Help! DSL modem is dead

Forgive me if these are not the right groups but I am trying to squeeze
a post in somehow: my dsl modem is dead and I need a new one.

Problem is, without internet connection, I don't have any of my usual
tools of learning or shopping!

My modem was 5 yrs old, came with SBC dsl when I first signed up.
Question: Will they give me a new one or must I buy one myself?

If latter, what will be a good store to buy/order from, what is a best
value brand, and what price can I expect? (Basic ADSL for Mac; not
wireless.)

Thanks.

Newbie wrote:
> Forgive me if these are not the right groups but I am trying to squeeze
> a post in somehow: my dsl modem is dead and I need a new one.
>
> Problem is, without internet connection, I don't have any of my usual
> tools of learning or shopping!
>
> My modem was 5 yrs old, came with SBC dsl when I first signed up.
> Question: Will they give me a new one or must I buy one myself?
>
> If latter, what will be a good store to buy/order from, what is a best
> value brand, and what price can I expect? (Basic ADSL for Mac; not
> wireless.)
>
> Thanks.

How do you know your modem is dead?

Bill Rider <> wrote:

> How do you know your modem is dead?

I have been dealing with ATT techs for a few days as modem kept
degrading (I thought it was their servers as the error message said
"server not found"). They are pretty sure from all the tests and
descriptions that the modem died.

My modem was SpeedStream 5360.

What would be the best current replacement? One computer, no wireless,
ethernet connection, of course must work with ATT DSL. Thanks.

Mike Rosenberg <> wrote:

> Newbie <> wrote:
>
> > My modem was 5 yrs old, came with SBC dsl when I first signed up.
> > Question: Will they give me a new one or must I buy one myself?
>
> Aren't they able to answer that question?

My modem conveniently died on the weekend. Their business office will
open Monday morning.

J.J. O'Shea <> wrote:

> If I were you I'd get a router while I was at it, but that's me.

If I understand correctly, that would help only if we plan to connect
two or more computers to internet?

Or is it necessary even if we might want to connect one computer
wirelessly one day?

Still, I do see that now is the time decide before buying a new modem.

When you say router, is that a separate item from modem or is that just
a more complex kind of modem?

Sorry, not sure about such basics! Thanks for all help.

In article < t.net>,
J.J. O'Shea <> wrote:

> Any DSL modem on the market should work just fine. If there's a CompUSA near
> you, it should have two or three to choose from. If I were you I'd get a
> router while I was at it, but that's me.



I believe that chain went out of business.

Did in my region anyway.

In article <211020070106053748%>,
Newbie <> wrote:

> Forgive me if these are not the right groups but I am trying to squeeze
> a post in somehow: my dsl modem is dead and I need a new one.
>
> Problem is, without internet connection, I don't have any of my usual
> tools of learning or shopping!
>
> My modem was 5 yrs old, came with SBC dsl when I first signed up.
> Question: Will they give me a new one or must I buy one myself?
>
> If latter, what will be a good store to buy/order from, what is a best
> value brand, and what price can I expect? (Basic ADSL for Mac; not
> wireless.)
>
> Thanks.



The question is whether the modem is actually "Dead". Unfortunately a
DSL line can fail or become less-capable of maintaining a connection
at the DSL speed and signal when a dial-up modem will still work.

If you are adept at testing all parameters and can deduce the DSL
modem is dead, then OK, but a series of tests with and without micro
filters in the line, disconnecting phone devices, checking at the NID
will be called for.

In article <211020070233549900%>,
Newbie <> wrote:

> > How do you know your modem is dead?
>
> I have been dealing with ATT techs for a few days as modem kept
> degrading (I thought it was their servers as the error message said
> "server not found"). They are pretty sure from all the tests and
> descriptions that the modem died.
>
> My modem was SpeedStream 5360.
>
> What would be the best current replacement? One computer, no wireless,
> ethernet connection, of course must work with ATT DSL. Thanks.


Signal degradation can be caused by a dying modem but also from a bad
line between you and the central phone switching station that you are
connected to.

If you get a enw modem there is still a 50/50 chance that the problem
is outside.

In article <tho->,
TH O <> wrote:

>
> Before you buy one, are you sure ATT won't replace it for free? I would
> expect every DSL provider to provide free replacement modems.



Depends on the company and contract.

I have Verizon and when my moden died several years ago, and that
after straining itself on a bad wire till it burned itself out, they
told me mine was out of warrantee (over a year old) and I'd need to
get my own. However on reviewing my contracted plan they saw that I
qualified for a new unit so they shipped one out.

In the end, over the next year I was faced with their process of
elimination program and didn't fully clear the problem until they had
wired me a home run (direct from NID to DSL modem, replaced the wires
to the pole, and from the pole back to the next major splice box.

Since then all is well and I pull 2.85-2.87 MB on a good day on a 3.0
aportioned line. Given my distance from the CO, I'll take it.

D. Kirkpatrick <> wrote:

> I believe that [Compusa] went out of business.
>
> Did in my region anyway.

Here too. Best Buy, Circuit City, and Micro Center is all I can think
of if I had to buy locally.