PPPOE and Remote connections

[jacauc]

Hi,

I've been reading here and there about Neotel, and can't seem to find a definite answer for two concerns I have before signing up.

1) No PPPOE support? Is that correct? Would Rev A have PPPOE support?
2) Can I remotely connect from the outside in, like with VNC or Remote Desktop and the likes using DDNS?

I believe I can request them to open all my incoming ports, which would be fine if I can still use the current NAT setup using my linksys wireless router and PPPOE. If it doesn't support PPPOE, then I suppose it's not really possible to use NAT for the connection.

Any comments?
Thanks

 

[HavocXphere]

The E in pppoe stands for ethernet. It doesn't have ethernet (at the moment).

I'm not sure whether one can simulate a pppoe link over usb...

I don't think the neotel devices are NAT'd...doesn't make much sense with only 1 PC connected.

 

[jacauc]

Thanks, Jip knew that... just didn't know if they have an ethernet modem. is the new revision modem PPPOE?
I have 4 PCs in the house, which is part of the reason why I use NAT... that, and the fact that it's fairly secure with minimal maintenance... Just the occasional port forward for a new application.

Would definitely sign up once they have that!

edit: ...oh... and I can put my linksys and the modem (for iburst which i'm currently on) in the best spot inside the house where I get the strongest signal... which is why i like PPPOE

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Well the Neotel signal is far superior to iBubbles. I'm equidistant from both iBubbles to the East and Neotel the West of my pace. My Neotel gets 3 out of 4 bars for signal strength with its standard device, my iBubbles has what looks like an Elephant anal probe to boost its signal yet it under performs and I get about 20-40% signal strength.

 

[jacauc]

Good to know! Sucks that they don't have an ethernet modem though

 

[chubster]

I think you are confusing PPPoE for something else. Point-to-Point over Ethernet is used when you want to make the authentication from your client machine on your local network directly over your "modem" that is set in bridged mode from Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) to ADSL (ANSI T1.413-1998 Issue 2). This is useful in situations where Telkom resells their service. When you buy an account from another company other than Telkom, they are just reselling Telkom's own service.

Now with MTN and Vodacom they have something called APN to switch between your end point providers. You initialize the modem to connect to a different APN. Mweb and Kulula resells MTN, Vodacom.

Yes you use PPP but to differentiate between your providers (APN) you initialize the modem (vodacom: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IP","internet";
), nothing is being passed over Ethernet. Now the same applies to the CDMA network. Your device is registered on their network because the RUIM (SIM) is built in. There is no username and password, just the command to initiate a connect ATDT #777 (CDMA) ATDT *99***1#
(GSM).

The question you should be asking is, will I be getting a router with a built-in modem for CDMA 2000 EV-DO/Rev A? Or optional a Wireless Access Point (AP) added to the first option. Just helping you out If you Really Really want PPPoE, then you need a router with ADSL + CDMA 2000 support, because it only makes sense to have PPPoE on ADSL modems set to bridged mode, which effectively turns the "modem" into a bridge and not a modem/router any more.

 

[jacauc]

Wow, ok, thanks for the detailed explanation!

So...will there be an external "interface" with an IP, or is it a completely different protocol that communicates with the other side?
From some of the pictures I saw of the Rev A, it seems like this will be an 802.11x wireless router with the modem builtin.

I'm wondering if a linksys wireless router exists that supports USB and CDMA. (where the current version of the modem can plug into)

The reason I like NAT is because of it's easy to use setup and security. The last thing I want to do is plug a modem directly into my PC, as I always disable the firewall on my PC itself.

I don't necessarily NEED to use PPPOE, I was just looking for a way to plug the new device into my Linksys Router (DD-WRT firmware) and have a setup that's as secure and easy to maintain as NAT.

Sounds like the Rev A would do that all in one, but then I'd have to do WDS between the linksys AP and the Rev A device.

Guess I'm just looking for something Generic which uses common protocols... not some vendor specific proprietary protocol which cannot co-exist with everything else on my network without major hassles. I want a clean setup using standard commonly supported protocols... so that if I decide to run some custom firmware on one of my devices or something like that, then it will just support it.

I hate having to install a CD from a vendor to get a modem to connect... like with iBurst if installed using USB, it installs all kinds of other bloated software, and screensavers etc. Thats why i'd rather struggle a bit, but get it to work in the cleanest way possible