Recommend a DSL modem?

May 24, 2007 9:42 AM

I'm in need of a DSL modem (details inside) and am wondering if I'm better off buying one or renting one from my (soon-to-be) provider. Any suggestions on brand or things to avoid is appreciated.

So I'm going with DSL. I'm on a Mac. I'm in Toronto, Canada. Provider will be TekSavvy.

I need a modem that supports G.DMT (or G.D.M.T. ?)

The provider's cheapest modem is $125 (canadian) and is single port. Multi/wireless unit is $165.

I have a desktop and a wireless laptop. However, I rarely if ever connect the laptop to the internet, even thru wireless--so unless the wireless or second port capability is cheap, it's probably not a must-have.

Suggestions?

posted by dobbs to computers & internet (5 comments total)

A great deal of the advice I gave in in this previous thread still holds.

The biggest advantage of renting is that you know that it's a model that has gone through the telco's labs and is confirmed to interoperate with whatever DSLAM they are using on the other end. The biggest disadvantage is that you can bet that the Telco is trying to get some profit margin off of the modem, so it's probably going to be a pretty cheap model.
posted by mcstayinskool at 9:49 AM on May 24, 2007

Thanks mcstayinskool, I somehow didn't see that thread.

I just called the provider and their modems are Speedtouch brand. Models are 516 (1 port) and 780 (4 port and wireless).

He didn't know the DSLAM thing except to say that it's provided by Bell.
posted by dobbs at 10:26 AM on May 24, 2007

Highly satisfied Teksavvy customer and home networking nut here:

A few people I know who have Speedtouch 516s tell me that they get a bit on the hot side (not just warm) and that this seems to have caused premature failures for them in the past. The 516 is just a gateway, suitable if you're only going to have your single Mac connected with an ethernet cable.

I still have my old SpeedTouch Home, and you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands. It supports G.DMT and they're might be some used ones out there in the ether (as in, were not returned to Bell, since I believe if you're still renting one, Bell isn't concerned about getting them back).

My friend just got Teksavvy and got the 780. This is an all in one DSL modem with a wired/wireless router and VoIP capabilities. But from helping her set it up, it lacks some of the advanced router features that routers from other manufacturers have like Quality of Service (QoS) adjustments.

Were I starting from step 1 setting up a home network, I'd get the basic modem and use a Linksys WRT54G with the excellent DD-WRT replacement firmware.

From the sounds of your setup, go with the 516. Worst case is that later down the line you want to use multiple computers on the network, you'll need to buy a router. A separate router is going to be more flexible than being stuck with the capabilities of the 780.

You might want to call Teksavvy and try maybe balking at the price of the modem... last year I thought I needed a new modem and they mentioned to me that they had some other brand of used modems around and offered me one.
posted by chuma at 10:38 AM on May 24, 2007

I'm using teksavvy with a speedstream 5200 - same model bell used to provide. I also have a 2wire. While the 2wire gets slightly better stats, the actual connection speed is the same. Also, strangely, when there is contention for bandwidth in my household, the WoW player reports that ping times get bad more easily on the 2wire.. Finally, the 2wire might cause slightly more audible noise on my phoneline.

In other respects the 2wire works great, and at ~$22 with wireless and 4 LAN ports, it is hard to argue with..
posted by Chuckles at 6:42 PM on May 24, 2007

Thanks for all the great answers!
posted by dobbs at 7:43 AM on May 25, 2007