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morrisonmuzk · Apr 2, 2009, 01:13 PM

Hi all...thanks for reading.

Over the last 3 days and 5 phone conversations with Windstream tech help, I'm at a standstill as it a 'Mac problem'. Hope you can help.

I just switched my internet service provider to Windstream and got a Speedstream 4200 dsl modem. DSL modem shows it is making full connections with the ethernet and dsl connectivity lights. I connected my iMac directly to the dsl modem via ethernet cable and attempted to connect to the dsl modem, then internet

The dsl modem does give my computer an ip, but I can't get past that. Windstream tech help told me that 'macs are tricky to connect' and I'd have to contact Apple to get my PPPoE enabled correctly. Several of their tech help walked me through the PPPoE connection box and it never connects through.

Has anyone else had this problem and how did you solve it.

I even hooked up and connected several of my other macs (os 9, 10.2.8, 10.3.9, 10.4.11) and nothing seems to get through.

Thanks in advance for your time and assistance.

ibook_steve · Apr 2, 2009, 07:59 PM

There's really not that much to it. Just set up your ethernet to use PPPoE in the Network preferences. Enter the account name (usually email address) and password and click connect.

More detail about exactly what you've tried to do so far may help.

Also, since you've got multiple machines, you should be setting up a router to establish the PPPoE connection and have your Macs connect to that, not directly to the DSL modem.

Steve

morrisonmuzk · Apr 3, 2009, 09:59 AM

I enabled the PPPoE, by first:
Create PPPoE Service
when the new window opened up, entered the service name (windstream)
entered account name
entered password
clicked on apply
clicked connect

after clicking on connect, it spun for awhile, then came up with a notification that no connection was made.

I also did this again after creating a new user, still no luck.

ghporter · Apr 3, 2009, 11:14 AM

I'd be interested in knowing how the Speedstream modem is set up itself. Just about every "DSL modem" is actually also a router, and thus should also be able to be set up to provide the PPPoE connection itself. Typically the ISP sets up a modem to suit the ISP's purposes, and not necessarily to do what the customer wants. You can configure this modem yourself; it should either be connecting via PPPoE FOR you, or set to bridge between the DSL and your own ($30) broadband router.

Here is a BroadbandReports forum discussion And HERE is BroadbandReports' Windstream forum,[/url] which should be just chock full of stuff you'll find useful.

morrisonmuzk · Apr 3, 2009, 02:20 PM

those websites & reports on them did give me some more ideas to try..thanks for pointing that out. I'll see what happens when I can fool with it yet again at home tonight.

olePigeon · Apr 3, 2009, 03:13 PM

If credentials are stored on the modem instead of the computer, you have to set the modem to Bridge Mode and put the credentials into the Airport. Otherwise it should just work as you've described.

morrisonmuzk · Apr 6, 2009, 07:45 AM

Thanks again to all...got the problem fixed...and yes, my computer & modem were fine...

I went to the local Windstream service center, told them everything I did, and said I wanted my modem fixed or my service dropped as I'd spent way too much time on this. The lady there told me that she wasn't a tech person, gave me a new modem and told me to call the tech/help desk once again, but this time, demanding to speak with a supervisor.

After 20 minutes on hold, I did. ...he asked me what I had done to fix this before and who had given me the previous info...I went into the long story...Then the supervisor, in about 10 seconds, isolated the problem...it was on their end. He put in a work order on the line and in a mere 4 hours, got internet. My long journey has come to an end!!!.

Thanks again to all for your help and patience!!!

ghporter · Apr 6, 2009, 08:17 AM

It sucks that it took so long for them to see that THEY hadn't set up your line correctly, but at least you have it working now. Congrats!

Thorzdad · Apr 6, 2009, 08:51 AM

Could you possibly describe what the problem on their end was and what the fix entailed? It might be nice to have it available for anyone else who might run into similar problems in the future.

morrisonmuzk · Apr 6, 2009, 01:13 PM

All I was told was they could see and communicate with my modem, but I wasn't allowed to communicate back as the settings in their server were wrong. They had to have one of their engineers fix the problem.

Sorry I can't be more specific on that.

ghporter · Apr 6, 2009, 03:16 PM

That's part of provisioning the line. First they make sure your end can pass data back and forth over the phone line, then they see how fast it'll go. The next step is to "allow" your modem's connection onto the network. It looks like this is what they missed.

olePigeon · Apr 6, 2009, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

It sucks that it took so long for them to see that THEY hadn't set up your line correctly, but at least you have it working now. Congrats!

That's bloody quick by my experience. I ordered DSL self install kit from AT&T (SBC at the time) when I was living up in Grass Valley, CA. For two weeks straight my DSL kept dropping. SBC was absolutely convinced it was all my problem. They would run their tests or whatever it is they do and tell me that there was line noise, but it was within tolerance.

I just kept calling and calling until about the fourth week (it took a whole month to get this worked out) they finally conceded to send someone out to look at the line. Mind you, I quite literally lived across the street from their service center. I could throw a rock from my house and hit their blue vans.

So the guy shows up and they trace the problem all the way back to one of their main boxes. The hardware card had faulted, so they had to install a new one.

So finally the DSL is working. However, it seemed really slow. I called AT&T again and they told me that I have to leave it running for it to get the full speed. So, OK. I let it go for a few weeks. Still pretty slow. I call them back, they tell me again I should try waiting. I told them I already waited. So they ran their line test and said they're getting a clear signal and that everything is fine.

So I continue using it until a friend of mine pointed me out to DSL Reports website. I run their speed test program and find out my DSL is running about 1/4 the speed it should be. This is the second month that I've had it. So I call AT&T back and tell them that the line is too slow, I'm paying for the 6 Mbit line and I'm getting only 768 Kbit. The lady tells me that it's probably because I'm too far from the Central Office so I'm not getting the full speed. So I threw a rock at her window. Well, no. But I could have. I simply explained that I'm not too far, I'm literally across the street. Well her tool is telling her that I'm 23,000 feet, which is impossible. So after some bickering she sets us up in a conference call to a Tier 2 technician. He looks at a config, and in 2 seconds says, "Oh, your line is set to the wrong speed. One minute." Then a minute later, he asks me how it is. So I use the download test program and I'm pulling 500K/sec on the line. Yay, he fixed it in just 2 second after spending a month on the phone with some lady.

So the lady asks me if I'm happy with the service now, and I tell her yes, but I've been paying for a 6 Mbit line and you guys screwed up and gave me a 768 Kbit line for the past two months. I'd like a refund for the difference for the last two months. She tells me that she can only issue refunds for a maximum of 14 days.

I just hung up on her. Gods I hate these freakin' service monopolies, they can do whatever the hell they want because there's no competition.

Too Bad JCom can't set up 150 Mbit internet for $20/month over her in the States like they do in Japan. That'd send the internet prices down real quick.

ghporter · Apr 7, 2009, 08:23 AM

The AT&T billing department can correct bills for ANY length of time. If it hasn't been too long, give them a call and tell them your story-it'll help if you have the name of the Tier 2 tech that fixed the problem. The fix will be in the form of a credit on your bill, and it can take a whole month before it hits, but it should be doable and take only a little more of your time.

Once AT&T gets you set up, their DSL is great, but the huge bureaucracy that is AT&T is pretty dysfunctional. My original order for DSL went past the "live" date by two days before I called 'em, and it turned out that sales had committed them to a connection that simply could not work because their hardware (a remote terminal for my area) wasn't installed yet. Two months later, when they had their stuff working, I got T1-equivalent DSL without a hitch.