Need help on deciding the what and how with this

[CorCentral]

Looking to make the move from Dial-Up to DSL in Jan. I have a fairly recently built computer and I'm sure I have everything I need for welcoming DSL but want to make sure I get it all right and have things in order.

Mb is an Intel 955x and has onboard Lan. Everything else you can check in my rig profile. Do I need to do anything else to prepare for installation? I'll just have it installed by them this one time so I don't make any mistakes.


My Telephone company offers these packages:
Firewire DSL - 384/192..................$29.95
Firewire DSL - 768/384..................$36.95
Firewire DSL - 1.5/768...................$50.45
Firewire DSL - 3.0/768....................$54.95
Installation.......................................$99.00*
*Waived with 12 month contract


Since I'm signed up for telephone service through them, I'm sure I'll get a break on the pricing above. I don't download that much, as in movies, music or anything, but I'd like to see a definate speed increase with an occasional (50mb) download or two.......... Will 768/384 be a decent upgrade? How much faster is this than dial-up? What do you guys use?


One more thing
If they were to come out tomorrow and install, what do I need to have ready? Any extras you can add would be great.


Here are their recommended modems:
Recommended Equipment

* Technical support is NOT available if a diff. modem is bought, other than what's on this list:
Netopia
3341 Ethernet or USB Bridge Modem (in stock - $108.00)

Siemens
5830 Four port Router (in stock - $300.00)

 

[tyanni]

Whatever you do, don't pay 300 for a router.

 

[JackMDS]

This is a complicated World; I do not know where you are located, and what knowledge and learning abilities are.

So as far as I am concerned.

1. USB Modem is the biggest NO NO of Networking. If you have only one computer, and have no planning what so ever to use more than one, or and to go Wireless, then USB is OK, otherwise it is a Big mistake to get one.
2. The Siemens is a combo Modem Router, it is better choice, but $300 is a Super Inflated price for this device (should be under $100).

The DSL companies have to provide you with functional connection. I do not know what support for the Modem and Router means in this specific case, in general their support concerning such devices is useless whether you bough from them or Not.

If you are not at the edge of the specific service, and you in-home lines are good. 768Kb/sec. would provide you with 80KB/sec. download (which is about 12 times faster than good dialup connection).

:sun:

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
This is a complicated World; I do not know where you are located, and what knowledge and learning abilities are.

So as far as I am concerned.

1. USB Modem is the biggest NO NO of Networking. If you have only one computer, and have no planning what so ever to use more than one, or and to go Wireless, then USB is OK, otherwise it is a Big mistake to get one.
2. The Siemens is a combo Modem Router, it is better choice, but $300 is a Super Inflated price for this device (should be under $100).

The DSL companies have to provide you with functional connection. I do not know what support for the Modem and Router means in this specific case, in general their support concerning such devices is useless whether you bough from them or Not.

If you are not at the edge of the specific service, and you in-home lines are good. 768Kb/sec. would provide you with 80KB/sec. download (which is about 12 times faster than good dialup connection).

:sun:

Reside in TN and am knowledgeable enough to have built my last 5 computers over the years with zero problems (well the first was a learning curve). Reading is fundamental and this a the main reason I joined this site 5 years ago with questions on my first build 😉
Support for the modem is usually...... If you have any problems with connectivity, you're SOL if you don't use their modem.

Stay away from USB modem, check!
Can I purchase the modem they recommend from a site like NewEgg or is this a crap item such as a cable box a cable company rents out for your tv?

Am I set to go and have them install other than purchasing a modem? I'll be using some sort of Norton Internet Security Suite because I've had zero problems with it in the past and have never had a virus, etc.

Any other info I need?