Network Question - non-iburst devices

[BeatJunkie]

Hi

The iBurst site mentions that you can share a connection with others 'Yes. The desktop modem provides a broadband link to a local network which may be a traditional wired LAN or a wireless LAN using an 802.11 access point.'

What I would like to know is the following:

a) Does the initial connection have to be with an iBurst desktop modem? ie: can I have an iBurst account and use a Billion wireless router and still have a network as mentioned above.

b) Would a LinkSys wireless G router (the same one that Vodacom distribute for their 3G packages) work better than a Billion router because of the WAN settings?

c) How would I configure the router to connect to iBurst on this network - would it be in router mode or in bridged mode?

d) if this is a wireless network and a LAN network, how would that need to be configured seeing as iBurst doesn't allow SIM logins and I'm not using an iBurst modem anyway - does not using the iBurst modem make any difference?

Surely once you have an iBurst account, the amount of machines on your network is up to you and the account can't 'detect' a network? I'm thinking that the only thing it affects is your speed and cap...

Anyone?

 

[Gatecrasher]

a) Does the initial connection have to be with an iBurst desktop modem? ie: can I have an iBurst account and use a Billion wireless router and still have a network as mentioned above.

No, you need an Iburst modem.

b) Would a LinkSys wireless G router (the same one that Vodacom distribute for their 3G packages) work better than a Billion router because of the WAN settings?

I don't have experience of a Billion Router. I use a WRT54GSv4 very sucessfully. The router has a WAN input (into which can you plug the Iburst modem) and you can configure login and password information and MTU settings. The router will also keep the connection alive and provide a firewall.

c) How would I configure the router to connect to iBurst on this network - would it be in router mode or in bridged mode?

Described above. Router mode.

d) if this is a wireless network and a LAN network, how would that need to be configured seeing as iBurst doesn't allow SIM logins and I'm not using an iBurst modem anyway - does not using the iBurst modem make any difference?

Given the answer to (a), not something you have to worry about. The internet connection is shared with whoever is connected to the router, either wired or wireless. The Iburst modem only "sees" the router, not the clients. The clients only "see" the router. Modem and clients do not interact directly.

Surely once you have an iBurst account, the amount of machines on your network is up to you and the account can't 'detect' a network? I'm thinking that the only thing it affects is your speed and cap...

Correct.

 

[BeatJunkie]

Hi Gatecrasher

Thanks for your reply

"No, you need an Iburst modem"

I'm still a bit confused about this ^^ - I assume one needs the iBurst modem as the access point to decipher/relay the signal from the tower to the rest of the network?

If this is the case, then everything has suddenly become very clear to me - same concept as 3G really...

Thanks Gatecrasher

 

[Gatecrasher]

Yeah, the Iburst modem is a proprietary device manufactured by Kyocera. It is an 802.20 device that runs on a unique radio spectrum. So not compatible with 802.11. It does connect seemlessly to regular LAN and 802.11 wireless networks but directly (ie plugged, not wirelessly) via a router. As far as I know there are no third party modems that could connect directly to the Iburst network. Each modem has a unique ID number that is linked to each Iburst client account.

 

[BeatJunkie]

Exellent. I had figured as much, but was slightly thrown by the concept of 'unbundled iBurst packages' - guess I should have read between the lines

Thanks for the info Gatecrasher - I couldn't get any kind of clarity on the iBurst CATS site or the iBurst FAQ

Have a good one