Need help with DSL

from WinCustomize Forums
I just got my "self-installation" kit with for my new DSL connection. The service doesn't come on till tomorrow though.

Reading through the installation guide it says the telephone cable from the jack to the modem shouldn't be more than 10 feet long. Is this correct? My desk is about 25 ft. away from the jack.

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Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
The signal for DSL is very sensitive to line length. You can't get DSL service in most areas if you live more than 2mi from the local exchange office either. Longer than 10' will probably work just fine assuming you're not at the edge of the service area and that you have relatively sound wiring in the house. Just be warned that tech support will refuse to fix things if they find that you're using a longer cable, since that's "not supported"
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Are you planning on getting a Router? Most of the Verizon or Cable deals come with a Modem/Router all in one piece. Put that at the 10' range then use a Cat 5 cable from there to your machine farther away.

If the kit does Not come with a router / modem unit and it is just the modem, go buy a router and then the process goes like this:
Tel Jack to Modem
Modem to Router
Router to your pc

The router is a must if you are doing a home network; has built in firewall as such. If you are unfamiliar with this, just head to CompUSA and ask, they'll set you up.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top

Has your line been toned out?  If not, it may be a lot longer than just a day as they will have to go to the CO and pull out any repeaters (signal boosters) they have installed as they do not work with DSL.  What was supposed to be 2 weeks for me, turned into 2 months before they finally got it straight.

And like Sushi says, keep the Telephone line length short and use CAT 5 from a Gateway/Router to you computer.  Most computer stores sell both if you did not get one with the kit.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm not sure about "toned out". They said it will be on by 7 p.m. tomorrow and not try to connect before that.

As far as cable length goes I'm not sure what to do. I guess I could set my modem up on my entertainment center (which is by the jack), and just run a long CAT 5 to the computer.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As far as cable length goes I'm not sure what to do. I guess I could set my modem up on my entertainment center (which is by the jack), and just run a long CAT 5 to the computer.


And RUN A FIREWALL. That is what the gateway/router actually does. If you are going naked on the Internet, make sure you have ZoneAlarm (Free). It is better than the XP Version by far (Norton's just sucks).
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have Trend Micro Internet Security, and I just bought a router with a built-in firewall.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Trend Micro Internet Security


The best, IMO.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
and I just bought a router with a built-in firewall.


any chance that router is wireless?
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yes it is.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Go ahead, Craig.....you tell him........
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Set your wireless router and DSL modem right next to the phone jack. Plug modem into phone jack and router into modem. Use you computer (with wireless card) anywhere within reach of your wireless signal. 25 ft should be easy unless there's a large lead box between your desk and the router.

I recommend Wireless G or Super G if you need to add any hardware.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Island Dog, I just set up my new DSL after moving, I have a 3 meg service, have a 40 foot 20251 telephone cable from jack to modem. My download rate is 300 KB/ sec. Before moving had a much slower service, switching from 40 foot cable to a 6 foot cable made no difference at all.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The DSL wouldn't come on so I called tech support and he got me going. What I did was I went to Radio Shack and bought a rounded CAT 3 phone cable and used that. I actually got better speeds than the 10ft. cable Sprint provided.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
There's no reason to ever run that much phone line, just put your modem by the phone jack in the wall, and run cat5 to your computer or lan from the modem. The 10' thing isn't nearly as important as the quality of the phone line, too. If it has had kinks in it, been stepped on a lot, etc., it seriously degrades performance. There's also stuff about running it paralel to in-wall electric cables. I don't remember. I didn't take it into consideration and I get all my 1.5,

Just take your modem, and find someplace close to the phone jack for it to live. That way your skinny phone cord is only a couple of feet long. My modem had phone-style hangers on the back, so it just hangs on the wall by the jack.

I've seen them run CAT5 a long way through office buildings, so I doubt 15 or 20 feet is going to be a problem for it.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The Sprint tech told me I could use a regular CAT 5 cable from the modem to my computer. He said I have to use a crossover cable.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
CAT 5 can be run up to a max length of 100 meters (328 feet)
Unless you have a really big house, you should be fine.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Crossover is still CAT5, the wires are just reversed on one jack. You use the same roll of cable to make them.

They sell them in all different lengths. Just get you a 15' crossover and keep your modem by the phone jack. As long as you don't damage the CAT5 you're gold. Or you could just do wireless and keep your wireless router there, too, and run no long cables at all.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks everybody. I bought a Belkin wireless router and couldn't get it to work, so went and bought a Linksys. Had it up and running in less than 10 minutes with all my computers.

The DSL didn't come on when it was supposed to so a quick call to Sprint and an hour later it was finally on. I have been running it all week and the service is great. What a difference from dial-up to DSL.

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The DSL didn't come on when it was supposed to so a quick call to Sprint and an hour later it was finally on.


That beats my 2 weeks with Cavtel all to hell!
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My cable came on boom- right when it was supposed to.

It seems DSL providers have troouble keeping promises.
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
The whoel cable DSL argument is garbage, and shouldn't be carried over to this. Cable isn't an ounce better than DSL, and the stuff they say about phone lines on the commercials are lies. I get the same speed as cable users, and if I wanted to pay more, I could get a lot more.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The whoel cable DSL argument is garbage, and shouldn't be carried over to this. Cable isn't an ounce better than DSL, and the stuff they say about phone lines on the commercials are lies. I get the same speed as cable users, and if I wanted to pay more, I could get a lot more.


We are not arguing performance, because I do agree with you there. Just on promises vs delivery.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have never had cable so do not know if there is anything that needs to be setup for it as your telephone line does for DSL. If not and they just flip a switch getting setup for cable will be faster, instant. One reason I prefer DSL is that if you are on a different power grid than your cable provider and they have a power failure you will most likely be without service. It takes a heck of a lot more for telephone services to go out, backups on top of backups.
Just my opinion, just my 2 cents.
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
The only reason cable is easier is because there is no choice involved. I have DSL piped through my phoneline, but I don't have my phone company as my ISP. Setting that up took extra effort.

So, ease is a double edged sword. Usually the more robust and option-filled something is, the more complex it is to set up. I have a static IP. Screw that with Cable, though it caused an extra step in setting up DSL.

Cable is "easy" in the same way that AOL is "easy". For people who like things done for them, it is the option to take, and I don't begrudge them that. The menial complexity of DSL is nothing compared to the options it provides, though.