Anybody here do the installation of DSL?

[Emibub]

I am upgrading to DSL. I had to replace my cell phone due to an unfortunate "accident" and in talking with them I got a package deal for landline, cell and DSL for only $30 more than I am paying now, plus 500 more cell minutes. I have been investigating a second line, which even a utility line will set me back $30 a month and installation is another $100.

I was told I could save $100 installation fee on the DSL if I installed myself. I was told it was really "easy". Just got the package today and lo and behold there are filters and cords and plugs and a chippy looking thing that indicates to me I will have to remove the cover of my computer. Not my strong suit to be sure.

Wish me luck, I'm going in, if I don't see you guys on the other side, please remember me fondly(or not).

 

[Less]

Yes, it's easy.

 

[WizSteve]

I've installed DSL in two locations, and I've noticed just a couple of important things they don't tell you when you sign up:

1. Alarm systems. Many monitored alarm systems, like ADT or Brinks, have a patch on the phone circuit so in case of emergency it can break a call and dial for help. So if you have one of those, you'll need the alarm company to put a filter on the their phone connection. Or, you can:

2. Request a splitter. If you have an extra line available, the phone company can install a simple splitter in the box outside of your location. This puts all the DSL traffic on it's own copper pair and then you don't have to bother with any filters anywhere. You just have to rewire the phone jack where you want the DSL. Highly recommended.

I've been lucky and gotten the telco to install the splitter free of charge both times, but a coworker had to pay like 80 bucks for a guy to come out and install the splitter. You can also find them on Ebay if you're really frisky and install it yourself (if you know what you're doing).

After that, the hardest part of installing the DSL is just setting up your network connection, which isn't that hard and your ISP can walk you through that in less than 20 minutes.

and a chippy looking thing that indicates to me I will have to remove the cover of my computer.

That's probably the network / ethernet card, which lets your computer talk to the DSL modem or any other computer you have that's also got a "NIC" (network interface card).

Mike has some good info you might want to check out..

[ 12-03-2003, 04:39 AM: Message edited by: WizSteve ]

 

[katman]

Don't forget to unplug the computer. You are fun to have around so we don't want Ron reporting that his shop voices are singing about your untimely demise.

 

[Emibub]

Originally posted by WizSteve:
1. Alarm systems. Many monitored alarm systems, like ADT or Brinks, have a patch on the phone circuit so in case of emergency it can break a call and dial for help. So if you have one of those, you'll need the alarm company to put a filter on the their phone connection. [/QB]

See, this is exactly why I posted this.......I saw the picture in the instructions of the alarm system and looked right by it. For whatever reason I decided it wasn't anything I needed to know about and I do have ADT. In fact, as I am reading it it says to not proceed but to have a technician do the installation. What a racket, they told me I could save the $100 to install but they didn't even ask me if I had a security system. This is waaaaaay over my head.

Maybe I'll send it back.......

P. S. Also, Katman, last year when I took several hours to try to remove the cover off of my computer it never occurred to me to unplug it......so thanks for the tip!

[ 12-03-2003, 02:24 PM: Message edited by: Emibub ]

 

[JudyN]

Kathy
Just have qwest hook it up. Let them be responsible for doing it right.
We were one of the first to get DSL in our area. Qwest sent in a guy in a cowboy hat and his telephone tools hung on his waist like a gunslinger! It was so new here even cowboy did not know how to do it. It took at least 2 months to get it done.

 

[Emibub]

I suppose I will have Qwest do it Judy, but I wish they would have asked a couple pertinent questions first. Like..."Have you ever, or are you capable of removing your cover off of the computer?" I foolishly assumed it would just be hooking up cords and wires and such. Didn't know I was going to have to "go in". When I call I will request the "cowboy" installer. Hope he has it down to less than two months though. Was that a solid, night and day two months? Or was it, "Oops, forgot the screwdriver, I'll be right back" two months?

 

[Leslie S.]

Kathy,
Except for the security system issue, it really isn't very hard to install DSL. As I recall, your computer is fairly new and probably came with an ethernet card already in it. You can tell by looking at the back, the hole looks like an oversized telephone plug-in spot. If it already has this port, you can skip the part where you have to remove the cover of the computer. (Even if you have to do this, it is not hard to do.)
The kit probably came with a CD. If you load this first, it will walk you through each step, with large colorful pictures!!! Basically, it goes like this: first you install the software, then you hook up the modem to a phone jack (using a regular phone line) and to an electrical plug. The little filter gizmo is only needed if you are going to use the same jack for your telephone (the DSL alone does not really need a filter, its just to filter out the noise of the DSL on your phone line) and also a filter goes on all other jacks that have phones. It plugs into the wall jack, and has one slot for the regular phone, and one for the DSL modem. The ethernet cable (the big fat one,usually yellow) goes from the modem into the ethernet port on the back of your computer.
At this point, the modem and computer are booted up. The software will direct you to the next step, which will probably involve calling in so that you can establish your DSL name and password. They will also help configure your computer so that it will know what to do. One very important point, when you get to the place where an option is "never dial a connection" be sure to select this. Otherwise, if the DSL is down, it will connect on a regular connection, and you will be racking up a big phone bill!!!
Good luck, it's really not as hard as it sounds.

Leslie

 

[Emibub]

Originally posted by Leslie S.:
Kathy,
As I recall, your computer is fairly new and probably came with an ethernet card already in it. You can tell by looking at the back, the hole looks like an oversized telephone plug-in spot. If it already has this port, you can skip the part where you have to remove the cover of the computer. (Even if you have to do this, it is not hard to do.)

Leslie

Yes Leslie, I looked and it does indeed have the pluggy inny thingy, I guess I am back in the game.....