ADSL Modem/Router for Airport

[sendwine]

A Mac-ed up family member is looking at getting ADSL at home. Are there any wireless modems with Apple Airport connectivity?

[jenkinsr]

I'm using a Netgear DG824M, but I've got the wireless bit turned off for the minute. I've got a few wireless capable Macs in the house, and a choice of cards lying around here somewhere, and a graphite base station.
I could probably be convinced to plug a few bits in and see what happens.

I fully expect it to work (one of the reasons I bought this model) because it's only 802.11b, not any weirdo rolling key encrypted cisco bullshit like we have at work.

Maybe I'll have a go on the weekend...
®

[sp0radic]

I would have thought most or all wireless modems would work with a Mac. Have a look at the Billion range. Or you can get a standard modem and plug one of these $99 Access Points
http://www.pcrange.com.au/index.php?page=w_minitarap&id=1
I have not tried it though.

I use an Apple laptop plugged into the modem, as my Wireless Access Point.

[Zebee]

Originally posted by jenkinsr
I'm using a Netgear DG824M, but I've got the wireless bit turned off for the minute.

I'm using a DG842 and am typing this on my Powerbook via airport.

So yeah, it works!

Zebee

[Emupooh]

Well I have just setup and have running my LAN as above.

At present both ADSL router running according to .pdf setup that Swiftel sent me. Default LAN address is the described 192.168.1.1 for the router.

That is linked to the WAN port on the Airport extreme via an Cat 5 cable. The Airport router then translates in 10.0.1.x format for the powerbooks. This works well.

Paul

[Adaxu]

Wish I had seen your post earlier Emupooh. With the risk of revealing my stupidity I relay the following.

Last month I purchased a Powerbook G4 12" complete with the Airport Extreme base station. When I made the purchase I was advised by the dealer that the base station had an inbuilt modem and that I should be able to connect to the Internet no problems even when I get Broadband.

Well, I have been happily connected using my Powerbook wirelessly through my Bigpond dial-up account since early November. Seeing that Swiftel was to increase their plan prices I decided to apply for a connection and did so on 30 November. Swiftel advised me on 8-12-03 that I had been connected by Telstra :)

Swiftel Submit Your Application To Telstra On This Date 2003-11-30
Telstra Confirms Receipt Of Your Application On This Date 2003-12-02
Telstra Confirm Plan To Activate ADSL On This Date 2003-12-09
Telstra Complete Your ADSL Activation On This Date 2003-12-05

I spent 5 hours on Monday night attempting to connect to Swiftel through the ADSL service - ignoring the warning that I had nothing connected to the WAN port, because my telephone line didn't fit that port and I thought that was irrelivant given that the base station had a built-in modem. Anyhow, I called the Mac shop on Tuesday morning and they advised that I definately needed another modem to connect to Broadband. The modem built into the base station and the Powerbook are only for dial-up!

I then rushed off to the shop to purchase the requisit modem only to find that they had none in stock and there were none in WA. I placed an order for a $259 ADSL modem (can't remember the brand) that will work with the Airport and hope that it arrives by Saturday. My rationale for going to the Mac shop was that they would know what was the best modem suitable for a Powerbook and I wasn't sure whether the Netcomm's offered by Swiftel would work with a Mac.

I am currently down in Pemberton (in the Southwest of WA) dealing with work-related issues - sitting in a Telecentre to check my email and writing this. When I checked into my accommodation I discovered there was no telephone port to use my dial-up account!!! :mad:

Perhaps it would be beneficial for anyone in the know to provide a listing of modems that would be suitable for Macintosh computers. I assume that once I get my modem I will then be able to connect via my Swiftel account. Being the eternal optimist I will assume for now that I wont need any additional wiring or gadgets :rolleyes:. Presumably I can also connect to the modem directly via my ethernet port.

:cool: Adaxu

[Emupooh]

Originally posted by Emupooh
Well I have just setup and have running my LAN as above.

At present both ADSL router running according to .pdf setup that Swiftel sent me. Default LAN address is the described 192.168.1.1 for the router.

That is linked to the WAN port on the Airport extreme via an Cat 5 cable. The Airport router then translates in 10.0.1.x format for the powerbooks. This works well.

Paul

I am happy to post an approximation of my setup if anyone has had problems setting the LAN up via Airport to ADSL Modem. It may not be the most efficient setup but it works.

Paul

[Broadbean]

Originally posted by Adaxu
Wish I had seen your post earlier Emupooh. With the risk of revealing my stupidity I relay the following.

...

I then rushed off to the shop to purchase the requisit modem only to find that they had none in stock and there were none in WA. I placed an order for a $259 ADSL modem (can't remember the brand) that will work with the Airport and hope that it arrives by Saturday. My rationale for going to the Mac shop was that they would know what was the best modem suitable for a Powerbook and I wasn't sure whether the Netcomm's offered by Swiftel would work with a Mac.


You should just get the NB1300 or NB1300plus4 from Swiftel - great pricing. The Netcomm ADSL modem doesn't actually talk to your PowerBook - it talks to your base station. As far as the base station is concerned, it's just getting an IP address and internet connection via its WAN port. Everything else stays the same connecting between your PowerBook and the base station.



Perhaps it would be beneficial for anyone in the know to provide a listing of modems that would be suitable for Macintosh computers. I assume that once I get my modem I will then be able to connect via my Swiftel account. Being the eternal optimist I will assume for now that I wont need any additional wiring or gadgets :rolleyes:. Presumably I can also connect to the modem directly via my ethernet port.

:cool: Adaxu

Yes, you can. The Netcomm NB1300 functions in two modes. The easiest way to distinguish between the two is to work out if the modem keeps your Swiftel login details or your Mac/base station. If you keep login details with the ADSL modem, then everything else is a breeze. Your base station and PowerBook will not really be connecting via PPPoE etc. They will be connected as if they were connecting to a local network - the base station to a wired one; and the PowerBook to the wireless base station.

[Adaxu]

Thanks for that Broadbean.

Well, my Netgear DM602 modem arrived and I have spent the best part of the day trying to get a proper connection :mad:. My DSL line was fine with all lights on the modem lit up. However, apart from iChat, nothing else would work - none of my browsers could access any Internet pages with the exception of www.netgear.com.

Anyhow, after countless hours screwing around with different set-ups I downloaded new firmware from http://www.netgear.com/support/support_details.asp?dnldID=520 and, once uploaded to the modem, I had everything running within about 10 minutes. I have since connected my Airport Extreme base station and everything appears fine.

I was close to calling in for help, but now having discovered and resolved the problem I have probably saved myself and others a lot of grief. I doubt that the fix would have been picked up by a tech unless they had already come across the problem.

Hopefully this response will aid others who experience similar problems with the Netgear DM602 modem.

Adaxu :cool: