Signing up for ADSL

[Biffy]

Hi,

I am a total noob and know nothing about ADSL so please don't make too much of me. I really need help signing up because there are questions on the form that I just don't know the answers to. Please help:

1. USB or Ethernet modem? I am taking the bundled 2 year contract option and scoring the free modem. Is there any advantage to USB over Ethernet or vice versa?

Do I require the installation and support of a PPPoE software client? I don't know what that is, so I sure as heck don't know if I need one.

Any help would really be appreciated!

 

[LethalChicken]

#1 Don't take the 2 year bundled package .. it's not worth being tied up with telkom for 2 years ....

You can buy a decent moded for about R800 (USB & ethernet) ...

USB will be very much plug and play with the suppplied software ...
Ethernet will be more compatible with other OS ...eg: if you want a linux firewall I'd recommend ethernet ...

If you will be connecting just one PC with windows to your modem .. no you don't need support ... you plug it in and set it up similarly to a dial up modem ... that easy ... it's another option on the network setup wizard ...

and lastly DO NOT TAKE THE 24 MONTH CONTRACT !!!!! ... if you do nobody here will speak to you and they wan't come to your birthday party []


We are Telkom - Resistance is Futile - You will be Assimilated

 

[Carnajo]

Don't worry about the installation and support of PPPoE question too much, the installation is real easy.

 

[arf9999]

DON'T take the contract. A good Ethernet router is available for less than R800 and a USB modem for less than R300.

<i>Sold my soul to the great Satan: Telkom ADSL. Yes they're evil but still better than Sentech</i>

 

[stoke]

Biffy -

- EtherNet :: you need a free network card available in which to plug in the modem's network cable. If you are running a small home network, then you will need 2 network cards on your pc. Advantage = The modem then runs like any other network component, and windows has been handling hubs/routers/switches using this method for eons and it works properly.

- USB :: A free USB port on your computer is required. Prefrably USB 2.0. The USB drivers then imitate a network point so that the modem looks like it's just another network device. I have problems with USB when my computer is really busy, then the USB device is sometimes ignored or given lower priority and that means that the ADSL network is not accessable. This is Window's fault though, that may have been fixed since my last problems.

I also vote that you do NOT sign the 2 year contract - your choice though.