worrning for people getting or using DSL USB modems

[scotter]

well most people Know I just started using DSL about a month ago I'm using a Efficent Networks SpeedStream 4060 CIP/1483 USB ADSL modem and this thing is the biggest system and resource Hog I have ever seen

bench marking with sandra 2000 my CPU marks drop from 1170 MIPS to 740 MIPS memory marks go from 140+ to 80ish and that is with nothing running just windows 98se the drivers for this modem and the modem pluged in
I called PacBell about it and they told me yeah we know that modem is a resourse hog http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif
they have been really good so far and are sending a new modem and NIC card so it's not that big a deal
but I just wanted you all to know to watch out for these modems and or any other USB type DSL modem

by the way PacBell has been really good so far called me a few times to make sure every thing is running right took care or all my probelms so far realy quickly I would Highly recomend there DSL to anyone

hope this helps some of you http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[brandon184]

My dsl modem has no connections to my machine whatsoever, other than the rj-45 cable that goes to the ethernet card.

- Brandon

[socalgal]

Wow, scotter, you must have done something right in life http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif because any and all dealings I've had w/PacBell were hellish! (not insinuating I've done something *wrong* in life hehe http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif )

<rant>I had switched from ELN (Earthlink) to PacBell several months ago in an attempt to get a static IP. The phone hassles, rude ppl, unreturned calls and, yes, changing their story - 3x!! on an installation date was so infuriating, I went right back to ELN, who took care of me in one day.</rant>

I'm happy for your successful dealings with PacBell and their truthfulness in admitting their modem was junk - but for me there was no joy with them.

I'm using an Alcatel 1000ADSL with practically no problems. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 06-26-2000).]

[brandon184]

hehe.. Socalgal.

I have that exact same modem.. Have had absolutely no problems with it whatsoever. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

- Brandon

[scotter]

sorry to hear about your bad time with Pacbell Socalgal must be a L.A. thing, down here in San deigo they are actualy pretty good they have really inpressed me with what they have done, all the phone call's to make sure I'm happy, and to make sure every thing got fixed when I did have a problem.

And I dont think they have a cap on my line as I've had it up to 3M/sec doing mulitiple downloads at one time http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

for a bad time try cox cable in san deigo
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by scotter (edited 06-26-2000).]

[SysOpt]

Yeah, SWBell in Dallas has started using USB modems, as have many other ISP's I believe. I'd stick with regular ones that connect to an ethernet card via a Cat 5 cable, personally.

Pacbell in the bay area was pretty decent to deal with. Took a couple weeks for install, got problems sorted out fairly quickly. Only problem was that they didn't add my IP block to their SMTP server (the server was refusing connections for my outgoing mail) and the moron customer service people couldn't understand what my problem was since THEY could send mail to my pacbell account. Dolts. An enginner finally fixed it in 2 seconds.

[This message has been edited by SysOpt (edited 06-27-2000).]

[BFlurie]

Scotter, does the modem have a program, tray icon, or such that runs unnecessarily in the background? Alot of software these days, to keep up with the "Jones", have a plethora of bells & whistles that aren't needed.

[scotter]

yes it hace a icon that shows the modem stat's all the time but that is not whats eating all the power it's the modem it's self I can shut that part down with out a diffurance
just to let ya know how really bad this modem is I ran 3Dmark2000 with this peice of **** hooked up I scored 530 with it unpluged I scored 1258
pacbell will be here friday to replace it thank god.
and thank god for bench mark programsor I would have never known that this modem suck's
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Biff]

Scotter could you clue me in. I just got @home sevice usb. I dont know if my cable modem is adsl. my sandra scores seem ok (2165 mips) I had a real tough time getting this going and dont particulary want to remove usb cable and do another benchmark unless I'm in the questionable category http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif

[scotter]

if your CPU scores are that high I dont think you need to worry http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif sounds like you have a preaty rockin system there and if it is using any resoures it's not hurting like it does with my K6-2
If you really do want to know at this point upluging your USB cable should not have any negitive effect on your connection for the most part once you have a usb device set up and running unpluging it is not going to mess with it thats the nice thing about usb PLUG and play when ever you want once you have the drivers and all installed.
you dont need to uninstall the drivers just unplug it.

[Biff]

Thankz for the reply scotter. I thought benchmark was ok, perhaps I'll look into it once I get my system more stable.