DSL Modem question

[Slick5150]

So I'm thinking of dumping Comcast HSI and signing up with a local DSL provider that offers DSL without having to have a phonline (since SBC will not give me that option).

Anyways, you have 2 choices for the modem. Either A) Buy it from them for $99, or B) Rent it for $5 per month. Now I thought it might be better to just buy a DSL modem on eBay for cheap and hook it up, so I sent them an email about whether I could do that and got this response:

"About the modem, you can purchase your own modem from the manufacture,
Paradyne, but you would then be responsible for purchasing the firmware
for the modem. Paradyne modems are not able to be purchased in local
retail shops.

If you obtain your own modem you will want to do so after your order has
been placed to assure you get the proper model number. The model number
would be based on the equipment assignment that you are issued by our
company which isn't determined until your service is ordered.

When we purchase our firmware license we purchase a network wide
firmware license that allows us to upgrade all modems that have serial
numbers that have been in our inventory.

We perform upgrades on all modems that we ship to our customers prior
to shipping. If you decide to go with the manufactures modem it will not
come with the upgrade and we will not support it."

Now then, that leaves me with a couple questions

1) Are DSL modems that specific that I'd have to have the specific Paradyne modem for it to work?

2) Purchase firmware license? What does that even mean?

Anybody know more about this than I do?

 

[Budman]

You can buy a modem from Ebay & use it no problem.

I bought one for 5$. and it works fine.

 

[Lalakai]

just make sure that the modem specifications match up with your provider's guidelines. Quite often the independant DSL providers use proprietary modems, requiring you to use their equipment or find an exact match. Good luck


ps budman, good to see another old timer. lol

 

[Budman]

A good link to learn about equipement is here

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/faq/1.1%20Equipment

FAQ';s about SBC http://www.dslreports.com/faq/amfaq


Hello to you too Lalakai.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: Lalakai
just make sure that the modem specifications match up with your provider's guidelines. Quite often the independant DSL providers use proprietary modems, requiring you to use their equipment or find an exact match. Good luck


ps budman, good to see another old timer. lol

So it is possible that only their Paradyne modems will work then? Bummer

 

[Ike0069]

Wait 'til they run a special. They should have offers of something like "Free modem after rebate with 1 yr. sign-up", or similar. Just tell them to call you when they run a special. Sometimes they will give you a deal right then.