Help with Broadband query please....

Ember999

HI

I am on AOL Broadband. I did use for the last 12 months a wireless router as I was running my laptop as well as my desktop.

However, due to moving house I uninstalled the wireless router and re-installed the broadband modem that came with AOL Broadband when I went over from dial-up 2 years ago.

Everything is fine apart from this problem which is driving me nuts! Can anyone help?????

When using the router I could access the internet via Internet Explorer or Firefox browsers without having to start aol and connect via that on broadband. Basically, no AOL open, just click on Firefox, immediately connected to the internet.

Now I have gone back to the broadband modem aol sent me, when I open Firefox/Internet Explorer it won't connect directly to the Internet. I have to sign on to AOL to get a broadband connection! :mad:

What settings do I need to tweek to stop this pain-in-the-!!!? My PcCillin Virus programmed used to download updates by itself, I could open any browser and be connected and now I cannot, I have to connect via AOL and have that running in the background (very memory hungry) to do anything on the Internet.

Help!

Ember xx

albertross_2

Can't you just use the router instead, it is much safer than a modem.

Ember999

albertross wrote:

Can't you just use the router instead, it is much safer than a modem.

No hon, I can't as the broadband router is in Scotland (second home) with my puter there and laptop and the AOL is here in England on this PC.

Anyway, how can a wireless router be more secure than a regular modem? Wireless mean clever people can access your wireless network surely?

Anyway, this doesn't answer my question, any experts out there can help?
Please.........

Ember

albertross_2

The answer to your question is to buy a second router..

Wireless is insecure if it is setup badly (without WPA encryption). But you can always turn the wireless function off, or use a wired router.

The advantage of a router is that it has a hardware firewall and NAT, which stops people trying to attack you across the internet. Personally I wouldn't use a modem. You can pick new wired routers up for £20-40.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/search/index.html?rb=19532056781&strSearch=&bolShowAll=true&intSubcatUID=1146&intCatID=109&strOrderDir=descending&intPage=2

dickibobboy

not if you secure your wireless connection, and routers are much faster, but
you can try this, go to controll pannel and then network conections, then file and new connection, connect to the internet.... then using DIAL-UP connection then choose your modem in the list.....then type in aol..... phone number i think it 0,35.... then your username @aol.com and passwords. then follow on from there, if does not work try 0,38 if none of them work i have another option what i used for about a year on aol
(sorry for spelling)

isgman

bet it would be Ok if you got shut of AOL,,,

dickibobboy

isgman wrote:

bet it would be Ok if you got shut of AOL,,,

i dont!
i have been with them since 1998 and not had many problems, i am on 1mbit and it is fast, maybe the price is higher than other companies but there are no caps or download limits, i think it is great, and as i am using my router i dont have to bother with the aol software