a salute to those on mobile connection...

brownboy66

sorry....ran away to tech la la land with that description. Ok - so you have laptop that has got a modem plugged into a phoneline? And a GSM device (either a card that slides into the laptop - or a cell phone that plugs into the laptop, maybe something that plugs into a USB port)? Multilink dials up both devices at the same time - and combines the speed of both connections.

As mentioned before - both connection would have to be to the same ISP, and that ISP would have to support a process called multilink PPP (basically allows you to simultaneously authenticate/ connect over 2 connections using the same details at the same time).

Anyway - its an option. The real answer is to get broadband - since running a single connection should, theoretically, be easier and multilink adds another layer of complication, needs to be supported by your ISP, blah blah blah.

Dilliwala

The manufacturer calls it a modem (printed on the top too), the supplier calls it a modem. I understand the difference u've pointed out, but this is not a router. With a router, as soon as your OS and DSL device have booted, it's "Always On". Open a browser page and your meter's running, so to speak, as in the server will start monitoring your account for traffic and charge u, depending on what plan u have. If u have a home page, that page will load as soon as u open the browser. Close the browser, internet is off.
With my modem I have a separate connection icon on my desktop, just like with a regular dial-up modem connection. Until I don't click this icon and connect, no running meter, no up/down traffic. If I open a browser page, no home page will load, until I connect. Of course, I have an indication on the modem and the desktop that the broadband line itself is in "On" status, just like with a router. And when I disconnect, I can leave as many browser pages open as I like, there will be no monitoring/charging for traffic.

Nick-H

That'll be a router, then... they almost always are.

Except that you're running it in 'bridged mode' doing your PPoE 'dial-up' (another misnomer), well, authentication, I suppose, from the PC.

But if you were to set it up in router mode, you would configure it with your log-in name and password, the necessary parameters, configure the connection as 'always on' --- and it will behave just as you describe!*

I'll go away again now....



*and you can share the connection between a number of PCs. Even if it has only one LAN port, you can get a hub/switch.

That's what I do.

__________________
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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

brownboy66

Ahhh Mr Dilli - I think I understand....

Forgive me - I wasn't aware there were DSL services out there where the authentication was done from the PC instead of the router. Noodle obviously had a similar service to you.

When DSL routers first came out 8 - 9 years ago - the setup software was loaded onto the PC, and that was where you put the account information (just like a modem). It also allowed users to have multiple accounts running through one DSL connection if they wanted. Eventually someone decided it would be easier to just load it straight into the router - so now most routers are designed to have the authentication information loaded internally (you don't really have an option). So really the only difference between my router and your router - is that my account information is in the router - yours is on your PC.

DSL modem is so entrenched in the industry now - it really doesn't matter. Everyone knows what is being referred to when you say DSL modem. It can be an interesting test when you walk into an IT shop, however, as to whether or not the people behind the counter know what they are selling.

I'll go away now too....

oh - one last thing. What about that cricket! The final is going to be a cracker!

Dilliwala

Except this device (SMC7003 ADSL USB Modem) does not have any such settings which I can change. The only setting it has is called 'Framing' which can be set to 'LLC' or the default "NULL Encapsulation'. In any case, I don't want to set it in router mode, I prefer it this way.
Yes, I know about LAN/hub, but I don't have another PC to connect to.

Dilliwala

U read my mind there - at Nehru Place, only a few of the shops selling such devices know the difference. Some of them catch on when u repeatedly bash away on the subject, some just remain blank. And MTNL, oh boy , u'll remember me describing my saga with them!



Not that I care.

brownboy66

In some ways - its an advantage. Means that from a security point of view you have to manually go through the authentication process each time. I have a short cut that disables my ethernet connection when I'm finished with it as I can't stand the thought of a live connection still connected to my network.


I don't care either....honest...

Dilliwala

My sentiments exactly. Which is why I prefer this device to a router any day.
Just for my GK, can I ask how the short-cut works? Thanks.

Nick-H

Oh, it's a USB thingy --- different ballgame then. Sorry, I was chasing a wild goose there

Much of the world's DSL doesn't bother with logins and passwords... they just bind the account to the line it is sold to work on. This 'logging in' for ADSL was new to me when I got it in India. BSNL is now binding the two things. Up to now, people have been able to have use their plans on different connections.

Broadband, India, Fraudband....

But you don't mind having it connected direct to your PC? Believe me, the router is safer by far. Honest!
Fair enough. But I do!

Dilliwala

Ho hum, not to mention - beating a dead horse, or old drum.
Time to get a new drum, chum. (Hey, that was almost poetry!)

EDIT: It IS, both lines rhyme! I'll be damned. Wasn't even trying.

Huh? Your team is already back home, after being one of the favourites!
I thought u didn't even like sports?

Nick-H

Sports!? ?

I was talking about the added security of having a router, ie not having a connection direct into your machine.

Obviously I didn't even notice that Brownboy had moved on to sport! About which I care not a jot.

Join us on www.vinuthomas.com, and beat that drum! Or even better, as an Indian citizen, I guess you could lobby somebody....

brownboy66

so we're all agreed we don't care about the cricket. So why are we all up at 2.45am in the morning typing about how much we don't care about cricket!!

brownboy66

that would be some sort of wholesale UBS type service where the VC identifiers are used to tunnel the connection straight through to the ISP? Much simpler way of doing things.

yeah...definitely more robust!

Dilliwala

As an Indian citizen, I wud remain in the lobby a long time.

As an Indian living in India, I've learnt to accept the little pleasures life has to offer, without always feeling short-changed or getting unduly hassled. This country has bigger things to worry about than DSL speeds, IMO, like farmer suicides. I want faster speeds like everyone else, yet I'll be happy to wait it out if it means farmer issues are addressed first. 3 years ago, I didn't even think I'd be on BB in a hurry, yet a few months later I was. Higher speeds will come along too. In fact they are already available and have been for a while. That they are expensive is a separate issue altogether.

Good point. Time to knock off. Good night, gents.

brownboy66

Well said Mr Dilli - there are more important issues. And a good night to you too.