AOL DSL users, a question.

[Duckers]

Unlike other DSL providers; AOL DSL wouldn't let you use a Router to share the DSL connection simultaneously, right?

Since you would have to login twice under the same screen name....

Are my conclusions correct?

 

[chiwawa626]

wouldnt you be able to use a internet sharring program on a network, like you could with anything

 

[Duckers]

I didn't say that you couldn't use win98 ICS.

I don't use ICS.

It is more practical to access the internet independently.

 

[corkyg]

AOL DSL? SOunds like a contradiction in terms. Anyway, you don't login . . . DSL is always connected. If AOL has some sort of sneaky sensor that can detect a router . . . I would not hesitate to leave them instantly and sign up with a real ISP.

 

[Duckers]

Well, this is my analogy:

Say you are using your main computer to access the internet via AOL.

You have a laptop connected to that computer which is sharing that internet connection. You wouldn't be able to sign on via TCP/IP with your AOL screen name. ( one screen name at a time ).

However, you would be able to open an Internet Explorer window and browse the internet.


I assume that if you get AOL DSL, then in order to connect to the internet you would have to use the AOL software.

That's the problem I was pointing out. Most likely AOL won't let you connect 2 computers IF you are using a Router. (unless you use 1 computer as a server)

Will other services such as Bell Atlantic let you sign on twice under the same account ( 2 computers ) at the same time ???

 

[urbantechie]

AOL is suck. Everyone knows it too.

 

[Templeton]

I'd like to add to urbantechie's very helpful reply... With most other dsl services, your line is simply connected at the central office directly to your home, and there is no need to sign on. Some services use whats called PPPoe (point to point protocol over ethernet) that does force you to sign on using a username and password, however most cable/dsl routers will support this standard with little trouble. I'm not sure how aol establishes a connection with their dsl, It could very well be that there is no need to sign on to establish a dsl connection, and to access aol you simply connect through tcp/ip. If this is the case, you could simply create another screen name on your second computer, and access aol through that. Again, I have never used Aol for dsl, so I could be very wrong.

 

[Duckers]

A friend of mine has AOL DSL.
It uses PPPoE.

In order to connect to the internet you must connect using AOL.

That is; you can't connect to the internet just by opening an internet explorer window.

Some services use whats called PPPoe (point to point protocol over ethernet) that does force you to sign on using a username and password, however most cable/dsl routers will support this standard with little trouble.

Well, AOL is a special case!
I need to know if a DSL/Cable router will be able to trick AOHell

 

[andrey]

Duckers,

You'll be able to share the same DSL connection (login just once, connect up to 63 other computers) when AOL 6.0 comes out. It has that capability

 

[Duckers]

I have AOL 6.0 beta.

But isn't AOL's purpose to make it impossible to sign on at the same time under the same account?

 

[Wah]

do they sign you off for inactivity? that would suck if they did. it would be like having dialup, just faster.

 

[Duckers]

Well, according to AOL:

Surf AOL and the web at lightning speeds and enjoy entertaining multimedia content such as newscasts and music videos.

- Using your existing phone line, boost your speed up to 5,000% faster. No dialing up. No busy signals. No disconnects. And, you can talk on your phone while you're online.

- Easy to use: It's just like using AOL, only faster.

How much does AOL PLUS cost?

AOL PLUS broadband content is FREE to any AOL member using the AOL 5.0 software over a high-speed (broadband) connection. The cost of any other charges will depend on the way you connect to the AOL service. For those who do not have broadband access, AOL currently offers DSL for $19.95/month in addition to the standard monthly membership fee, based on a monthly or annual unlimited membership plan. (DSL is a technology that provides high speed over standard telephone wiring.)

How Do I Get Connected?

What to expect:
After AOL receives your DSL order, we contact your local phone company, who assigns a date to activate your DSL service. We will send you an e-mail confirming this date. We order the necessary equipment for your DSL connection and ship that directly to your home. You will receive your equipment prior to the date that your DSL service is activated.

Well take care of everything:
We will send you everything you need to connect to the AOL service and the Internet at incredible speeds. Your special DSL kit contains:
* AOL PLUS CD -- This is a special version of the AOL software.
* DSL Modem -- This modem allows your computer to utilize the DSL connection to connect instantly over your existing telephone line, up to 5,000% faster than 28.8K modem, depending on your location.
* DSL Driver CD -- This CD allows your computer to communicate with your DSL modem and connect to the AOL service.
* Phone filters -- These small devices fit onto phone jacks to allow your phone and extension phones to work with DSL.

 

[Duckers]

BTW, my friend received an USB modem, I wonder if I can request one that can be connected to my Network card.

 

[andrey]

<< But isn't AOL's purpose to make it impossible to sign on at the same time under the same account? >>



nope, depends which account and which price plan

As far as your second question regarding USB modem, you can get just NIC instead of USB modem (and have two network cards in your computer, one for DSL and one for your internal network), or you can use your own DSL modem, as long as it support PPPoE.

 

[Duckers]

Well, Bell Atlantic offers a NIC modem. The reason why I don't pay for Bell Atlantic is because I want to keep my AOL account. The total bill would be $40 BA + $10 AOL = $50 a month. Also, If I sign up for BA, they would give me a free modeum, but I must agree to keep their service for 1 year.

AOL DSL works through BA. If I get AOL DSL then the bill at the end of the month would be $40. I would also get a free modem without having to sign up for 1 year...

 

[noxipoo]

Most ISPs use PPPoE. i'm on it, and i can use 3rd party software to connect, if you want to share, you can setup 2 NICs or get a router. I think aol makes you use their software to connect to the net. read dslreports.com, aolDSL is one of the worst, why not get it from a real isp?

 

[cavingjan]

I contacted AOL about this a couple of months ago. They WILL not support external modems that would be required for a router. This is not saying that they wouldn't work but that you would be on your own as far as purchasing and using. But they are acknowledging the fact that a lot of families with multiple computers will be using this type of connection so I don't see them completely snubbing it but I don't see them in the forefront of it either.

 

[Modus]

As some one else said, AOL DSL is an oxymoron. Even dial-up AOL is nothing more than a really big BBS with a clunky window into their filtered version of the Internet. With DSL, it becomes slightly more ridiculous as you end up using TCP/IP to login to your account, which essentially means you are getting ordinary DSL service but paying extra for the privilige of visiting AOL's web site (yes that's what it is in this case, a web site, not an &quot;online service&quot;, just like AnandTech is a web site) where you pay to see what the rest of the Internet can already show you for free.

Modus

 

[Duckers]

which essentially means you are getting ordinary DSL service but paying extra for the privilige of visiting AOL's web site

Having AOL DSL is actually cheaper than having BA + AOL BYOA.
AOL DSL = $40
BA = $40
BA + AOL BYOA = $50

 

[andrey]

also Duckers, by having AOL DSL you will have free dialup from anywhere, as well if you have cell phone/pager which supports text messaging, you'll be able to check your mail, browse AOL and send IMs right from your phone

 

[Duckers]

Oh well, that's good.

But again, what I really wanted to know is whether or not I can use a ROUTER ( i don't care about ICS ) to share my AOL DSL connection so each computer can have access to the internet via AOL simultaneously and independently from each other!!

Why does this seem impossible to me?
Isn't it true that AOL won't let you sign on twice at the same time under the same account?

Would this apply in the case of a Router?

 

[Paladinexe]

Most likely AOL will disconnect the user for inactivity. Prodigy DSL does.

 

[andrey]

Duckers, on AOL-DSL account you can sign on as many times as you like, as long as you don't use dial-up, so for example if you have 7 screen names, you can be online with all 7 of them (if you have 7 computers, hehe).
As far as sharing the same connection for multiple computers, AOL 6.0 will do that for you (idea is similar to Internet Connection Sharing).

 

[noxipoo]

did AOL just get better or what? most people on dslreports.com seems to think AOL dsl is the worst.

 

[andrey]

AOL DSL is pretty decent, as long as you have good DSL modem (USB modem they give you for free is not the greatest one in the world)