Networks ADSL Modem? Advice needed

hi peeps.

i am looking at getting bt broadband, or using a different provider e.g. freeserve to get 512k broadband as its arriving shortly in my area, but have a few concerns.

All is fine till i hit the modem end of things, they offer free ones, but it doesnt state anything about needing a Ethernet port, e.g. they all use USB and some even get power from USB,

what i am asking is.... can i just buy the service and then buy any modem i see fit? like a zoom adsl modem or something that has ehternet connection instead of the USB, i dont have enough USB ports free, and i dont want the system resources to use USB for internet, i have a hardware firewall to go in also.

any ideas ? thanks

 

Yeah thats what i did got the BT service bought a ethernet modem and routor because other people on other pcs in the house go on net and so dose my xbox,

so you can just buy a ethernet odem or what ever and use that

 

cool sounds good, so it doesnt matter about the mac address? i used to be on NTL and i remember they assign the unit a mac address. i can buy one off the shelf in a shop? and not have to worry about ip's etc?

plug it in and go?

sorry to be a bit useless

 

NTL Cable is different. You just need a router to connect to the cablemodem.

Whilst with ADSL you need a ADSLmodem & a router (normally combined in one unit)

 

Alternatively, go with a provider that offers a line only service. It'll be cheaper per month and you'll have to provide your own hardware but that means you get to use the hardware you want to use.

On that note, moving to Networking and Comms.

*n

 

Don't go with the BT service for one.

 

why that? bad experience?

i have to have ADSL as i dont have cable, but would the other be ok? what does everybody use?

 

Personally, I have a 1Mb line only service from www.fast24.co.uk for £27.50/month.

The line comes into my house, goes into a PCI ADSL modem in an old AMD K6-2 PC which is connected to a Netgear hub.

The other PCs in the house are also connected to that hub.

Shares the connection just fine.

*n

 

I'll be joining you in two weeks penski.

Whats the 1meg service like with fast24? as thats who I've ordered through.

 

Other than the wait to get activated (seems to be around a month for most people but I had problems with my exchange and it took 7 weeks...but they gave me free dialup for those 7 weeks Fastest dialup I ever had...55k connection...) they've been absolutely rock solid. Slight downtime a few months back when they updated the firmware on their routers but other than that, it stays on forever.

*n