Verizon DSL and Windows 98se

philo wrote in :

If the software does not run on win98 then unless the ISP can activate
it over the phone (which is doubtful) one must use a supported OS to run
the software.


Agreed on the other points, but (at least, in the UK...) the activation is
normally done manually during the initial contact once payment methods and
contract terms are arranged and accepted. The ISP staff do this and
specifically announce by voice or email that they have done this. Blueyonder
once used their own software, but they could never enfoce people to use it,
so they didn't. It's easier to activate the account the moment the user has
signed up and paid something. Then all they need is TCP/IP networking, and
name and pass which they enter into theiur modem settings..

To bypass any ISP's insistence on proprietary OS-liming software, just angle
for a member of staff who isn't a moron, and tell them you use Linux or BSD.
If you mention BSD or Unix they are likely to assume you know more than they
do and be very helpful and polite instead of insisting you use Windows.

philo wrote:

Many ISP's require your account to be activated...
and without activation you will not have working service.

Without looking more into the matter on the verizon forum on
dslreports, I'd have to say that I've never heard of any such
"activation" with regard to residential DSL service.

Then you have never activated a DSL account...

I've had direct involvement or helped about a dozen people and small
business's set up their DSL lines.

In all these cases, the "activation" as you call it, is simply the
customer calling the ISP and ordering DSL service on their existin POTS
line. The ISP sends a package in the mail containing the modem, some
splitters, and a booklet containing instructions (like their assigned
user-name and password). A CD might also come with this package, but
it's just a bunch of 3'rd party software (like trial-ware Anti-virus and
other junk).

Some ISP's try to make a business out of offering crap like extra
"internet" security, and this may involve "activation", and by doing so
you are agreeing to the terms and conditions of that extra crap - and
the extra monthly fees that go along with it.

I've helped friends set up accounts several times
and in order for the account to work...it must be activated from
the users location using the software supplied by the ISP.

What ISP was that with?

Was it Verizon?

Was it DSL / phone-based, or cable-based internet service?

who where wrote:

Depending on the line topology you have, a "central" splitter (i.e.
high-pass/low-pass) can be a better way of doing this.

I agree, but I'm anticipating that the user's level of technical ability
precludes trying to describe and impliment that method of filter
placement.

In message ,
Lostgallifreyan writes:
[]
Depending on the line topology you have, a "central" splitter (i.e.
high-pass/low-pass) can be a better way of doing this.


In the UK there's supposed to be a central one on the master socket. Mine was
supposed to be ADSL2, but it's only ADSL1, but I don't mind, it usually works
ok. I might not see maximum speeds but with others sharing a pool of ISP DHCP
assigned IP's I rarely would anyway.
[]
I think the idea is that: if you have a master socket into which
everything else is plugged, via adaptors, extension leads, and so on -
and, you're going to put your ADSL MoDem near the master socket - then,
yes, you can put one central "microfilter" (basically the high and low
pass filters) the it goes into the master socket, with all your
extensions going into one side of it, and the MoDem going into the
other. If you have extensions wired into the master socket, you need
microfilters on each such extension (plus the master if you're plugging
anything into that as well).

The idea is that, if you follow the line into your house, along all the
splits and extensions, then you must not reach any equipment without
having gone through a microfilter. In particular, there must not be any
ordinary telephone equipment (telephones, answering machines, burglar
alarms, even ordinary dialup modems) on the same "segment" as any ADSL
equipment.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

If you are afraid of being lonely, don't try to be right. - Jules Renard,
writer (1864-1910)

"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote in
:

In message ,
Lostgallifreyan writes:
[]
Depending on the line topology you have, a "central" splitter (i.e.
high-pass/low-pass) can be a better way of doing this.


In the UK there's supposed to be a central one on the master socket.
Mine was supposed to be ADSL2, but it's only ADSL1, but I don't mind, it
usually works ok. I might not see maximum speeds but with others sharing
a pool of ISP DHCP assigned IP's I rarely would anyway.
[]
I think the idea is that: if you have a master socket into which
everything else is plugged, via adaptors, extension leads, and so on -
and, you're going to put your ADSL MoDem near the master socket - then,
yes, you can put one central "microfilter" (basically the high and low
pass filters) the it goes into the master socket, with all your
extensions going into one side of it, and the MoDem going into the
other. If you have extensions wired into the master socket, you need
microfilters on each such extension (plus the master if you're plugging
anything into that as well).


The first part of your description is right, but the second, while logically
right, causes trouble in practise. Well, in theory anyway..

My ADSL (despite using an ADSL1 master socket) is actually ADSL2+, G.992.5,
up to 24 Mbps (not that I'm paying for that much, so I don't get it), at a
frequency of 2.2 MHz.
(Info found he http://www.kitz.co.uk/adsl/adsl_tech...tm#frequencies)
At above 1MHz it's well into shortwave radio frequencies, so RF stuff
applies, specifically that if you have some wire attached to the main feed,
branching off from it, a 'stub' is formed, and that can work strongly at some
lengths for a fixed frequency, reducing signal strength at the intended
device.

I don't know how much this problem exists in this situation, but I bet it
does exist because the simplest way to solve it is the intended single
splitter filter that makes sure no other cable can form a stub (because
there's only one remaining line the RF signal can follow).

The idea is that, if you follow the line into your house, along all the
splits and extensions, then you must not reach any equipment without
having gone through a microfilter. In particular, there must not be any
ordinary telephone equipment (telephones, answering machines, burglar
alarms, even ordinary dialup modems) on the same "segment" as any ADSL
equipment.

That would work for the equipment plugged in at each location, but only if
the RF signal getting there was not degraded by all the stubs formed on the
supply side of the filters. An unfortunately sized stub accidentally formed
by some other line-plugged device, might cause more signal loss than omitting
the filter entirely in any case where no stub exists.

I think BT used to expect people to get their own filters, or at least charge
extra if they supplied one, but when they set up my service they let me have
it at no extra charge (no doubt why they made it a cheaper, less wanted ADSL1
type given that I wasn't exactly after ADSL2 speeds on a budget service). I
think their reasoning was that if they fit a single filter, up front, it
saves them money finding out that people made stubs by fitting separate ones
elsewhere on extension lines. Equally, they brought in a nasty habit of
charging LARGE fees for engineer callouts that were only refunded IF the
problem was proven to be a BT-originating fault. As this scares people
(including me) into not calling them out at all unless the line is as
unambiguously dead as Python's parrot, I bet a lot of people never discover
that their service isn't what it should be (because a modem will try a lower
data rate to try to overcome noise or attenuation). Either that or they
discuss it on forums and Usenet, maybe not knowing why.

philo wrote:

I've helped friends set up accounts several times
and in order for the account to work...it must be activated from
the users location using the software supplied by the ISP.

I ask again - What ISP was that with?