Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001 04:48:21 -0700 From: Drew Tomlinson <drewt@writeme.com> To: 'Duke Normandin' <01031149@3web.net> Cc: 'Freebsd Questions' <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: RE: 3COM HomeConnect ADSL bridge Message-ID: <5CD46247635BD511B6B100A0CC3F0239259FF0@ldcmsx01.lc.ca.gov> In-Reply-To: <5CD46247635BD511B6B100A0CC3F0239A9671F@ldcmsx01.lc.ca.gov>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
> -----Original Message----- > From: Duke Normandin [mailto:01031149@3web.net] > Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 5:26 PM > To: Drew Tomlinson > Cc: Freebsd Questions > Subject: Re: 3COM HomeConnect ADSL bridge > > On Thu, Jul 12, 2001 at 11:23:58AM -0700, Drew Tomlinson wrote: > > > > > > My local Telco includes the subject ADSL "modem" with the monthly > > > connection fees, and supports 'PPPoE'. Anyone out there > have FBSD/3COM > > > ADSL bridge/PPPoE experience? Any problems with this ANT? > > > > > > I'd like to purchase a compatible modem. Is there a site > that can tell > > > me "the 3COM HomeConnect is compatible in all respect to > <whatever>? > > > > > > Is this a good price for an ADSL connection? US$24.00 gives me > > > 1. 1.5Mbs(dwn) / 512kbs(up) > > > 2. 2 dyn IP addresses > > > 3. PPPoE support > > > 4. splitter-less hookup > > > > > > Any heads-up I should know about? TIA.... > > > > I have ADSL through my telco and they offered the 3Com > modems. I could not > > get the HomeConnect external modem to work with FBSD but it > would work with > > Windows. After numerous calls to tech support, I finally > spoke with a guy > > that used FBSD at home and *really* understood my > configuration. The bottom > > line was that there was no driver for FBSD and the modem > would not work with > > it. It had to do with the dialer portion as my telco used PPPoA. > > Gee... thanks a lot! Now what's the *bad* news? ;^) Just kidding.... > > S.O.B. (pardon my French) ... there's *always* some freaking > blip. PPPoA > -- don't know this. Do you suppose the modem would have worked if your > Telco had used PPPoE -- like mine does? I don't understand > why the modem > would need a driver - 56k et al modems don't need them with FBSD - > AFAICR? What's the diff? PPPoA is PPP over ATM which is how the WAN port connected to the telco. The external modem would connect either via ethernet or USB. I'm pretty new to all of this so I don't really know if it would have worked using PPPoE. I didn't understand the problem other than a "dialer" was needed and I couldn't get FBSDs PPP to do it. > > Anyway, instead of messing with it any longer, I returned > the modem and > > anted up an extra $100 US for the 3Com OfficeConnect 812 > ADSL router my > > telco offered. This router does the dialing internally and > will also > > perform NAT, DHCP, IP filtering, and DNS or you can set it > up as a bridge > > and use your FBSD box for your firewall. But I have found > it's capabilities > > sufficient for my small home network. It has worked > flawlessly and I am > > thankful I finally went that route because now I can "play" > with my FBSD box > > and still have Internet access when my FBSD box is down. > > > My Telco doesn't offer the OfficeConnect, AFAIK. I'll check for sure > though. They told me that with a "splitter-less" setup, I > have to buy the > modem - either from them (I which case they would offer > support), or any > other compatible modem on my own ( in which case, I *am* on my own for > support). That's why I asked about a comparison chart of > sorts in my last > post to see if I can come up with an alternate modem that works on > Freebsd and for my Telco. Maybe cable is less of a headache?? If the HomeConnect modem works with your telco, then the OfficeConnect should work as well. As far as cable being less of a headache, I don't know for sure but I would imagine that the same hurdles exist. You'd still have to communicate between the modem (why do we still call them modems when they don't modulate and demodulate anything?) and FBSD. I don't see how the "splitter-less" setup would change anything but I'm no expert here either. FWIW, I actually had my DSL running before the technician installed it. In other words, the tech had not been to my house to install the splitter but the telco had activated my account and DSL was on the line. Being the "Curious George" that I am, I hooked up the modem to see if it would work and it did. Anyway, now I'm really glad I got the router as *it* establishes and maintains the connection. Now my home network is not dependent on any one PC functioning for Internet access and with the way I screw around with stuff, this is a good thing (keeps the wife from complaining). All I do is plug into one of the ethernet ports on the router (it has 4) and away I go. Good luck on your quest! Drew > Thanks for your input! > -- > -duke > Calgary, Alberta, Canada > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?5CD46247635BD511B6B100A0CC3F0239259FF0>