Need help with DSL

Published on August 23, 2005 By Island Dog In Personal Computing

I just got my "self-installation" kit with for my new DSL connection. The service doesn't come on till tomorrow though.

Reading through the installation guide it says the telephone cable from the jack to the modem shouldn't be more than 10 feet long. Is this correct? My desk is about 25 ft. away from the jack.

Comments (Page 2)

Island Dog

on Aug 24, 2005

The Sprint tech told me I could use a regular CAT 5 cable from the modem to my computer. He said I have to use a crossover cable.

tjesterb

on Aug 24, 2005

CAT 5 can be run up to a max length of 100 meters (328 feet)
Unless you have a really big house, you should be fine.

bakerstreet

on Aug 24, 2005

Crossover is still CAT5, the wires are just reversed on one jack. You use the same roll of cable to make them.

They sell them in all different lengths. Just get you a 15' crossover and keep your modem by the phone jack. As long as you don't damage the CAT5 you're gold. Or you could just do wireless and keep your wireless router there, too, and run no long cables at all.

Island Dog

on Sep 02, 2005

Thanks everybody. I bought a Belkin wireless router and couldn't get it to work, so went and bought a Linksys. Had it up and running in less than 10 minutes with all my computers.

The DSL didn't come on when it was supposed to so a quick call to Sprint and an hour later it was finally on. I have been running it all week and the service is great. What a difference from dial-up to DSL.

Dr Guy

on Sep 02, 2005

The DSL didn't come on when it was supposed to so a quick call to Sprint and an hour later it was finally on.

That beats my 2 weeks with Cavtel all to hell!

PurrBall

on Sep 02, 2005

My cable came on boom- right when it was supposed to.

It seems DSL providers have troouble keeping promises.

bakerstreet

on Sep 03, 2005

The whoel cable DSL argument is garbage, and shouldn't be carried over to this. Cable isn't an ounce better than DSL, and the stuff they say about phone lines on the commercials are lies. I get the same speed as cable users, and if I wanted to pay more, I could get a lot more.

Dr Guy

on Sep 03, 2005

We are not arguing performance, because I do agree with you there. Just on promises vs delivery.

Cavan1

on Sep 03, 2005

I have never had cable so do not know if there is anything that needs to be setup for it as your telephone line does for DSL. If not and they just flip a switch getting setup for cable will be faster, instant. One reason I prefer DSL is that if you are on a different power grid than your cable provider and they have a power failure you will most likely be without service. It takes a heck of a lot more for telephone services to go out, backups on top of backups.
Just my opinion, just my 2 cents.

bakerstreet

on Sep 03, 2005

The only reason cable is easier is because there is no choice involved. I have DSL piped through my phoneline, but I don't have my phone company as my ISP. Setting that up took extra effort.

So, ease is a double edged sword. Usually the more robust and option-filled something is, the more complex it is to set up. I have a static IP. Screw that with Cable, though it caused an extra step in setting up DSL.

Cable is "easy" in the same way that AOL is "easy". For people who like things done for them, it is the option to take, and I don't begrudge them that. The menial complexity of DSL is nothing compared to the options it provides, though.

BluDrgnBoi

on Sep 03, 2005

something else to be aware of is make sure there arent any 2.4ghz cordless phones nearby because they can affect the modem and the wireless router.

bakerstreet

on Sep 03, 2005

"something else to be aware of is make sure there arent any 2.4ghz cordless phones nearby because they can affect the modem and the wireless router."

If there is a problem, Linksys wireless routers, and the rest I assume, let you change the channel. Mine has 12 channels if I recall. I think some wireless phones let you do the same, though probably only the more expensive ones.

Dr Guy

on Sep 04, 2005

Cable is "easy" in the same way that AOL is "easy". For people who like things done for them, it is the option to take, and I don't begrudge them that. The menial complexity of DSL is nothing compared to the options it provides, though.

I have had both, so I speak from experience. Cable and DSL are no brainers. The difference as you alluded to is that Cable is all in one, while DSL is a multitude of companies (I was using Cavtel over Verizon lines).

While cable is just becoming multispeed, DSL has always been Multispeed. Both are now touting 10mBits, but I have not ramped up to that yet.

Island Dog

on Sep 04, 2005

While cable is just becoming multispeed, DSL has always been Multispeed. Both are now touting 10mBits, but I have not ramped up to that yet.

Sprint just made the 5mb upgrade available. They were really trying to sell me on it. I would love to have it,but $70.

Dr Guy

on Sep 04, 2005

Sprint just made the 5mb upgrade available. They were really trying to sell me on it. I would love to have it,but $70.

Wait as long as you can! Speed is addictive! What about the new Wireless? We have been testing it, and it is faster than T1! I have not bit the bullet yet on it.

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