Bad form responding to my own post, perhaps, but I've found out a few more things on our DSL setup.
As I mentioned, it's a "combo" DSL/telephone service, with 24/7 1.28Mbit DSL, plus all local and national telephone calls, for a fixed monthly rate of $29 (half price for the first six months, then it goes up to the full rate of $58). We were also able to cancel our contract with the phone monopoly, too. The DSL hardware is an Alcatel Speed Touch Home ethernet modem and a Telsey Telecommunications CPV Home Gateway "device". The CPV has 4 10bT ethernet ports (1 In, 3 Out) and 2 phone jacks. One of the Out ethernet ports will be used for a fiber optic line in the future, though now I can hook up a third computer to it. The CPV also acts as an ethernet hub. I wasn't sure about this, so in the end I just hooked up a second Mac to it (currently there's a Sawtooth and a Lombard, both with OS 9.1) and both Macs were sharing files in an instant. Wow. Now I'll be running those friendly little CAT wires through the house this weekend (while trying to keep our 15-month old from immediately ripping out dad's best laid plans). No additional software needed to use the DSL modem or the CPV with our Macs. A truly transparent setup and system. It is literally a "hot pluggable" DSL connection. And each Mac has its own separate DSL connection; there's no need to use one as a router. The point here being that while the service provider did mention Mac-compatibility, their service people did not know much at all about Macs. Indeed, being a new company, they seemed to be more sales types than tech types. Time to spread the word with them. Next query: security. Given that it's all so simple and transparent - a rather large WAN of subscribers, in short - what would you suggest in terms of security? As I said, we're using OS 9.1, with no plans to go to X too soon. Chris H -- G-Books is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Check our web site for refurbished PowerBooks | & CDRWs on Sale! | RoadTools $30 PodiumPad available at Apple retail stores, $20 Traveler CoolPad at Staples. Both in white for iBooks at <http://roadtools.com>. Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-Books list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-books.html> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-books%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
