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The "Not Quite Amiga but still computer related category" => Alternative Operating Systems => Topic started by: PGit on May 23, 2004, 08:37:02 PM

Title: Broadband
Post by: PGit on May 23, 2004, 08:37:02 PM
We are thinking of going onto broadband. Now my dad is considering the BT Broadband basic package. Is going with BT broadband a good idea or not.
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: Van_M on May 23, 2004, 09:06:44 PM
If you want to connect your amiga directly onto the broadband network, then BT is a no-way! Even if your amiga has USB ports (Subway?), there are no drivers for bt's crappy modem (there are no drivers for linux either). The best you could do is connect it on a pc and use it (the pc) as a gateway to your amiga.

It gets much simpler if you go for cable broadband (telewest, ntl). The cable modems usually provide a lan port, apart from usb, so you can connect your computer on it and access the modem through your web browser (the address is usually 192.168.100.1) and treat the modem as a lan router(note:lan router != switching router). This way you only need a lan interface (PCMCIA, ZORRO 2, PCI).
Telewest now gives 768 kbps for £27.99 PM. I think it's a good value for money.
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: Van_M on May 23, 2004, 09:08:52 PM
Sorry I didn't notice, is Boston a Telewest or NTL area?
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: that_punk_guy on May 23, 2004, 09:10:14 PM
I've used my NTL connection with Windows, Amiga, Linux, BeOS and QNX without a hitch. :-)
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: Daedalus on May 24, 2004, 12:23:58 AM
Whether a broadband modem is for cable or DSL has no bearing whatsoever on whether it has a network connector and/or USB connector. If you do want to go with BT, see if you can get a package which doesn't include the modem, and go buy yourself a decent one. I've no idea what different companies are like over there (being in Ireland and all...) but over here Eircom, the national phone company, give a DSL modem with USB and cat5 connections which can be used simultaneously, which is lovely for when you've an Amiga and a PC side-by-side, though it doesn't act as a network between machines. Just check out whether cable and/or DSL are available in your area, as quite often you'll find an area with only one available, which will limit your choices.
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: Van_M on May 24, 2004, 01:56:17 AM
I know for sure that bt is currently offering a motorola modem that doesn't incorporate a router function. Moreover there are only Windows drivers available for it.

Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: Casper on May 24, 2004, 08:24:25 AM
Quote

Van_M wrote:
Telewest now gives 768 kbps for £27.99 PM. I think it's a good value for money.


Wow, that's expensive for just 768kbps. Remind me to never move to the UK. :-)
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: Daedalus on May 24, 2004, 09:41:46 AM
Hehe, or Ireland for that matter, 512k/128k ADSL here costs about €40 / Month here. And then it was only just available in my area recently... Yeah, us island countries get kinda ripped off in just about every way possible  :-(
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: MAD on May 24, 2004, 10:53:32 AM
Hoya!

@Van_M

Hey! You live in New Malden, too??!! :-)
Boy, we should meet one of these days, if you are not afraid of weird, Amigan frogs! ;-D

Be funky

M A D
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: sumner7 on May 24, 2004, 11:24:31 AM
The best broadband package is with Wanadoo! :-D
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: Van_M on May 24, 2004, 11:41:35 AM
Code: [Select]
Hey! You live in New Malden, too??!!   Boy, we should meet one of these days, if you are not afraid of weird, Amigan frogs! ;-D
Yeah sure why not! Hang out for a beer or something like that... PM me plz :-).

Quote
Wow, that's expensive for just 768kbps. Remind me to never move to the UK.


Just wait until u hear about greek broadband.... please sit.... I MEAN IT! ... the new "low" prices of OTEnet (greek national telecom provider) is 30.25  euros (ex. VAT) a month for ... hold your breath... 384 Kbps/ADSL + bloated installation costs by "experts" (3 day PC training!)...
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: sumner7 on May 24, 2004, 11:45:13 AM
The UK has the most expensive stuff, though. It is an outrage!!! :ranting:
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: Casper on May 24, 2004, 12:39:50 PM
Quote

sumner7 wrote:
The UK has the most expensive stuff, though. It is an outrage!!!


Yeah, when I found out how much you pay per minute for using the standard landline phone, I could hardly believe it (about 5 times as much as here in Sweden).

On the other hand, there's probably a lot of things that are more expensive in Sweden than in the UK.
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: sumner7 on May 24, 2004, 01:00:50 PM
Petrol is more expensive over here than anywhere else.  :-D
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: kevh100 on May 24, 2004, 01:13:13 PM
I went with Virgin.net because they had a 30 day contract. I can jump ship with virtualy no penalties should i see a better deal with a different ISP. I've had no probelems getting connected with Linux, Amiga, or PC.

Kev
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: PhatBoiCollier on May 24, 2004, 01:40:26 PM
I've had no problem with Zen (www.zen.co.uk) and they too are on a 1 month contract basis.  If you take a look at ADSLGuide (here (http://www.adslguide.org.uk/isps/compare.asp)), you can compare real speed (because of contention, you my not get the full 512kbits), outages, customer service etc. Zen tends to rate high.

Hope that helps

Rich
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: mikeymike on May 24, 2004, 02:42:13 PM
I also use Zen.  Their tech support are actually tech support, as opposed to a load of monkeys trained to use headsets and read from solution sheets, and little or no call queues.  In the six (? not sure) or so months I've been using them, they've had one DNS server issue, which they resolved quickly, and also gave me IP addresses to their backup DNS servers.  They also have no problem with me running a server off my connection.  I recommend them.
Title: Re: Broadband
Post by: PGit on May 24, 2004, 06:36:43 PM
Thanks for the replies. We'll be using our PC for broadband (my Amiga doesn't have internet access).
Title: Re: Broadband (A1200user)
Post by: Austin1200 on May 24, 2004, 06:57:47 PM
My old 233 laptop has a 3com 10mb ethernet III laplink pcmcia card, i suppose i could use it as im with NTL to, will my router/firewall (belkin) be ok with this?

Also i dont as yet have any other software on my amiga besides OS 3.1 (i only have kick 3.0 roms)

no cdrom drive for my Amiga either :-(
(could i use my mums old cd32 as a cdrom?)

how do i go about getting my amiga:
1)networkable/internet connected ?
2)web browser intalled ?

None of the pc's i own will format lower than 1.44mb either
 
i bought/own (poor me) the ami2pc network kit, but i cant get it to work, and have been trying for 2 weeks and counting!