ADSL modem

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GPSJane

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It seems as if Telkom have blown another of my modems. I am not sure whether to curse or thank them though because secretly I am glad to be rid of the crappy D-Link DSL-2500u that I bought 6 months ago.

I need a replacement, however, so does anyone here have a suggestion?

I found a possibility; a TP-Link http://www.tp-link.dk/products/details/?model=TD-8616 but I am worried that I will regret this purchase as much as the D-Link.

Why is there such a dearth of ADSL modems?
 
GPSJane said:
... I am not sure whether to curse or thank them though because secretly I am glad to be rid of the crappy D-Link DSL-2500u that I bought 6 months ago.
Click to expand...

Why so?

I've got them installed all over without problems bar one lightning strike victim.
 
MickZA said:
Why so?

I've got them installed all over without problems bar one lightning strike victim.
Click to expand...

What about the http server that does not respond? I sometimes have to go back and click the submit button 20 times to get a form submitted. The fact that each setup is several pages rather than tabs or all in one page just makes it worse.

In addition the firmware can't handle more than connection setup even though it gives you the option to add as many as you like. (Only one is enabled of course)
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Looks like a decent barebones modem. Affordable too and TP-link products from my experience are pretty good (I have 2 TP-Link routers and a switch).

Local distributor: http://www.dbg.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=1_55_57&products_id=736

Reviews on NewEgg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...rue&Keywords=(keywords)&Page=1#scrollFullInfo
Click to expand...

Thanks. Very inexpensive so if it gets blown again I won't be so upset.

One of the reviews mentioned a slow http interface, which makes me worry this is really the D-Link 2500u in a different skin.
 
GPSJane said:
Thanks. Very inexpensive so if it gets blown again I won't be so upset.

One of the reviews mentioned a slow http interface, which makes me worry this is really the D-Link 2500u in a different skin.
Click to expand...

It is not the same as the D-link, may share some similar components but definitely not running the same firmware. I am tempted to get one these now, I also keep my routing and adsl separate and currently running a cheapie Tenda modem which hasn't given me a days issues.
 
GPSJane said:
What about the http server that does not respond? I sometimes have to go back and click the submit button 20 times to get a form submitted. The fact that each setup is several pages rather than tabs or all in one page just makes it worse.

In addition the firmware can't handle more than connection setup even though it gives you the option to add as many as you like. (Only one is enabled of course)
Click to expand...

You could have a point if you're playing with the settings all the time.

We just put them into bridge mode and hang them off a IPCop or similar firewall where they just work ... and work ... and work :)
 
Seconding the DSL-2500U being a terrible router/modem.

Mine began exhibiting slow UI issues within 3 months of purchase, but I blew it off as being a result of my updating the firmware. After later rolling it back to its stock firmware when it began exhibiting worse issues, I realised it mightn't have been the firmware update.
DHCP clients getting dropped, PPPoE sessions getting dropped for no reason, for a while an inability to sync despite another modem syncing just fine and the line exhibiting excellent SNR/attenuation, where the lack-of-sync issue resolved itself after two or three days, just as we were about to order a new modem.

At some point the router began stalling when the slightest bit of activity would be put across it. Torrenting is a surefire way to get it to go from line-speed download speeds to less than 100kb/s total throughput on a good day.

It might've been cheap back when we got it (R150 from Takealot, R250 from the rip-off store we had to get it from locally out of desperation), but now it seems to go for R300+ everywhere online.


Anyway. The TP-Link linked above - what's the warranty on that thing? I don't want another one-year-wonder that becomes unusable just after its warranty expires.

tl;dr also looking for a replacement for our DSL-2500U. Warranty on the TP-Link is how long? Any other suggestions for inexpensive but durable modems?
 
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MickZA said:
Check out Tenda at Scoop, this unit @ R120 excl means you can buy two and have a spare - http://www.scoopdistribution.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=1179.

I can't comment on the quality personally but I also can't see Scoop marketing dogs :)
Click to expand...

That is exactly the modem I have, works like a charm. Just don't expect much as it is ONLY a modem, it does not dial PPPoE connections on it's own and this has to be done from a separate device. This is ideal for my set up.
 
I am glad it runs different firmware. I don't play with the settings unless I have to but every time the Telkom line goes down we have to do troubleshooting which means trying other accounts etc. What a mission.

I would actually be happy with a one-year wonder at this point because at least I would get one year's decent use for R200.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
That is exactly the modem I have, works like a charm. Just don't expect much as it is ONLY a modem, it does not dial PPPoE connections on it's own and this has to be done from a separate device. This is ideal for my set up.
Click to expand...

I might consider this because I can dial the PPPoE connection from the router and it would be the cheapest option. Although I might prefer to have a modem that can do more. I might even consider buying one with a 4 port switch so I can plug my VOIP phone in directly.
 
that dlink 2500u has been serving me for years now. albeit in bridge mode, but I have never touched it again since initial setup. great device for my purposes
 
Downstream data rates up to 24Mbps, upstream data rates up to 3.5Mbps
Click to expand...

I think I'm sold on this TP-Link modem, actually. We mightn't have 10mbps or faster DSL out here in Napier yet, but if Mweb's accounts still work the way they did way back when, our 4mbps uncapped account ought to provide as high an upstream as the line is capable of supporting, and that in full duplex.
 
GPSJane said:
It seems as if Telkom have blown another of my modems. I am not sure whether to curse or thank them though because secretly I am glad to be rid of the crappy D-Link DSL-2500u that I bought 6 months ago.

I need a replacement, however, so does anyone here have a suggestion?

I found a possibility; a TP-Link http://www.tp-link.dk/products/details/?model=TD-8616 but I am worried that I will regret this purchase as much as the D-Link.

Why is there such a dearth of ADSL modems?
Click to expand...
You can pickup that TP-Link for R195 VAT incl from Uniterm-Direct (DBG guys) on BidOrbuy. They are in Germiston so you can pick it up from their shop and save R57 on shipping costs. Comes with a 2-year warranty as well which I can confirm Uniterm honors.
 
Sweet, was wondering about the warranty since I couldn't find any warranty info for it aside from Newegg's 2-year.
Collecting it would be a bit expensive, though, seeing as it's a 1,452km drive ;p
 
ElecEng said:
that dlink 2500u has been serving me for years now. albeit in bridge mode, but I have never touched it again since initial setup. great device for my purposes
Click to expand...

Have also found it to be very stable since I bought it about 3 years ago.
Had it in bridge mode for about 2 years, then changed to half-bridge - with some difficulty.

What I want to know is whether this TP-Link has the bridge / half-bridge options, like the D-Link does ?
If so, would maybe buy this TP-Link as a backup modem, just in case the D-Link packs up.

(Specifically these : PPPoE pass-through ; Bridge PPPoE Frames Between WAN and Local Ports which as far as I know is what give you the option of changing from/between bridge & half-bridge.)
 
It supports PPPoE pass-through as far as I can tell, but don't know if it supports bridging of WAN packets (which essentially means the modem could be authing a PPPoE session and computers on the network could still auth their own sessions via it if they wanted).

It does have multiple VC support, though - up to 8, I believe.
 
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