Question about DSL modems

[Taera]

I'm getting AT&T dsl Friday and I have to buy a modem. Will I be
ok with a generic modem off eBay or is there a specific brand I should look for? Also will the router I use with my cable modem work with a dsl modem or will I have to get a new one? Thanks.

[jmc]

I couldn't find a current list of supported DSL modems, should give them a call and just ask.

You could also just flat out buy a DSL modem through at&t, or can get a idea on what they use to try and find cheaper.

As for the router, if its just a generic wireless router then it will work with your new DSL.

[Icari]

AT&T as far as i know uses Motorola and Westell modems, Motorola does not make a good modem. Any router will work with the services, but some [not sure which] AT&T will not support and will charge you for support if you need it. If you order a modem from them, it will be random which one you get. Check several websites on the current Motorola modem and you will see plenty of reviews saying they die either during or slightly after warranty expires, I had one from AT&T just do that, but was lucky to get a free replacement anyway.

[Taera]

Ok well I forgot about needing a phone cord so I'm checking monoprice and finding like 3 different varieties of cords (I think they were like 4F4C up to 8F8C?) and specified voice and data so I'm sure I'd buy a data wire but what do the numbers and letters mean?

[Kerberoz]

They make you buy your own modem? +1 more reason to hate ATT.

[GentaiShinigami]

Just got ATT ADSL and the modem (gateway) is a 2WIRE 2701HG-B. It was $100 or 10 payments of $10, but keep in mind it came with 3 single line filters and one dual-line filter, and the gateway itself acts as a router having firewall functions and 4 ethernet out ports on the back as well as wireless capabilities (no N sadly though). If you buy yourself you will have to buy the filters which are ~$20 from ATT so just keep that in mind. If you don't filter it it will probably not work at all or just barely (mine was below dial-up speeds before putting the filters on).

I do have to recommend though that you get cable internet if you can. I had cable internet previously and man DSL is some picky shit, and makes me want to rage. Too long a phone cable going to gateway? Speeds are crap. More than 5-6 things hooked up to the phone lines period? Crappy speeds/cutouts. It's just so finicky, and takes a LOT of effort to get it performing correctly.

All the years I had cable internet I just plugged it in and it was done. Never had to touch it again and never had any problems. The only time it went down was during maintenance on the system at the ISP.

The only advantage to DSL I can see is a somewhat better latency, and not having speed take a hit during primetime hours since you don't share a line with the neighborhood. You have your own dedicated line.

PS: If you have a security system that is monitored and hooked to a phone line you have to buy another special DSL filter for $20 because normal filters won't fit or work with security systems connection. That's $40 worth of filters off the top, and more if you need more than 4 filters + 1 security filter lol.

Oh, and if you run your phone lines anywhere in the house through a surge protector it might break your DSL signal. In this house they had directTV receivers hooked up to telephone lines for the ppv and caller ID, and had those lines ran through surge protectors. If I hook those up even with filters (on both ends I've even tried) it will cause the DSL modem to never sync up. If I hook directly w/o the surge protector things work gravy. I've never seen something so delicate...

[Killgannon]

I worked 2 years in AT&T DSL Tech support.

Any DSL modem will work with the service. HOWEVER, AT&T will not support it. AT&T uses PPPoE for their dsl service, meaning you have to have a user name and password to get in. This is programmed in to work with THEIR modems. You can get around this however as you can easily find their registration site and register an account ahead of time/fake a user name (anything @att.net with any password will get you on, but in a walled garden to a 'your crap is wrong' page, and the registration site) If you buy any DSL modem off the market, it will work. 2Wire's suck their wireless settings leave much to be desired as does the firewall, so pass on that if you can. I had a Zoxel brand modem for a long time and it worked great. You can easily pair this up with your current router just by following your router's guide to setting up a pppoe connection. The term dumb modem comes in around here, its basically JUST a modem with no interface. where as AT&Ts cheaper modem will have a GUI and can cause issues with some routers as it sort of acts like a router itself. I can't really provide the current att registration site as I haven't worked there for over a year, but this was the case of everything when I did work there.

edit: at guy above me: you should have ordered a dry loop dsl, meaning they come out and dedicate one specific phone jack for your modem. It will ONLY be for DSL and will not have a dial tone, nor interact with your other line, it costs a little more, but saves a world of headaches

[Eldoras]

I worked 2 years in AT&T DSL Tech support.

Any DSL modem will work with the service. HOWEVER, AT&T will not support it. AT&T uses PPPoE for their dsl service, meaning you have to have a user name and password to get in. This is programmed in to work with THEIR modems. You can get around this however as you can easily find their registration site and register an account ahead of time/fake a user name (anything @att.net with any password will get you on, but in a walled garden to a 'your crap is wrong' page, and the registration site) If you buy any DSL modem off the market, it will work. 2Wire's suck their wireless settings leave much to be desired as does the firewall, so pass on that if you can. I had a Zoxel brand modem for a long time and it worked great. You can easily pair this up with your current router just by following your router's guide to setting up a pppoe connection. The term dumb modem comes in around here, its basically JUST a modem with no interface. where as AT&Ts cheaper modem will have a GUI and can cause issues with some routers as it sort of acts like a router itself. I can't really provide the current att registration site as I haven't worked there for over a year, but this was the case of everything when I did work there.

edit: at guy above me: you should have ordered a dry loop dsl, meaning they come out and dedicate one specific phone jack for your modem. It will ONLY be for DSL and will not have a dial tone, nor interact with your other line, it costs a little more, but saves a world of headaches

So very true... You CAN use any other modem as long as its a DSL/ADSL (liek the ZOOM ADSL Modems) but whenever shit needs to be updated, it is HUGELY F**KING ANNOYING.... I can't stress that enough... And unless you know how to update and flash a modem, which you may have to do using other companies, just don't. No I don't work for AT&T, yes I have their dry-loop service, and yes I hate them. But honestly as a word of advice, save yourself the pain and irritation and go with the 2Wire. In a span of 2years, I've had to flash my Zoom ADSL twice AND re-setup everything 4 times.... So it was not worth saving the $40.

To the above poster: the AT&T site for registration is still up (the old one) and is still cached in a google search. I don't have the exact address on me (it was on my old PC whose data I haven't transferred over yet) but yea I had to go through that site to create my info. If you do forget it when using an off-brand, can always call tech support and they can tell you what it is.

[Killgannon]

http://attreg.att.net/ then

also good luck if you decide to call tech support, it will be VERY rare that you get a competent rep there.