Multiple dsl modems on dsl line?

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Level 5

5,430 points

Multiple dsl modems on dsl line?

I'm new to doing networking stuff. I just got dsl service, too. At the moment I have three basic questions:
1. I have a "2wire Gateway" dsl modem/wireless router, which connects to the phone jack and successfully provides internet access. However,I also have an older dsl modem only. Can I connect this modem to another phone jack and get internet access at that jack station, too, or must there be only one dsl "incoming" connection?

2. Would this second modem have to have a "driver" of sorts, that is, will the existing Networking Preference panel on Tiger take care of the connection protocols, or would the modem need its own? (I got the dsl and lan lights to light up, but the internet light didn't.)

3. Is it possible to have the 2wireGateway send its signal to my Airport Exteme Base Station (the spaceship b/g model) to extend the range of the wireless signal?

PM9600/233 (OS 8.6;9.1); G3 white iBook (OS X 10.4.10); G4 MacMini (10.4.10), Performa 6320 (OS 8.1); MacPlus (OS 6.0.8)

Posted on Jan 4, 2008 12:13 PM

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Answer 1

Duane

Level 10

124,267 points

Jan 4, 2008 3:56 PM in response to taerchen

Can I connect this modem to another phone jack and get internet access at that jack station, too, or must there be only one dsl "incoming" connection?

This question is something you probably should ask your ISP.

2. Would this second modem have to have a "driver" of sorts...

Why? If it were the only modem connected to the DSL line it wouldn't need a driver.

3. Is it possible to have the 2wireGateway send its signal to my Airport Exteme Base Station (the spaceship b/g model) to extend the range of the wireless signal?

Not wirelessly.

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Answer 2

taerchen Author

Level 5

5,430 points

Jan 5, 2008 2:01 AM in response to Duane

Re: #2
Well, even though the dsl light lights on the second modem when it is the only modem connected to the phone jack, it apparently does not connect to the internet, as the browser so reports.

Re: #3
I seem to recall when I first studied setting up an APBS a couple years ago, that there was a way to use multiple APBSs to create a bigger area of coverage; I thought that perhaps that would be possible to do with a non-Airport wireless router, too. Why wouldn't it work?

p.s. Duane-Did you notice the "registered" dates?!!

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Answer 3

iFelix

Level 8

35,155 points

Jan 5, 2008 6:17 AM in response to taerchen

taerchen wrote:
1. I have a "2wire Gateway" dsl modem/wireless router, which connects to the phone jack and successfully provides internet access. However,I also have an older dsl modem only. Can I connect this modem to another phone jack and get internet access at that jack station, too, or must there be only one dsl "incoming" connection?

No it's not possible to have two DSL connections on a single phone line. It would be like trying to make two different phone calls on a single phone line.

iFelix

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Answer 4

Duane

Level 10

124,267 points

Jan 5, 2008 2:55 PM in response to taerchen

I thought that perhaps that would be possible to do with a non-Airport wireless router, too. Why wouldn't it work?

The 2wireGateway is not compatible with Apple's WDS. Therefore you can not use the AEBS to wirelessly extend the network created by the 2wireGateway.

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Answer 5

taerchen Author

Level 5

5,430 points

Jan 6, 2008 10:59 PM in response to iFelix

Thanks! I sort of had reached that conclusion on my own after playing with the two of them a bit. Funny thing, the phone company dsl techie said that I could do it, and I thought I was just "doing something wrong!"

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Answer 6

taerchen Author

Level 5

5,430 points

Jan 6, 2008 11:06 PM in response to Duane

Duane, is it nevertheless possible to connect the 2wire to the APBS with an ethernet cable to transfer the internet connection, and let the APBS extend the signal that way? The problem I'm trying to solve is that by itself the APBS will not transmit the wireless signal to all parts of the property where I would like to be able to use the laptop, nor does the 2wiregateway. I was hoping that by positioning the two of them, I could get complete coverage.

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Answer 7

Duane

Level 10

124,267 points

Jan 7, 2008 5:54 AM in response to taerchen

Yes you can connect them via Ethernet to create a larger wireless network. Configure them to use different channels (as far apart as possible), use the same network name, and use the same wireless encryption type/level/password.

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