[nelliott]

So we've just hit our trigger level for ADSL (Yay!), and will likely be Broadband enabled in the next couple of months.

So can anyone help me out with what I'll need to get my iBook hooked up?

Any particular routers that play nicely with OSX (and Xbox live - if possible)? Any ISP's more mac friendly?

Thanks!

[Jonesy]

I have a Netgear DG814. Works very well with both of my OS X machines.

I am with BT who are not very OSX friendly but it is up and running and has been since the big problems I had getting it going in the first place.

I expect other ISPs will be better but they all use BT lines and I think their technicians so ultimately there is little choice. At least you may be able to leave problems with a more helpful technical support department.

Demon advertise OS X support. Could try them.

[ShotgunEd]

get a wireless router, or at least one that will allow you to plug a wireless card in, the only better thing than broadband is wireless broadband.

[fulmer]

they may want you to get a USB dsl modem. DON'T! They suck to no end. Make sure you are given (or pay for) an ethernet modem.

[Peter]

Originally posted by nelliott:
So we've just hit our trigger level for ADSL (Yay!), and will likely be Broadband enabled in the next couple of months.

So can anyone help me out with what I'll need to get my iBook hooked up?

Any particular routers that play nicely with OSX (and Xbox live - if possible)? Any ISP's more mac friendly?

Thanks!

as for the best ISP - Nildram are rated _high_ well thats what we use, for more details www.adslguide.org

[nelliott]

Thanks for the responses guys

Originally posted by ShotgunEd:
get a wireless router, or at least one that will allow you to plug a wireless card in, the only better thing than broadband is wireless broadband.

Actually I'd completely forgotten about going wireless (had never considered it whilst on dial-up). That definately sounds like the way to go.

Would I need a router as well as a WAP, or can I get one combined? Are there any cheaper options than the Apple Basestation?

thanks again

[Jonesy]

Yes, do not take a bundled USB ADSL modem. I had the BT Alcatel modem. Drivers were crap and caused unlimited kernel panics. The routers don't need drivers and work very well.

[Mediaman_12]

Originally posted by Jonesy:
I expect other ISPs will be better but they all use BT lines and I think their technicians so ultimately there is little choice.

Since BT got split up this isn't technically true.
They are all separate companies (all with BT in the name to just confuse things).
1. There is the ISP, for BT this = BT OpenWorld, This is completely separate from
2. BT WholeSale. These are the people who 'sell' the ADSL lines to ALL ISP's. When you phone these people they refer to all other companys as Service Providers or ISP's (even BT OpenWorld, who they never refer to by name).
3. Then there is the engineers that may have to install the equipment. These guys work for yet another BT company.

It's a real mess. If you can avoid any form of BT (i.e. with a Cable Co) go with that. If you have no choice Go with any other ISP than BT OpenWorld. They accidentally unsubscribed over 3,000 customers just before Christmass (sending 'sory you are leaving' notes and engineers round to collect equipment). Any company that is that incompetent dosn't deserve any customers.

[Angus_D]

I'll add a little recommendation for the SpeedTouch range of ethernet routers from DSLsource.

[littlegreenspud]

All I can say is you Lucky B@stard!

[Angus_D]

Well I'm on one of the LLU exchanges supported by Bulldog, so I could get up to 4mbps. Unfortunately I'm just on standard 512kbps from PlusNet.

[nelliott]

Originally posted by Mediaman_12:

It's a real mess. If you can avoid any form of BT (i.e. with a Cable Co) go with that. If you have no choice Go with any other ISP than BT OpenWorld. They accidentally unsubscribed over 3,000 customers just before Christmass (sending 'sory you are leaving' notes and engineers round to collect equipment). Any company that is that incompetent dosn't deserve any customers.

I hear ya brutha

Unfortunately its a small miracle we are even getting ADSL, so I'm just grateful to have the prospect of some form of broadband. Been on dial-up for far too long.

[Jordan]

Just moved to the UK from Tokyo.

I miss the 12Mb ADSL connection that I had there already. Also it cost less than half of the 1Mb connection here.

Anyway, on to your queries.....

I had no problem at all hooking up with Telewest (aka Blueyonder) and they did seem to be Mac (OSX) friendly. Agree with everyone else and you should definitely avoid USB only modems. (And routers are even better than modems as they don't require drivers) Realise that this is cable and not ADSL at Blueyonder.

My connection came with a SURFboard Cable Modem.

Plugged it directly into my Airport base station. Went up and enabled airport on my Cube and Powerbook. Presto. Internet!!

Couldn't be easier.

Only thing is that you have to submit all your MAC addresses which you can do online so it's not a huge issue.

That was my experience. Not sure if it will help.

Cheers,

Jordan

[ja]

useful tips at this thread

I would say only consider an ethernet based modem and definitely look at ADSL Nation
[no I don't work for them but mine works too well]
they have a 'gateway' which is 4-port ethernet and an 'x-modem' which is just one if that is all you need
I think they come BT-ready out of the box
basically if you go ethernet rather than usb+driver it is irrelavant whether BT is mac os x friendly or not
then if you plug your base station in you are wireless-ready to go

[vinster]

I work at Claranet and of course recommend them. For £30/month you get ADSL, 50MB web space, an e-mail account w/ no attachment/inbox size restrictions and unlimited newsgroup access to over 60,000 newsgroups. We also have a dedicated Mac support agent on hand. He's got two G4's running 9 and X. If you're interested send an e-mail to vincent.williams(at)uk.clara.net once your exchange is enabled and I'll arrange an installation for you.

[nelliott]

^^ Okay, bumping this thread up again as I have another question ^^

I've decided I want to go wireless. My question is can I use the Airport Extreme Basestation as my router for connecting to ADSL, or do I need a router / modem + an AEBS to go wireless?

Also, can I use an XBOX through an Airport Extreme Basestation or are they incompatible.

Thanks again

[Diggory Laycock]

Originally posted by nelliott:
^^ Okay, bumping this thread up again as I have another question ^^

I've decided I want to go wireless. My question is can I use the Airport Extreme Basestation as my router for connecting to ADSL, or do I need a router / modem + an AEBS to go wireless?

you will need a router as well as the ABS- an ethernet router - not a USB one.

Also, can I use an XBOX through an Airport Extreme Basestation or are they incompatible.

Thanks again

I don't think the XBox <spit> has a wireless adapter.

you will need to connect that via an ethernet cable to your router.

[mikeplokta]

Originally posted by nelliott:
^^ Okay, bumping this thread up again as I have another question ^^

I've decided I want to go wireless. My question is can I use the Airport Extreme Basestation as my router for connecting to ADSL, or do I need a router / modem + an AEBS to go wireless?

Also, can I use an XBOX through an Airport Extreme Basestation or are they incompatible.

Thanks again

You need three separate items in order to get wireless Internet access over ADSL, but you can get pretty well any combination of two or all three of them in one box.

First, you need an ADSL modem. As others have said, make sure to get an Ethernet one, not USB, as USB ones are unlikely to work with the other components.

Second, you need an Internet router, which will probably include switch and firewall functionality of some kind.

Third, you need a wireless access point, for which an Airport Extreme will do nicely.

So if you're going with the Airport Extreme, you need an ADSL modem and a router, which you can get combined into one box if you want, e.g. the D-Link DSL-504 or the Netgear DG814. If you don't want to use the Airport Extreme, the Netgear DG824M does all three jobs in one box.

[nelliott]

Thanks for the replies.

I think I'll look at getting the netgear router and then get the Airport extreme basestation when (If?) I can afford it.

[mikerally]

Yes, Netgear sells an all in one ADSL Modem/Router/Wireless Basestation - and that will do your job fine.

[Appleman]

Originally posted by Diggory Laycock:
you will need a router as well as the ABS- an ethernet router

I can be wrong, but why do you need a router? My grey ABS works as a router, connected to an ethernet hub and that hub is connected to several Macs via ethernet cable. My TiBook however uses Airport.
I can be wrong, but the ABS already is a router. Even better, it has two ethernet connections, mine has only one.

[Gee4orce]

The current issue of MacUser - actually, it might be about to disappear, so hurry - has a good two page article about the hardware you need to get online with ADSL.

[booboo]

Even if Alcatel make decent routers or decent non-USB modems, don't give them your custom - they don't deserve it for the crappy job they continue to do with the OS X drivers and for the crappy USB frog.

BT don't expressly forbid you to network your connection, they'll just gleefully tell you they don't offer any support for a networked 'home' connection, and slam the phone down on you...

[Gee4orce]

Originally posted by booboo:
Even is Alcatel make decent routers or decent non-USB modems, don't give them your custom - they don't deserve it for the crappy job they continue to do with the OS X drivers and for the crappy USB frog.

BT don't expressly forbid you to network your connection, they'll just gleefully tell you they don't offer any support for a networked 'home' connection, and slam the phone down on you...

This might have changed, because the BT website now contains information about how to share the broadband connection. They seem to positively encourage it !

[cms]

Originally posted by Gee4orce:
This might have changed, because the BT website now contains information about how to share the broadband connection. They seem to positively encourage it !

"Expand Your Horizon
Wireless Network
Access Point
£89.20 ex. VAT
£104.81 inc. VAT
IMPORTANT: This device requires Business 500PLUS, 1000PLUS, or 2000PLUS with an Ethernet router, and cannot be used with Home 500 or Business 500 with a USB modem . When attached to your Ethernet router, the Wireless Network Access Point creates a wireless network capable of connecting 1 to 15 PCs. It can also connect to an existing wired network"



The above information is lifted directly off the BT website. BT's Business range of products are more expensive than those aimed specifically at home users, for reasons which are obvious.

However, setting up your system to network of a BTOpenworld Home 500 broadband connection is actually very easy. You just need to invest in some additional hardware (some of which appears to be supplied as standard with the Business range of products).

Until recently, I've been running a four-station network, and have had my main desktop (iMac G4 Superdrive) connected to my ADSL line via a 4-port ADSL combined ethernet modem/router. This computer, equipped with an Airport Card, serves as the software base station, enabling three other computers (all with Airport cards of course) to access the internet independently.

Total cost for hardware (ADSL modem/router and 4 airport cards) was about £300. Configuration was very simple and range/coverage in a three storey house was more than acceptable everywhere, including right at the end of my 100-ft garden!

You'll recall that I said earlier that I had this set-up running "until recently". However, I got very bored with BTOpenworld's frequent outages, draggy speed at peak times and non-existant tech support. So, on Tuesday, I switched to NTL's 1 meg cable broadband service, a product that makes BTOpen(often shut)world look like garbage!

It's only been two days but I am so glad I made the switch. I benefit from a connection that is more than twice the speed of BT's ADSL for only £34.99 per month. Connection was free. My existing wireless network runs like a dream. So, if you have a choice and cable is available where you live, forget BT and go with NTL, Telewest or whoever. For £5 more each month than you'd be paying BT you'll get a product that is twice as fast and infinitely better in every respect.

[nelliott]

Originally posted by cms:
You'll recall that I said earlier that I had this set-up running "until recently". However, I got very bored with BTOpenworld's frequent outages, draggy speed at peak times and non-existant tech support. So, on Tuesday, I switched to NTL's 1 meg cable broadband service, a product that makes BTOpen(often shut)world look like garbage!

It's only been two days but I am so glad I made the switch. I benefit from a connection that is more than twice the speed of BT's ADSL for only £34.99 per month. Connection was free. My existing wireless network runs like a dream. So, if you have a choice and cable is available where you live, forget BT and go with NTL, Telewest or whoever. For £5 more each month than you'd be paying BT you'll get a product that is twice as fast and infinitely better in every respect.

Aren't NTL about to start capping bandwidth though?

[cms]

Originally posted by nelliott:
Aren't NTL about to start capping bandwidth though?

NTL has rather sneakily introduced DOWNLOAD CAPPING. But, if I understand it correctly, this move is aimed at limiting very heavy users who consistently download huge amounts of data every day, thus slowing down the network for more "normal" subscribers.

I looked into this before jumping ship from BT and concluded that there was no way I was likely to be downloading that much information every day, even with four active workstations in my house.

Don't know what you intend to use your new broadband connection for but one gig is A LOT of data to download. Apparently, one gigabyte (which is equivalent to 1,024 megabytes) is equivalent to about 200 music tracks, or 650 short videos, or 10,000 pictures or around 100 large software programmes.

Downloading very large video files or audio files continuously from newsgroups or file-sharing services like Kazaa is likely to take you over the top. And in some of those cases, NTL's download capping limit wouldn't be the only policy you were in danger of violating, if you understand my meaning.....

There has been a lot of coverage in the UK media about this issue and NTL has become quite defensive in its stance. But they claim that they will take a softly-softly approach with persistent "offenders" and that "normal" users have nothing to worry about.

[tonyibook]

I was wondering if anyone had tried Tiscali? I live in an area which should be upgraded to ADSL later this year and whilst looking around I noticed that Tiscali are offering 256kbit for £20 a month or 512kbit for £27, whereas everyone else only offers the 512kbit service.

[andycroll]

Originally posted by Angus_D:
I'll add a little recommendation for the SpeedTouch range of ethernet routers from DSLsource.

I second this. Got an Airport Base station too. If you want a cheap Airport solution just get the old style basestation as you won't notice the difference in browsing over Airport Extreme on a home DSL connection.

Can I also give a shout to Pipex who were noting but helpful with my ADSL connection, and pretty reasonable too!

Andy

[biscuit]

I can recommend the Alcatel SpeedTouch 570, which is a modem/router/WAP all in one box. The price of this has recently come down too, check DSLsource as suggested above. Set up was a little tricky, but now it's done it works like a charm with 5 PCs and my iBook. We are with BTOpenworld who are kinda lame really, my flatmate recommends Nildram very highly.

Other than Apple loyalty I don't see any reason to get an AirPort Basestation; there are better solutions. Although there is the design aspect, the 570 is a horrible black box.

I also recently set up my parents with Demon. I went with them because they already had dial-up with them, so it seemed the easiest option. However, they were very slow in setting up. It took a about a month and a half from ordering to getting activated. Also, they got the modem from them, which they ship only when they have confirmation of activation, adding another 4 days. I don't know how much of it was BT's fault though, to be fair.

So, yeah, that's all I wanted to say. Also keep an eye on BullDog, I hear they're pretty good.

biscuit

[nelliott]

Hmm.. been thinking about this some more, and am now leaning towards the Netgear DG824M all-in-one type unit, as it is only about £50 more than the non wireless version, but still over £100 cheaper than the DG814 + Airport Extreme combination (and I can't see myself needing the extra 41Mb/s of bandwidth that the AEBS offers - hell my iBook won't even take extreme anyway ).

Does anyone have any experience of the Netgear DG824M?

Also, can someone explain to me the difference between a router and a switch? On the netgear site the specifications for the DG814 say it is a router, but the specs for the DG824M say it is a switch. I thought the DG824M was just a wireless version of the DG814 ?

So confusing

[Angus_D]

Originally posted by nelliott:
Also, can someone explain to me the difference between a router and a switch? On the netgear site the specifications for the DG814 say it is a router, but the specs for the DG824M say it is a switch. I thought the DG824M was just a wireless version of the DG814 ?

It appears to be a wireless gateway, adsl modem and four port switch all in one

[jamez bond]

I'll have to chuck my broadband in there as well, then.
I have the ntl 600k both ways line, and so far they have held up pretty well actually. I have a service which is tv, phone and broadband in one package. Have a set-top box with an ethernet out on, plugs directly into the back of my AE base. Powerbook runs on the airport wireless, another pc laptop on the ethernat wired connection on the base (that laptop is sitting on a desk anyway...)

I have always heard a lot of funny stories about ntl, but as long as it works, it works. They do not support home networks however. You can connect several computers to the broadband, but they will not help you with it.

Just hope nothing will go wrong....it will take days to get through to ntl.

so I will give a thumbs up to ntl in this case...

[Angus_D]

I hope you're aware that NTL has a 1GB/day bandwidth limit... And they're on the verge of going bust, anyway.

[eddiecatflap]

..i'm on bt openworld home 500..as long as you never have to contact bt , you should be ok..

..the frog usb moem was utter rubbish - it crashed my ibook a lot , so i bought the hermstedt web shuttle dsl..

..VERY impressed..

..excellent product and grate customer service - i emailed them about the 10.2.4 update and their mdem not working , they got back to me the same day!



www.hermstedt.co.uk/

[ShotgunEd]

A switch is a special kind of hub. A router is a special hub that allows the 4 ethernet ports to share the adsl connection. The Netgear wireless gateway is a switch, and a router, and a Wireless access point. We're getting ADSL in with Demon next week and we are going with the netgear wireless product. It was reviewed in this week's MacUser and it got 4.5/5 only losing half a point because of poor documentation. I see it for £155 in a few online stores so it seems like a good deal to me.

Now to try and pickup a couple of airport cards for cheap...

[nelliott]

Originally posted by ShotgunEd:
A switch is a special kind of hub. A router is a special hub that allows the 4 ethernet ports to share the adsl connection. The Netgear wireless gateway is a switch, and a router, and a Wireless access point. We're getting ADSL in with Demon next week and we are going with the netgear wireless product. It was reviewed in this week's MacUser and it got 4.5/5 only losing half a point because of poor documentation. I see it for £155 in a few online stores so it seems like a good deal to me.

Now to try and pickup a couple of airport cards for cheap...

Where have you seen the netgear for £155 (if you don't mind my asking)? Cheapest I have seen is about £170 at dabs.com.

[ShotgunEd]

Originally posted by nelliott:
Where have you seen the netgear for £155 (if you don't mind my asking)? Cheapest I have seen is about £170 at dabs.com.

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop...?ProductID=353

and

http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/DG824M.html

[nelliott]

Originally posted by ShotgunEd:
http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop...?ProductID=353

and

http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/DG824M.html

Still cheaper at dabs.com (including VAT). Thanks anyway though .

[GRAHAMUK]

Others have mentioned this already, but I wanted to add my voice to those condemning the Alcatel frog USB modem on OS X.

Indeed, it sucks to the max.

The driver is the only software component on my iBook that ever crashes, and because it's a KEXT (why?? - it doesn't need to be) it brings down the whole machine. I have found ways to live with it so it only crashes every few days instead of all the time, but it's just not good enough. Avoid it!!

If I was starting afresh now I would buy an integrated modem/router/wireless base station and do it that way. I believe the Netgear one is good.

[ShotgunEd]

Originally posted by nelliott:
Still cheaper at dabs.com (including VAT). Thanks anyway though .

sorry forgot about the VAT.

[Angus_D]

Originally posted by GRAHAMUK:
because it's a KEXT (why?? - it doesn't need to be) it brings down the whole machine.

I think it might actually need to be a kext, actually.

[Mr Scruff]

Originally posted by Angus_D:
I think it might actually need to be a kext, actually.

I paid 90 quid for my no-brand 4 port ADSL router + 1 microfilter. It works absolutely fine.

I wouldn't touch a USB modem.