Subject: Re: DSL situation
From: Sean O. Denney (sdenney@cise.ufl.edu)
Date: Mon Oct 30 2000 - 11:37:20 MST
I have BellSouth DSL, and was using their Enternet Software. At the
time I ordered my DSL from them, I also ordered a LinkSys Etherfast
Cable/DSL Router (4-port version). The router allows me to trash
Bell$outh's crap *ss software and use the router's builtin PPPoE
connectivity. The router also allows me to network more than one
computer (PC/Mac/Linux) by using DHCP.
PPPoE is not a proprietary protocol. It is a protocol which allows
DSL providers to conserve bandwidth, a la modem dialup access. In
other words, the provider does not have to commit bandwidth to you
while you are idle.
I have dealt with Bell$outh in the past, and they are the most
disorganized company outside the government. When I ordered my DSL
service, I had to get the pro-install because I had a mac. The DSL
modem that I received was an Ethernet based modem (another reason for
the pro install).
The man that came to my house said the mac is the easiest platform to
set the service up on. Even though Bell$outh does not support home
networking, he told me that it was "all good".
One thing I have learned... NEVER EVER CALL BELL$OUTH FOR SUPPORT ON
ANYTHING!!
--- Sean Denney
On Mon, 30 Oct 2000, Dr S Douglass wrote:
> Ok. Here is the deal. Bellsouth is a pain in the keister.
>
> I called again today and spoke to one of the higher ups, and it seems they
> use a propriatary protocol to prevent people from using DSL to have
> unauthorized accounts. Explanation. They use a special Enternet software to
> keep people who already own DSL modems from "hacking" into Bellsouth and
> getting free service. And I was told unless I have a supported OS, I had
> better not try and use this service. Apparently, I need the special
> Bellsouth Enternet front end to us my DSL account, and I was told that
> unauthorized use of my acount, or any tampering with my account would result
> in termination of my service.
>
> Now, that said. What should I do. is this at all true, and do they actually
> have a right to do this?
>
> Also, from the Mac front, I was rather insulted by this rude twit. He said,
> as follows. "it is bad enough we have to support Macs on our network, and
> now we have Mac Linux. We have no plans to support Mac Linux now, or at any
> time in the future. I apologize sir, but, this is a niche market, and merely
> a passing novelty. And just for your information, we do not support the OSX
> beta that Apple has been distributing. Thank you for using bellsouth." And
> then he hung up. So there is the deal.
>
> Any ideas as to a work around? Cable modems are not available in my area,
> and are Windows peecees only in the area where they are thanks to Charter
> Communications.
>
> Any advice would be wonderful.
> Feeling discouraged in South Carolina, the polar south of the technical
> mecha, <dr_s_douglass@mac.com>
>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2a24 : Mon Oct 30 2000 - 12:45:16 MST