<< i can't use the mail and news as my server names, becouse the way they set up thier system, you are acttually part of thier network connected via the cable modem (as a big workgroup). that is why they change your computer name and workgroup name in the computer id. the beauty of thier system is this a way to prevent you from adding more computers to service without getting another id. >>
You need to type out the full name of the email and news servers and then you will have access. You can get the full name by calling customer support, or, if you look through the paperwork they left with you, it should be listed somewhere in there in a cryptic fashion. And they aren't really setting everyone up in a big workgroup. The computer name is used to grab an IP address off of the DHCP server on their end used to give everyone IP addresses. And you can't add more computers to their network because IP addresses need to be unique.
<< the linksys router takes the place of this by holding the id within the router and the letting you have an indepedent network connected and then the router makes it apper as if all internet requests are coming from that one computer. >>
The Linksys router uses the ID to request a DHCP assigned IP address from @Home DHCP server, and then uses NAT to redirect accesses to the correct computer behind the router. This is also how the router acts like a poor-man's firewall.
<< that is how they get away with only using "mail" and "news" (ect) insted of full pop/smtp or nntp addresses. that being said, the info that they gave me does not include any REAL news or mail server that will exist outside of the workgroup. if i call and ask for it they will get in to the "if you are set-up properly you wouldn't need that
information crap. >>
The full addresses actually exist - you just need to figure out what they are. The @Home software package would have set them up for you, but since, like most of us on here, you didn't bother with it then you need to be more cunning to figure it out. They gave me a large yellow carbonized piece of paper with everything about the network listed on that. If you didn't get this paper, you can probably still figure out what the name of your node is by running a tracert on something like Yahoo.Com, grabbing the first name that it comes up with, and putting "mail" and/or "news" in front of this address.
You can call them, put up with their snide comments, and then get the information in spite of this.
<< as far as the uncappers go, i SWEAR that when i hook up strait to the modem (as apposed to through the router- which i will get to in a second) my speed increases substantially. do the uncappers work and will they work on a machine NOT running the @home software? >>
I've never heard conclusive proof that the uncappers actually work. Even if they do work, it shouldn't be hard for @Home to discover that you have modified their equipment and yank your service.
<< Has anyone else had performance increases or decreases using a router vs strait through? I don't know maybe i need to check a few more times (i tested 2 or 3 times as it is a pain switching back and forth). >>
I checked this several times and noticed no difference in download performance. I downloaded the same compressed file from Microsoft's site late at night with the router hooked up and not hooked up and I could see no bandwidth loss or latency increase with the router hooked up.
<< Which brings me to my final question: is freesco, coyote linux or linux router project going to be better then just staying with my existing linksys router or should i stay with what i got? >>
Using Linux with IP Masquerading is definitely better than running a cheap Linksys router. You have more control, the security is much better, you have way more logging options, etc. But it shouldn't be faster. It will probably be much more expensive (since even the lowest of low-end computers usually runs around $300) unless you have a spare machine, or you get a good deal.