Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with dsl and network

Why can I use PING but not HTTP on a yet-to-be-activated DSL account?

j0hnpaul — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:15:09 -0800

Why can I PING with my new DSL modem on an inactive account, but nothing else? Hi! My new modem arrived for Verizon DSL service, but my "service ready date" hasn't arrived yet, giving me some time to muse and experiment.

I noticed that when I set up the modem and connected my Mac via an Ethernet cable, my Network Diagnostics show that the computer is connected to the internet and the connection is working properly. I noticed I can also PING google.com, verizon.com, or any other website from the Terminal with zero packet loss.

On the other hand, everything useful about the internet is closed. I can't access anything in a web browser, and attempting to run the software Verizon sent me to "activate my account" or "troubleshoot my connection" fails. I surmise this is related to trying this before the "service ready date".

But the fact that PING works from the command line, and I'm able to send and receive data across the internet, makes me wonder how real the "service ready date" is. If it's possible to communicate with sites via PING, why not through HTTP? What's really going on?

How to investigate an ISP

vilcxjo_BLANKA — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 12:50:37 -0800

How do I get information on the reliability and competence of an ISP? I have not changed ISP in a decade, but I think it's time. I currently have Speakeasy DSL. Speakeasy's customer service and reliablity is great. But it's DSL, so it's slow and expensive, and I'd like to switch.

My town restricts me to three vendors: Comcast, RCN and someone called Galaxy Internet Services. (This is Brookline, MA.) I'm pretty sure Comcast and RCN are incompetent, but I'm not sure about Galaxy. I have searched for reviews of them, but without very much success.

I don't need any software from them, or anything else except a digital dialtone. I need to run a mail server, a web server, an ldap server and my own DNS, though I could remove the DNS. I'm paying about $100/month for DSL and phone now, and would like that to decrease. I could do away with the phone service if doing away with it is cheap. I could pay a per-minute phone charge if that is cheaper.

Has anyone had experience with them? I'm particularly interested in fiber optic service, and not in wireless or in DSL service.

Thanks.

Two, two, two computer questions in one!

Northwest — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:06:28 -0800

I have DSL but am continually prompted to dial-up for a connection. Plus, how do I learn to manage my wireless home network myself? I'm running XP Home on two computers with a DSL modem and a Trendnet wireless router. Internet works on the computer physically wired to the router, but, XP constantly prompts me to dial up for any new page I access. I'm sure it's an easy fix but this stuff still mystifies and frustrates me.

Secondly, I'm having problems keeping the upstairs wirelessly connected computer on the network. I lose access to the downstairs computer and thus, the internet. I would like to be able to share files, pictures, music and printers between the two.

Where could I find a simple "how-to" guide? Microsoft.com is written in Gaelic to me, many sites seem to assume I have more knowledge than I really do. A book or on-line site would be great.

Is it my issue or the ISP?

braintoast — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 07:46:13 -0800

I'm baffled. What could prevent a VNC connection between 2 DSL connections with the same ISP when a connection from a different ISP works just fine? I have an office computer that's running a VNC server. It's sitting on a DSL connection with a fixed IP. I can connect to it with a viewer from *my* home (a different ISP). But, I can't connect from either my brother or parents' connections (the same ISP as the office machine).

My ISP at home is a big cable provider. The ISP in question is a small town telco providing DSL. I've been trying to troubleshoot with one of the network engineers there, but they clearly don't deal with this sort of thing often. They're totally helpful, but they're stupmed.

So I'm summoning the collective networking knowlege of the mefites.

Wireless-less

Packy_1962 — Fri, 26 May 2006 13:57:04 -0800

Can I connect to my wireless internet? I live in an apartment with wireless DSL already set up and used by a mac, but I started trying to use my Windows machine with it, and it's not working. It's a wanadoo thingy with the service provided through France telecom. The signal is perfect, but everytime I try to connect I get the limited/no connectivity message. A physical address, IP address, subnet mask value are all assigned, but it gets held up at the default gateway. I don't know what a default gateway is. Our mac laptop is at the shop so I can't tell if the wireless network is working period. I don't know anything about networking, and all the manuals are in a foreign language. Please help!

3 floors, 2 computers, 1 problem

googly — Sun, 22 Jan 2006 07:32:04 -0800

I need help with a home dsl/wireless/networking problem. I’m comfortable with general tech stuff, but a n00b when it comes to networking. I need your help.

Hardware: Three story house. New PC desktop (mine) on third floor, running Windows XP Pro. PC laptop (hers), mostly used on first floor, running Windows XP. Two speedstream modems. One D-Link DI-624 wireless router. SBC DSL service on the one phone line that runs through our house.

Current setup: On third floor, phone line -> Modem -> D-link -> PC desktop.

Problem: Wireless signal does not make it down to the first floor, which is where my partner uses her laptop most frequently. (We have tried installing the wireless router on the second floor, and this does reach to the first floor, but it does not reach from the third to the first floor).

Goal: Have a setup in which I can plug directly into DSL on 3rd floor, but also run a wireless network that works throughout the house.

Solution?

- Ideal solution would be to have two modems plugged into one DSL line, so that I can connect directly on the third floor, and we can also have the wireless router plugged in on the second. My googling indicates that it is impossible to connect two modems to one DSL line, but I’m happy to be disabused of this notion if it is possible.

- Amplify the wireless signal from the third floor so that it reaches to the first. I’ve googled and looked at a few of the askme threads on this, but it doesn’t seem likely.

- We could of course just set up the wireless router on the second floor and I could purchase a wireless adapter for my desktop. If this is the only viable solution then I’ll do it. But I’m a cheapskate, I like the direct connection, and am wondering if there is another option I haven’t thought of.

Thanks.

DSL interference

swank6 — Sun, 18 Jul 2004 18:08:12 -0800

Strange DSL home network problem: using the phone freezes the internet. More inside... I'm having a pretty weird problem with a home network at a new apartment. Despite many battles with wireless networking, this one has me stumped. I noticed that whenever someone talks on the phone here, the Internet slows to a crawl (or total freeze). At first I thought this was a simple cordless phone/wireless router interference problem. I also thought it could be our router which has been a little whacky in the past.

So I upgraded to a Wireless G router which we were going to do anyway. It turns out all the cordless phones are 900MHz so it should be a problem. I looked into this more, and the same thing happens even if I use a plugged phone, while also plugging in my computer to the router. So this is not an intereference problem. Any ideas?

Secure WiFi from 1 miles away?

BrodieShadeTree — Thu, 24 Jun 2004 14:02:53 -0800

Wifi networking question. My brother lives 1 mile away, nearly direct line of sight as I am up on a hill. I can get DSL, but his house cannot. Is there a cheap-ish way to get hi-speed into my house and create a secure wifi network to span to his house as well? (MI)