"Simon Zerafa" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Don't use a USB Modem, and do't use one with Windows Vista.

Use a router (wired or wireless) to give better results, no issues with
poor Windows Vista drivers for USB modems and better security.

Kind Regards

Simon

But you will might the poor implementation of DHCP by vista to live with.

Gaz

john m wrote:
"Nigel Cliffe" wrote in message
...
Neil Ross wrote:
A friend has bought a new notebook PC and has asked me to transfer
some data across and set it up for him. No problems until I come to
set up his Wanadoo broadband account.

He has a USB SpeedTouch 330 modem on the old system working just
fine, but has no drivers or set-up CD.

His old OS is Win XP
New OS Windows Vista Home*

*my FIRST introduction to Vista!

Vista didn't recognise the SpeedTouch 330 but I've tracked down a
driver and installed it. The modem now syncs (both lights on modem
showing green).
Problem is - where do I (or how do I go about) setting up his
account (username/password). He does know his Wanadoo username and
password, so how can I go about setting it up manually - any
advice/website/instructions?


Suggestion: ditch the USB modem and buy a £25 wired router, or a
£30-35 wireless one. PC World have such devices if wanted in a
hurry, though usually a tenner more than online sources.

The new PC will (almost always) have an ethernet port, so you won't
need any drivers or similar. The router will act as a basic
firewall, doing address translation and port blocking, so the PC
will be more secure. It avoids having to do stuff with the dialup
networking in windows. Setup should be simple, I doubt its much more than
entering the
username, password and possibly the address of Wanadoo's DNS servers.




- Nigel


--
Nigel Cliffe


You don't need to go out and buy a router, the USB modem will work
fine on a computer that is a few years old.
The drivers for XP and Vista are available from the SAGEM site.
You can get a FREE firewall called Zone Alarm, the one thing a router
can't do is prevent "leakage" from a computer.
A router will not stop programs connecting "out" or others acting as a
"server" without permission.
Don't run out and spend more money on the advice of people that can't
answer your question only because they
know what settings to use on certain screens!


Your advice is fine for users able to understand Zone Alarm.
But those users probably didn't need help installing a USB modem in the
first place.


My experience is that USB modems are the cause of grief for many users,
which is fixed with the simplicity of a stand-alone router. That grief is
why quite a few ISPs stopped issuing them and spent a couple of quid more on
a router instead, even on the most basic packages.



- Nigel

--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

uk.telecom.broadband
Nigel Cliffe
Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:02:57 +0100


My experience is that USB modems are the cause of grief for many users,
which is fixed with the simplicity of a stand-alone router. That grief is
why quite a few ISPs stopped issuing them and spent a couple of quid more on
a router instead, even on the most basic packages.


I used to have tiscali broadband and a sagem usb modem and most of the
time it worked fine

But would have to admit the (always on) connection i have with my new
isp is much better

--
www.sexconsentform.co.uk

"SCF" wrote in message
...
uk.telecom.broadband
Nigel Cliffe
Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:02:57 +0100


My experience is that USB modems are the cause of grief for many users,
which is fixed with the simplicity of a stand-alone router. That grief
is
why quite a few ISPs stopped issuing them and spent a couple of quid more
on
a router instead, even on the most basic packages.


I used to have tiscali broadband and a sagem usb modem and most of the
time it worked fine

But would have to admit the (always on) connection i have with my new
isp is much better

--
www.sexconsentform.co.uk


I have had numerous issues with sagem modems. The power draw from the usb
makes them more awkward on machines which cant supply the full specified
current.. Results in dropped and unreliable connections, especially if any
other usb device needs to draw power.

Easily the worst usb dsl modem i have come across.

Gaz