Free ADSL Modem

chrispyphillips

I have recently received my free fon wi-fi kit, and to my dismay, went to plug it into my modem last night and realised that I only have a USB modem!!!!!!

It was the modem supplied to me by pipex when I joined them (foolishly) over a year ago and i've never had reason to suspect it would be inadequate, but It seems I need a modem with a phone connection thingy (exact terminology escapes me)

Does anyone know if i'll be able to contact Pipex and ask them for a modem that suits my needs better (obviously gratis - I dont wanna give them any more money!) or would it be worthwhile telling them that mine is broken and ask them to supply me with a new one, but tell them that the one supplied was the one with the correct connections? Anyone have any experience of being successful in getting replacement equipment from their IP's, in particular Pipex?

espresso

The modem that Pipex supply is a Speedtouch 330, which is of no use to you as it's USB only. If you want wireless buy a wireless router.

chrispyphillips

Isnt that what i've got with the free fonera thingy they gave away? I thought that was a wireless router! I just need a modem that is compatible with it?

Its so confusing!

mrJ_5

pipex won't give you one for free (if anything, it would be another USB modem... and, they could tell by your logs that you are logging onto broadband ok) - but if they did, they'd contract you in for another 12 months

circuit

ISPs will generally only supply USB modems, usually the speedtouch 330.

i agree that the fonera thing is confusing. it is actually a 'wireless router' and not a 'wireless adsl router'. (i.e. it does not mave a modem built-in).

if you want wireless, you have a few options:

- buy an ethernet adsl modem from somewhere (ebay?), which will connect to your fonera router
- buy a wireless adsl router and give the fonera router away, or
- switch to another ISP (if you're out of your minimum contract term with pipex) who will supply a free wireless adsl router as part of your joining pack.

AOL supply a wireless router with their £15/month package... BT supply one with their mid-priced package, but not with the cheapest one. there will be other offers around as well.

chrispyphillips

Cheers guys!!

Thanks circuit, that helps a lot. I think it'll be better going for the ethernet modem (heres hoping they're cheap) as I wanna use the fonera thing and maybe get some dosh for it! either tht or access other peoples. I'll probably only use it for the PSP for now, but will use it when I get an xbox/PS3 eventually (will the fonera thing work to get me online with a console? theres so much i dont know!!)

vinylmusic

Some time ago I got my free fon wireless router and hadnt really thought out what use it would have for me.
Now I found one and its great
I share internet with 3 others in the same building and I dont have my own phone line. I just have a LAN cable coming from the main modem/router.
I just got a Vonage wifi phone and I was trying to figure out how to use it.
Thats where my FOnera came in handy
I plugged the LAN cable into my FON and bought a USB wireless adapter for 20 quid for my computer.
It took a lot of messing about to get the wifi phone configured because it was unable to read the private signal and it wont work with the public one but I got there in the end.
Now I have a landline number with my chosen area code and unlimited landline calls for £6 a month
It all works fine. I can use Vonage without needing the computer turned on.

Only one snag
Last night I tried to make a call around 7pm which is probably a busy time for internet and I had my computer turned on too. The person I was trying to call could hardly hear me.
It seems like I'll have to try making most of my calls outside busy periods

addictive_saver

Rather than searching for ADSL modem with Ethernet port (on ebay)..I would advise you to purchase ADSL Wireless Router at £29.63 from here:

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/118662

You have to go through google-checkout to get this price....

I have got one from amazon few days back and it was priced at £33..works perfectly..