[zacharydz]

I am currently studying abroad in Germany and am wondering about connecting via a DSL connection. I heard that using some european modems over the phone lines can damage american made modems and an adapter is needed (different currents or something). Is the following the same for DSL (which I am assuming uses an RJ-45 port into the ethernet card)? Thanks.

[John Strung]

DSL modems connect to your computer either using your ethernet port or using your USB port. If the modem connects via USB, you will probably need drivers. The USB and ethernet standards are universal world wide so you should have no concerns about connecting to a European DSL modem.

[tooki]

There's no difference between German phone lines and American ones, other than the plug and the tones (e.g. the ringing and busy tones, which sound different).



As for DSL... there is no one DSL standard, so even within the U.S., DSL modems are largely not interchangeable. The chances that your U.S. DSL modem will work on their system is slim. Besides, strictly speaking, it'd probably be illegal, since all equipment that one connects to a phone line in a given country needs to be approved by that country's telecommunications regulatory body.

Ethernet is the same everywhere.

tooki