Dial-Up Router

I am in exactly the same predicament as your brother. I use an Actiontec Dual PC Modem

<http://www.actiontec.com>

On one end it is a v.92 | V.90 | K56flex 56K modem.

On the other end it is a 2-port Ethernet hub.

In between is a Linux server that manages dialing up the modem, works as a NAT box, leases out IP addresses via DHCP, etc.

It has it's own http server and you use a browser to control the modem. There are many options - I have it set up to hang up after 20 minutes of inactivity and to automatically connect when needed.

Since it is Linux at heart there is a low keyed grass-roots effort to provide alternate programming. Minimally I have found descriptions on how to telnet to the box and respecify the standard network commands - like daisy chaining several of these units so that you can spread traffic over several phone lines. (don't ask me - Google for yourself)

I don't remember the exact price - probably about $60. From my regional Fry's.

Although billed as a way to share a modem from 2 computers - it really is just an ethernet connection. I do not connect to it directly - I plug one of the ubiquitous Wireless Cable/DSL Router firewall boxes ( like the Linksys WRT54G) into the modem and it all works fine (although you do have to make sure that you change the IP address of at least one box to something like 192.168.2.1 so you can access each separately).

Also deactivate the DHCP server on the modem - it is too confusing if there are 2 on your LAN. And the wireless router is probably the best place for it since it already is coordinating your wireless and wired clients.

Andy Kowalczyk

I have used a SMC 7004ABR for years. It has a serial port for a modem, which we used for a couple of years until we got DSL. It also has a parallel port for print server (hooked up to a Samsung ML1450PS).

The right firmware is critical (various versions break various things, DSL Reports SMC Forum was useful) and SMC support sucks.

You might want to look for an old pc with a network & modemcard. Any Pentium Pro or higher will be sufficient and many originally shipped with both network and modem. You can then use an opensource lightweight software router/firewall that supports modems like m0n0wall. If you ask around for old unused hardware this could be accomplished for free.

http://www.m0n0.ch/wall/index.php

Peter

On 2/22/06 at 12:49 PM, adent1gmail.com (Arthur Dent) wrote:

> I have used a SMC 7004ABR for years. It has a serial port for a
> modem, which we used for a couple of years until we got DSL. It also
> has a parallel port for print server (hooked up to a Samsung
> ML1450PS).
>
> The right firmware is critical (various versions break various
> things, DSL Reports SMC Forum was useful) and SMC support sucks.

I have what I believe is the same model, though IIRC it was the A*W*BR.

It worked reliably for me for a couple of years as well, and just
recently it stepped forward again when a SBC screwup left me without DSL
for a couple of weeks.

Of course, it'd be probably be much harder to put the hardware
combination together today; I don't remember seeing any routers with
serial port backup the last time I looked seriously at them, and I don't
remember any serial port modems either.

Travis Butler
tbutlermac.com

> You might want to look for an old pc with a network & modemcard.

I'll take the ActionTec over another PC with display, keyboard, etc...
to hassle with. I want simple. And I know my brother does. Plus I wonder
what the power payback time is. Around here power is about $.085 per KW.