Talktalk

[Tom]

My non-computer savvy mate has talktalk broadband, unfortunately he has been given a modem that seems to routinely disconnect itself. A google on the subject reveals that this problem is not uncommon, and there appears to be no solution.

Its connected by ethernet, and I have a feeling that it would be simpler to just buy a modem that works, and replace it.

So is this possible? Its ADSL, via a microfilter on the phone connection. Can I just buy him any half decent modem for it, bung it the username and password, and it'll work?

How about wireless? Is there a modem that is also a wireless transmitter thingy? He also has a laptop computer, it would be nice if he could have both his desktop PC and his laptop using the same connection. Is this possible?

 

[Overdriven]

A new modem would work, as long as you copy all the modem settings over. (So there's nothing different in config) Wireless isn't my hobby, but I _think_ it can be done. So yeah, a wireless NIC on the laptop and the wireless modem should behave.

 

[nath]

Really all you need is a Netgear DG834G. It's a Wireless Modem/Router. Simply unplug the phone cable from the old router and plug it in to this new one. Do the same with the ethernet cable and follow the instructions to config the modem. It's not difficult - the only thing you may not be obvious is changing the VPI and VCI to 0 and 38 respectively. Sometimes netgear comes with them set as 8 and 35.

After that, setting up wireless is pretty straight forward too.

 

[Tom]

Thanks for the help on this, I got the Netgear thing today and set it up, it was a doddle. His desktop PC and his laptop are now connected to the interwebs