New Broadband connection questions

crube

Today I switched from BT Broadband to Talk Talk Broadband, I succesfully connected up after they switched on the signal earlier today but I have a couple of things I'm a bit unsure about. When I was installing the modem it advised me to use the ethernet input on the back of my PC as opposed to the USB one. I did this and all was well but when I go to Control Panel/Network connections it say's I'm using a Local Area Connection for my connection - is this right? It also says the speed is 100Mbps, I'm presuming this is the speed I'm connected to to the modem, rather than the actual speed of my line? My line speed should be 5.5MB but I can't see this info anywhere

I have the little icon in the bottom right with the 2 computers......but it's always connected. It seems to disconnect I have to switch the modem off. I'd much prefer to disconnect as and when I please by clicking 'disconnect' like before. Can anyone help with any of this?

niceguyrichy

that generally sounds fine and dandy.
the reason they suggest you connect ethernet is because transfer speeds are faster than USB, 100mbs is what it should be
To disconnect: Start > Settings > Network Connections , right click Local Area Connection and Disable / Enable as required.
All sounds good from here

albertross_2

yes Local area connection is correct, and 100Mb is the speed of your ethernet card, not BB speed.

You may be able to see your sync speed in the Smartax? http://192.168.1.1/ control panel, admin admin

and also may be able to disconnect it, but turning it off is probably easier.

patwa_2

Hi. Yes, your modem is the interface to your ISP (TalkTalk). the signal reaches your modem, and then essentially enters a network and is sent to your PC over ethernet, which is why you're getting the 100mbps, this is the speed of the network (your PC and modem for the network). You would need to check the modem's own control panel to find the line speed (that's the connection between the modem and TalkTalk). Unfortunately my own version of that modem is arriving later today so I can't go and check it right now, but you'll probably have instructions somewhere on how to access that control panel on the modem (either via IP address or via a software utility).

I can't understand why you would want to disconnect from the broadband. If it's just your one computer, you haven't got to worry about anyone using your network, your connection. You can just leave it connected, power off your computer and it'll be fine.

If for whatever reason you do want to disconnect, you can right-click on the Local Area Network icon in the system tray or on the Local Area Network option in Network connections and select Disable. This however won't terminate the modem's connection to TalkTalk, just the network between your PC and the modem. To disable the modem you'd have to either manually turn it off or disable it from within it's own control panel.

You needn't worry about using up your monthly 40GB allowance, the modem throughput is neglegable when the computer is powered off, really only a few status packets letting TalkTalk know when the connection is 'in use'.

Hope this helps.

H.

crube

Fantastic, thanks for the helpful replies - much appreciated! :beer:

BexTech

Yes, Ethernet is the ideal way to connect.

You could right-click on Local Area Connection and rename it to something you like such as Broadband connection.

Do worry about the hassles of disconnecting etc. This is the beauty of an always on connection and not the pathetic usb tricks needed.