DSL Software

November 6, 2005 2:04 PM

OK. I have SBC Yahoo! DSL at my apartment. Recently my roommate moved out, taking with him the computer that had the software from SBC on it -- my computer had been connected through a router. What software do I actually need to get DSL back? I'm using Windows XP Professional.
posted by dagnyscott to technology (9 comments total)

None, if you have the 2wire modem. (My whole answer here is referring to the 2wire modem).

You don't even need a Windows box. Your PC ought to DHCP itself a default route and IP and you'll be good to go.

You can view the configuration of your 2wire router by opening IE and going to http://172.16.0.1

( I don't know what happens if you don't have the 2wire router. If you do have it, you are in luck, because it's da bomb). Good luck.
posted by popechunk at 2:12 PM on November 6, 2005

Do you still have the router connected? If so, you shouldn't need anything.

If not, you need to establish the DSL connection via PPPoE. SBC can help you over the phone to do this. You will probably want to buy a router so that it's always connected.
posted by qslack at 2:13 PM on November 6, 2005

I'm not familiar with the specific workings of SBC Yahoo!'s DSL offerings, but the software you appear to be talking about is available directly from their site here via this.

You'll likely need your DSL username and password, which should have been provided in a welcome letter when you first signed up.

Furthermore, broadband providers usually do *not* require you to use their software to connect. SBC provides instructions on maintaining a DSL PPPoE connection through Windows XP's broadband services here.
(Usually, the software they provide is just a friendlier interface to the XP backend. Sometimes, said software also uses a proxy or reports usage statistics back to the ISP, which may be a bit unsettling. Check your Terms of Service with them if you're concerned.)
posted by disillusioned at 2:16 PM on November 6, 2005

Not only do you not need the software SBC Yahoo supplies, I recommend not using it. In theory, it's a good concept if you use Yahoo IM constantly, because it starts the IM client when you log in each time. You can also make different profiles for different users, not that that's necessarily real useful. The downside is you have to log in each time - instead of an instant connection, or an always-on connection, you are basically dialing in each time. Of course they also install the Yahoo browser (a real stinker) and the Yahoo toolbar for IE (both pretty stinky). Set up your router if you still have it, get one (for security) if you don't. Short of that, just use the Windows Networking settings. If you don't know how to do this, get someone who can come do it for you rather than trying to follow our instructions online.
posted by attercoppe at 2:25 PM on November 6, 2005

All you need for SBC DSL service to function properly under Windows XP is to connect your computer to the DSL modem, turn both on and make sure that your network settings are configured to connect to an LAN/Broadband service.

You can always call SBC if you've forgotten your username/password, which you might need to log into the DSL Modem to reset it, etc.

Now that you are the only user of the service in your apartment, you don't need to use the router.
posted by vkxmai at 2:29 PM on November 6, 2005

It's true that you don't need to use your router, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't. A router does a lot in terms of blocking off open ports and keeping unwanted Windows Messenger (not MSN messenger, note) service incoming messages away from your computer.

Most routers function at the very least as a basic firewall, and while it's true that Windows XP has a built-in firewall, it's nice to have a separate hardware component stop most of that stuff at the gate—something a standard DSL modem might not handle on its own.
posted by disillusioned at 2:54 PM on November 6, 2005

The 2Wire DSL modem includes a basic firewall, and you can do things like port-forwarding, if you want to run a game or P2P software. It also acts as a primitive router (with limited physical connections).

As an SBC user, I think it's helpful to have the SBC Yahoo! Browser installed, though I don't use it very often. Mainly for the Y! Music videos, and for setting up filters on my SBC mail via AddressGuard (a handy service). It is just a new skin, basically, on an older version of IE, and it's short of features that don't related directly to its add-on services.

If your roommate took the 2wire DSL modem, it may still be possible to use another router -- but you may need someone to help you with the PPPoE setup, and SBC won't support it. (Linux and Mac users have to do this all the time.)
posted by dhartung at 3:41 PM on November 6, 2005

SBC uses line sharing, so you need to do the following:

1> Make sure you have the line filters on all the house's phone lines except for the line going to your computer.

2> You should have a DSL modem, as it is called. SBC supports several diffierent types. Some of these are USB modems that plug into your USB port, but it sounds likely you have a standard Ethernet modem, as you had it going into a router. The router in question was probably some kind of DSL router, such as those made by Linksys. The router itself would've stored your SBC login and password, and would have done all the authenticating for you. Unfortunately, if the account was in your roommate's name, odds are good that you have neither the login or password anymore. You will need to obtain these from your old roommate or from SBC's DSL support.

3> Once you have this information, I strongly advise you *NOT* to install SBC's software onto your computer. It will change your browser appearance and settings, your email, and has even been known to seriously hose people's computers. Instead, follow the directions here to get it working for XP.

Frankly, though, I would personally recommend getting another router, either wireless or not. They're dirt cheap nowadays, and are generally worth having under most circumstances. It's preferable to have the router deal with authentication, I find, rather than having your computer deal with it.
posted by insomnia_lj at 1:39 AM on November 7, 2005

I've got SBC DSL, and installed in on a previous computer (Win98se) than the one I'm using now (Win2k), and DSL still works for both me and my roommate's laptop (Mac) thru the Belkin wireless router without having to install anything on either one.
posted by vanoakenfold at 10:02 AM on November 7, 2005