The title says it all. Our ISP has been getting slower [:o], and s-l-o-w-e-r [:@], and disconnecting constantly[: (]. Thinking of switching to cable, but I don t know a thing about internet protection using cable. Guessing I need some sort of firewall to prevent problems, but a search here didn t turn up anything useful. Any sugestions, or pointers on what I should know *before* I make the change?
Thanks for helping me broaden my horizons.
ab diverSeeing as you are from CA, I can t help in my latest info for cable internet. The company that we re going with is only available in 5 states. Do a search in your area for a cable TV company that offers internet connections as well. Study the packages & maybe you can find something within reason.
Don t forget (I didn t even know) there are 3 cable connection speeds....the lowest is at least 2-3 times faster than dial up, the mid-range is around 10x faster & the high-speed is @ 25 faster than dial-up.
Good luck in your ventures & yes, I DO agree, 28 is GRRRRR.....[:@]
ab diverWell as much as I would hate to tell someone that there was any internet forum other then PUT, check out [link=http://www.dslreports.com]BroadbandReports.com[/link]
Now, for my suggestions.
Pick up a [link=http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=34&scid=29&prid=20]Linksys EtherFast? Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port Switch[/link]. This will provide a hardware firewall as well as giving you the ability to network multiple computers together using the single cable internet connection. Linksys also has wireless models if you dont want to run wire around the house for your network (just remember to change default passwords or your neighbors may be using your cable connection[;)]) I use one and have 5 computers networked around the house. I m never more than 5 steps from Pop Up Times
Download [link=http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/zonealarm/znalm_details.jsp]ZoneAlarm Firewall Software[/link]. Its FREE The award-winning personal firewall automatically blocks dangerous Internet threats - known and unknown - guarding your PC from hackers and data thieves. ZoneAlarm provides the basic protection individuals need to secure their PC and keep their valuable information private.
Other than that, enjoy the speed!
ab diverOnce you use cable / dish or some kind of high speed connection, you will wonder why you didn t do it sooner. I did. It is amazing compared to dial-up and gives you a chance to actually enjoy and look forward to using the internet.
ab diverOther than saying " what Tim said" is that when you do get the cable hooked up, plan on calling in sick for a couple of days and having several cases of your favorite beverage in a cooler, bags of snack handy and a porttapottie nearby cause you won t leave the computer for several days and the smile on your face will last just over two weeks even if the kids are hellions.
ab diverWhat Tim said
I have both the router and Zone alarm with my cable internet after switching from dial up I ll never go back to dial up.
Just a thought but you might think about a wireless router if you have a lap top computer.
tim5055Does this item work for any DSL service? I use SBC service and I am getting a new computer and want to network them.
ab diverOK...I guess I m an oddity. We still have dial-up (on at something like 26,600), and may be slow (at old job we had high speed, I know the difference), but it really doesn t bother me. I sit in the office, drink my coffee, and watch the news. If something is taking that long...I just go down stairs and top off my coffee, take a pee break, etc. We were waiting for Everest communications to get into our area (they offer high speed internet, phone, and cable for like 90 bucks), but they have run out of funding from there parent company so alls on hold..and laying off like 300 people (and I had an offer for a job on they re next round of hiring), so alas...we re still on good old fashioned dial up.
ShirleyTShirley,
The Routers work with DSL, we also have SBC.
Running 2 computers and a laptop.
ForestCreature
QuoteORIGINAL: ForestCreature
Shirley,
The Routers work with DSL, we also have SBC.
Running 2 computers and a laptop.
Which router do you use? I have been looking into some and the one that tim mentioned seems to be the most reasonably priced. I just want to make sure the router works with my particular service before I spend any money. Thanks for your help!
Oh yeah I have found quite a few of the Linksys routers on ebay.
ShirleyTShirley, you need to find out what " Protocol" your ISP uses for their DSL service. Most use PPPoE and the Linksys supports this protocol.
Remember, most phone companies are made up from the combination of several merged companies, so one carreir may utilize differing protocols in different parts of their network.
ShirleyTShirley,
We use [link=http://www.pcconnection.com/scripts/productdetail.asp?sku=165585&SourceID=k15505]This one[/link]..have had it for 2 years and is still working just fine...
Like Tim said, check to be sure it will work with your service.But I m guessing it will
ForestCreatureThanks so much Marcy! Now I know what will work with the SBC service. They have quite a few of these on ebay right now.
ab diverDave we got cable internet 2 months ago, it is great. My modem is the Motorola Surfboard 4200. One of the nice features is a button that you push to disconnect you from the internet. That way you don t have to be connected when you are not using it.[:D]
ab diverThanks for the info, Tim. Our connection has been giving us fits all week. Went with our best option, locally, which was Adelphia Powerlink. Using Norton after a friend told us he had problems with ZoneAlarm in conjunction with Adelphia here. Could be a local problem. Again, thanks for the input.
Stopher, Mike, Tracy: you guys/gal were right... it s really neat to see your screen change just as fast as the monitors used by the " big boys" on the MSNBC and CNN news shows.
ab diverWe have cable, part of a package with the TV cable. Don t know the tech end, so don t ask me modem speeds, etc. I barely know how to reboot![;)]
Just got the puter back from repair shop. The mother board was shot, and Gateway would nt cover it under warranty. It was a remanufacture, and went out a month after the one-year warranty ran out. Gateway wanted $450+, so a local PC repair shop did it for $260.[8D]
Miller Tyme
QuoteORIGINAL: Miller Tyme
Just got the puter back from repair shop. The mother board was shot, and Gateway would nt cover it under warranty. It was a remanufacture, and went out a month after the one-year warranty ran out.
How convienent. Funny how things break down right after the warrenty runs out.
Ab DiverI have had cable internet for about a year. It is fast-fast-fast!
Go with the Norton Firewall. The free stuff is good (I have used it) but Norton is better. It is one of the main brands used by large corporations and the software often comes packaged with some other stuff so it is not all that expensive. You will be surprised how many hits you take from others computers once you do load Norton Firewall.
Ab DiverTrust me.. DO NOT run Zone Alarm.. it is almost impossiable to get off your system.. It is like AOL.. (Just ask the cable Co. about it..) I had it and it was giving me problems with my conncetion and after a week it was traced down to that.. So I spend about 3 hours of hard work getting it off my computer. Now skip foward to my new job.. a computer programer/store tries for 2 weeks to get my computer to run with our server.. Nope, something blocking it.. We ended up dumping the whole computer and reloading Win 2k into it.. Look into a diffrent firewall. (Norton or Black ice)
Bet seriously, High speed is amazing, I mean 14.4k ??? we scoff at that!! I could lose 100k and never notice it~ Dude, go with it..