802.11 Acccess Points with Dialup Capabilities? 28
"I'm thinking of either selling or supplementing the Linksys because it lacks a serial port for controlling a modem. In fact, despite the many brands of wireless AP right now, the only maker I can find with the ability to use a modem (besides Apple -- both generations of Airport have built-in modems) is SMC. One of their Barricade
models has a serial port in addition to 3 hardwired ethernet ports and wireless, and a friend has demonstrated how it can be hooked up with an inexpensive 56K modem. This model has a decent web-based interface, but it's also not ideal for travel: sort of clunky to need a 2nd box (the modem), another wallwart, etc.
Can anyone suggest a box more akin to the Linksys (seems well-constructed, stacks, good indicator lights on front) but with a built-in modem? The ideal would be a single box I could set up quickly on any borrowed phone line to provide both wired and wireless access. The Apple Airport is the only one-box way to do this I can find, but I've heard only bad things about the Java setup utility necessary to make it work under Linux. (It also doesn't allow MAC address cloning, not necessary for dialup but often is when broadband is available)
All suggestions welcome!"
Re:Modem instructions for the Barricade? (Score:2, Informative)
According to the instructions, you can set the modem to be the sole WAN connection, or you can have it only dial up when the broadband WAN goes down. Of course, you can also define basic PPP settings and modem init string.
Re:Modem instructions for the Barricade? (Score:1)
I know most times when my Cable modem fritzes (kinda like yesterday during the unSuper Bowl) the modem will either not respond with a DHCP renewal, or give me a "fake" bridging address (192.168.100.11 seems to be the key). Also, the current router I use (bbiagent floppy router) doesn't necessarily lose the address as soon as the cable modem loses connection, so there's no real testing going on in my current firewall....
Thanks!
Re:Modem instructions for the Barricade? (Score:1)
Another post has also mentioned using another PC with Slackware (or heck, even Windows ICS), but I have to ask if sharing the connection doesn't, by definition, hurt their access already.
Seriously, I've tried to get two computers to share one modem, and it was like getting two people to share a phone booth, but more painful. Depending upon usage patterns, we could be talking serious slow-downs, here. That general stat about only 10% of users on a shared connection actually using it doesn't apply when you're at 56k.
Don't do it, man. The only thing worse than having no internet access is having half of one. At least when the net is down, you can go in the other room and watch TV.
Airport configuration (Score:4, Informative)
Apple has also released a Windows utility [apple.com] to configure the Airport (it isn't Java). If you don't have Windows box, perhaps it will run under WINE?
Re:Airport configuration (Score:2)
Re:Airport configuration (Score:2)
MAC address cloning ... *or* DHCP Release (Score:2, Informative)
That is a nice feature in the SMC barricade, but is not usually necessary for broadband provided you can make what ever computer have plugged into your cable modem do a DHCP Release. This causes the remote DHCP server to "take back" your IP address and stop associating it with your MAC address.
Then you're free to plug any piece of hardware into your cable modem, and your connection should continue to work fine.
One warning though: if you do plug a network router that doesn't do MAC address cloning, make sure it is able to do this "release" prior to having it discover its first IP address. If it cannot release, then you may have trouble with your ISP if you try to disconnect the router and operate without it.
Pick up a catalog or something. (Score:3, Informative)
www.wavelan.com
Re:Pick up a catalog or something. (Score:1)
Airport (Score:1)
Dlink has one (Score:2, Informative)
MultiTech RouteFinder family (Score:2)
D-Link DI-713 (Score:2)
I know, I know, it's and extra box to lug around, but I already had an extra modem to use on mine, until I got broadband.
It works pretty well, you can set the inactivty timeout, and everything.
486DX2 66 (Score:1, Informative)
I know it's kinda chunky, but it kept all my boxes online for months until I got DSL and a cisco router.
Score +1, Informative? (Score:2)
- A.P.
Let me ask you this.... (Score:3, Insightful)
I know most hotel rooms if they do have a analog port to plugin to, they are not always in the right spots, especially in a Motel 6, so this may not seem nice, but when are you in a hotel, for business, why are you staying at a hotel that doesn't have a nice desk in the room like a Hilton? (I was at one once and this worked great when I borrowed a department laptop so I can check e-mail when at a conference.....). When on vacation, if I had a laptop, I may surf in the morning looking up local stuff, and maybe check my e-mail, but after that I unplug and remain that way until the next day. Same would go at my parents house. They have a computer and so does my brother for that matter. I can use either in a pinch.
Re:Let me ask you this.... (Score:1)
"When on vacation, if I had a laptop, I may surf in the morning looking up local stuff, and maybe check my e-mail, but after that I unplug and remain that way until the next day."
You obviously have a rather low 'GQ' - Geek Quotient. I mean seriously, what is up with this blasphemy...first you admit to not having a laptop (hello, it's for you - the 1990's are calling) and then you go so far as to not spend the entire day online while vacationing. How do you live?
Wow, how did you ever find this site!!! Away with you, geek imposter!!!
3Com OfficeConnect 56K LAN Modem (Score:1)
RG-1000 (Score:2, Informative)
I've got one, and I love it.