I called them for configuration help since I had never messed with stone aged speed internet before, I had to call 4 times before I got someone that would tell me how to configure the modem to work with their service. If you buy your own modem apparently they don't give a shit if it works or not. So a week after I bought the modem it took a dive so I went and bought the better netgear, luckily I had written the info down. But a week later the service quit working so I tested it to their NIU and had no service their so I called them again, they just kept telling me it was my problem and that they could see the modem was working fine. I have a direct cat 5E from the NIU to my modem. Finally a week later I caught a c-link guy down the street so I stopped and asked him and he said ya it's been out for a few days. So I now know when it's down to just wait a week or so and they will fix it. In short they are no help with any problems at all if you have your own modem.

[Zach O]

Well, she did'nt listen, not surprised. She went to Best Buy and bought a modem and a router. Sure hope it works.