Calling all UK Freeserve broadbanders on OSX...
 

I need some "newbie" advice. After years of waiting I've finally got broadband - yippee. But Freeserve have supplied me a completely horrible USB modem, which is all they'll support. However, I need to share the connection (with my existing 10 base T Ethernet) between my two OSX Macs and a coupla pcs. Incidentally, Freeserve won't support OSX at all.

Here's the point: I know absolutely nothing about broadband/ADSL networking and I'm unsupported by Freeserve's techies the moment I ditch their modem (let alone dare to use OSX). If I rush out now & buy a 4 port router/modem how do I set it up to see Freeserve? Surely I can't be the first to try Freeserve broadband with OSX..... any recommendations?

Cheers
Dave

Assuming the DSL modem from Freeserve has an ethernet connection to your Mac, then all you need is a router to put in between and set up the following connection sequence using CAT5 cable:- DSL modem > Router > Macs & PCs

You'll need to configure the router to connect to your Internet Provider and to dole out IP addresses via DHCP (most of them use a web-based configuration utility - it'll come with instructions), configure your PCs and Macs to receive IPs by DHCP

It should be reasonably straightforward, and shouldn't require any kind of support commitment from Freeserve to OSX, since you're connecting to their server using the router, not a Mac.

That won't work for BigDave because his new broadband ISP only supports a USB DSL Modem, so it's going to be hooked to his Mac/PC directly via USB. Then it's ethernet over USB. Blech. Are there any routers out there that have USB ports?

Now, BigDave, I don't know if you can just pop your own DSL Router (of your choice) in there instead of the USB one. I suspect you can.

But one thing (I think) you can do is, assuming you get the USB modem working for your Mac, you can then turn on "Internet Sharing" on your Mac (atached to the USB modem), and then hang an thernet hub off the ethernet port. Then that Mac should provide DHCP addresses for any other computers you hang off the hub, providing the conduit for internet access. This is just a theory. Hopefully someone will come along and shoot it down/confirm it's posibility.

Thanks guys - will report back after the weekend. I'm going to take a gamble & buy a router/modem anyway, but it'll be next week before I can get back to the office & play.

A complete change of subject: I love djarran's signature, but Yellow's is slightly more inscrutable - eeek!

Cheerz n beerz
BigDave

Is your DSL over analog or ISDN, that matters when you buy a modem. There are different modems for both types.

I've got an existing ISDN line, but the DSL is on a new line, just installed. Presumably that'll be analog?

DSL, DIGITAL subscriber line.

okay, okay, Yellow. I told you I was a newb at this! <blushes>

Anyway, we all deserve an explanation of your weird & wacky signature......

Sorry, it's retarded early here. Insomnia sux. I didn't mean that in a nasty way. I've never heard of analog DSL. The A in ADSL is for asynchronis. But anyway, I'm thinking that you can probably get away with any old DSL router/modem. At worst, you should be able to try it and then take it back if it doesn't work, right?

As for my signature.. The Boston Bruins are an NHL team that just lost in the playoffs to the Montréal Canadians [Habs], so the Bruins are out, the Habs are in. I can't tell you how many times these 2 teams have seen each other in the playoffs over the history of the NHL. It's mind bogglingly high.. and let's just say, that no matter how good the Bruins are (or how bad the Habs are), they've lost to the Canadians way more often then not. Hence, the curse. And there's a lot of strip clubs in Montréal, and it's north of the U.S. Hope that clears it up!

Not to detract from the skills of the Habs. They've won more Stanley Cups then any other NHL team. Waaaaaaay more. But the Bruins haven't won one since the 1971-72 season. So I'm a little upset when they get knocked out of the playoffs. <sniff>

Hayne is going to laugh at me now. :)

Can I join in, here?

Single user iMac on Freeserve dial-up - OS 10.3.3 -unsupported by Freeserve.

Freeserve rebranding as Wanado and offering a cheap flavour of Broadband for little more than my current dial-up fee. I've been hanging off going to Broadband because of the need to change my email address (unless you know otherwise?). This cheap offer seems attractive to me ...BUT no support for OS X.

I gather that once set up , probably won't need support, But can any OSX and Freeserve Broadband user confirm this? and run down what control panels/system prefs need to be tweaked?
I believe a USB modem is part of the package, I know that ethernet routers have advantages, but as a single Computer user, with no need of another, can I make do with Wanadoos supplied modem.
TA!

Just get an Ethernet router, all you need to do is enter a couple of bits of info password etc into the router (usually via a browser interface) and off you go. I signed up with BT who wanted to sell me a usb router, There are no drivers needed on an Ethernet router.

Can you reccomend a suitable router then?
Does this replace the usb modem Freeserve/Wanado will supply? or will it daisy chain to this modem - or the modem to the router? or discard the modem altogether?

I'm just wanting to get this going with as little expense as possible, and if anyone has successfully utilised the 'free' modem, can they give me some pointers, please?
Ta!

Sussed it!
 

Sorry for the delay in reporting back. I broke my ankle playing football with my son. Anyway, IT'S DONE. I am now online & surfing across my LAN using a cheap 4 port modem/router.

The modem interface (browser driven) was horribly complex. For a non-techie like me, the hardest part was learning all the new acronyms. PPPoE, NAT, VPR, etc etc. Yeccch. It's probably easier on a top-end modem/router.

The only information you need is the ISPs DNS server (preferred & alternative) and the encapsulation method (in Freeserve/Wannadoo's case: PPoA). Obviously your username & password too. Type it in the relevant fields and away you'll go. To their credit, Freeserve/Wannadoo were cool with supplying the details.

It won't be much of a surprise to hear that the minute my network was online the Macs (including my PB) all just got on with it without any need to furkle around in System Preferences. My pcs were a little more stubborn but nothing too dramatic.

So: thanks for all the help.
BrendanK: The supplied Wannadoo USB modem WILL work on your Mac. The install CD contains a Mac partition for both Classic and OSX. Go for it - any probs report back here.

Cheers
BigDave

Good Man, Dave!

I'm pretty sure I'd convinced myself that it MUST be possible to utilise their kit, and as a single-user, a router seemed more than I needed to pay for. Scotsmen? Tight?

Work and Weekend rule out doing anything till next week then its Wanado-do do for me!
cheers
Brendan

BT's stuff works fine on Mac OS X too (except it's rather easy to beat them on price :)) Their support had at least heard of Apple which was also good.
Scotsmen tight? Never! See that Holyrood ... :)

Cheers, Brendan.
If you get stuck, email me on <davidATdfdesign.biz> - meanwhile, look forward to blisteringly fast downloads!

Dave


edited the email address so it won't be picked up by a bot as easily, just replace the AT with an '@'. -- CRA

BigDave, I wouldn't suggest leaving your email address hanging out there for a spiderbot to harvest for a SPAMmer.

Yelloow - eeeek! Too late now..... <braces himself for shedloads of junk>

Thanks anyway, sure won't do it again. Oh, and I never said thanks for your explanation of your sig. Good stuff. Though, of course, on this side of the Atlantic we don't have anything like the NHL. I'll have to make do with cheering on my soccer team.

Well the Wanadoo parcel arrived - I registered late Thursday night - and the kit arrived Monday , only nobody in to accept it , so picked up from depot, quick bite to eat, and set about loading Speedtouch drivers - why have I got two green lights? 'cos you're online.
No apparent probs loading drivers and seems happy with 10.3.3!!

I appreciate that techheads and those who have the need to network a few machines will favour routers, but as a lone imac user, the supplied modem seems fine to me.

Thanks to all.
Brendan

BrendanK - wa-heyyyy! Welcome to the world of decent speed online. No more fretting about those pesky large OS updates - and wait till you discover BitTorrent/Azareus!

Yeah, the Speedtouch is a doddle. Mine's going spare now cos I went the, err, "router route". Might be worth a punt on Ebay.....

Dave

Did I speak too soon? Advice, please. Firewalls - Don't quite grasp the concept of 3rd party software solutions and modems/routers with firewalls built in?

SO... despite Broadband, I've been disconnecting via Internet connect,
but iMac is left to sleep (hate the start-up, login delay),

on returning to mac and trying to reconnect, I either get a loop revealed in the menu bar when Internet Connect repeatedly advises <<Disconnecting...Disconnecting...Disconnecting...>>
but it never does and I have to switch off at the wall
OR
I click Internet Connect icon in Menu Bar, screen greys out, multi language warning to restart...
Is this a "Kernel Panic", what causes and why should it appear only after USB Broadband install...MMMM....Those Bl***y router guys might have been right, after all

By the by, I've previously had all sorts of Macs, last a Blue/white G3, is there a restart button on the imac ? or keyboard combination? Do I recollect Griffin making a USB device that doubled as a power on/off - I DO hate guddling around at the back of the dome to power up!!!
Imac 512 G4 800MHz OS10.3.3

Brendan

Don't really understand your firewall problems. Mainly because I've never had a prob with one.

Difficulties with Internet Connect going "Disconnect... disconnect" ad naseum can be solved without rebooting. Check this thread:http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=23209

Finally, it's quite rare for modems or their drivers to bring down your system by themselves. Mac OS X is usually on the ball, and prevents this from happening. However, I did have similar problem with a printer where the USB cable was busted and shorting out, and with a wireless mouse whose batteries conked out. Check your connections, and make sure your modem is really on external power.

I may be way out to lunch here, but after you get the new router hooked up and all that, will your ISP let you have enough IP addresses to allow that many computers on-line at once?

I can see everyone in your office with little flags on top of their cubes to signify whether they're on-line and trading times and forgetting to take down the flag when they're done and so on.

I ask because my ISP only allows 2 IP addresses per connection - I haven't tried to get more but I know they used to only allow one and a second computer would get an error when trying to connect.

Take care, Margaret

The nature of this type of router (most have DHCP servers) is to provide IP addresses for any computer hooked up to it. As far as your ISP is concerned, there is only 1 IP addresses accessing the internet through their connection, and that is everything coming from your router. However, behind the router, you can have as many computer as the router can provide IP addresses for, all sharing the same internet connection. You should note that more computers behind the router means a slower internet connection, since bandwidth is shared.

oh.

Margaret

very helpful discussion... so Wanadoo broadband is compatible with OS 10.3.

I think I'll sign up but I wonder - BrendanK - have you managed to resolve your Firewall issues? Have you experienced any other issues with Modems/connections?

Broadband question
 

Hi, My brother's been pestering me to get BT broadband. Anyway, just got a quick question - you can get combined broadband modems/routers right?

I've seen ADSL routers about, is this what I think it is? an all-in-one jobbie?

Got my iMac and our XP PC connected with a crossover Ethernet cable at the moment, and we both use dial-up (one at a time).

I was under the impression I could just have the modem/router plugged into my existing phone socket, a patch cable to the router for the iMac, and a short crossover cable added to the end of the existing inter-room crossover cable (to un-cross it) to the router. Apart from filters I was under the impression that that was all there is to it.

Rob.

Robarmo -
You're right. That IS all you need to worry about. If your current network is ok then you'll share the new broadband connection across it with your router.

A word of caution, though: all the talk of firewalls is cos your machines will be permanently online (and therefore are at risk of port scanning).

Thanks BigDave,

It was just the talk about buying a router and plugging your ISP-supplied modem into it. It just made me question whether I was right about the all-in-one devices being available. I think they're called "gateways" although that may just apply to the ones with an intergrated wireless basestation.

As for Firewalls, I currenty have the software Firewalls active in Panther and XP - however, I assume the hardware one in the router will make these redundant? Can I leave them all on or will that just cause problems?

Thanks.

Rob.

Robarmo -
Just to clarify.... when I signed up for broadband I was sent a rinky little USB modem to hook up. Trouble is, finding a router that'll accept a USB modem connection is tricky. Just have a look on Ebay.

So I mothballed the USB modem and bought a modem/router (Netgear do a well pretty one) for around £50 on Ebay. One end plugs into the phoneline, all your ethernet cables plugs fit into the back of it. That's your gateway - aka modem/router.

As for the firewalls, I worry about my PCs more than my Macs. I run Zonealarm (basic install is free) on em, and even with the XP firewalls turned on it still blocks a LOT of rubbish. Let's face it, if it's got "Micro$oft" on it it's got huge gaping security holes!

Hope this helps,
BD

Thanks.

It might not be correct anymore, but a few months back I was looking at signing up to BT Yahoo! Broadband. They had an offer on - you got so much off for signing up online and you had the option of supplying your own modem, which saved you more. (This doesn't apply to their new basic package as far as I know - they only support the supplied USB modem).

That was the option I was planning to take.

I was looking at some Netgear stuff on Amazon last night actually.

Zonealarm, I've heard of that - think they use it in Uni. I'll look into that, thanks.

I know what you mean about the MS Firewall, the free spyware scanner offered by Earthlink found 3 pieces of adware on our XP box. I only ever go on the thing to download critical updates and virus definitions!

Anyway thanks for all your help.

Rob