DSL is coming... How to prepare AirPort?

adambyte

adambyte

Registered
Hello, people. My father finally became frustrated enough with modem access to order DSL from SBC Yahoo. We are getting a kit complete with software and a DSL modem shipped to us, and it should be here, soon. How do I need to set up Airport so that I can just plug the Airport directly into the DSL modem, which plugs into the wall? I'm not terribly familiar with how it's going to obtain an IP address and whatnot.
 
The DSL modem provides an IP address through DHCP, so the Airport base station should have no trouble plugging into your DSL modem and getting an IP address. All you'd need to do is plug it in, and run the Airport Administration Utility to switch the way the Airport base station connects to the network.
 
My DSL modem is actually a router and has wireless capabilities built in, you will have to wait and see what modem you get.
 
Oh... I specified the modem without the wireless, 'cause it was another $50, and our current Airport works just fine.
 
There are three major types of DSL Modems;
  • Simple USB DSL Modem. These are really sucky. They only work with Windows, but are very cheap. Very few Service Providers distribute these anymore, since they have very complex support issues.
  • PPPoE DSL Modem. These are better, and will work with your AirPort. They require a host system to log into the Service Provider, but your AirPort will perform this task quite well. the Airport can also work as a NAT Router and DHCP Server.
  • Integrated Modem/Router. These are even better, but much more expensive. They may have a Wireless Connection, an Ethernet Hub or an Ethernet Switch integrated.
I have an Integrated Modem/Router/Switch here. I have my AirPort Extreme hooked up to the 4th Port of my NetComm NB3300. I have the NB3300 configured to act as a DHCP Host, and NAT Server. I have my Airport configured with "Distribute IP Addresses" turned off in Airport Admin Utility. This means that all my computers are on the same SubNet, regardless of whether they're connected through the AirPort, or Directly connected to the Switch.

I presume you have a Modem in your Airport. You can still use this feature. Keep the Airport Plugged into a phone line, and when you're not at home (say you take your PowerBook to your Mate's Place, who doesn't have ADSL) you can dial into your Home network through your Airport. You'll get a Local IP Address (on the local SubNet), you'll be able to browse the Internet and you'll be able to access your Dad's music Collection through iTunes, just like if you were at home.
 
Well, it came today. here's follow-up, in case someone has the same questions some day...

The DSL modem came today. Ripped it out of the box, and immediately started plugging everything in. Wall jack to DSL modem to Airport. I told it to acquire an IP address through DCHP, and then I inserted the install CD in one of the 'Books... when it came time for the software to "detect DSL" or something like that, it couldn't find it. I thought that was strange. I had an airport signal and everything.

So I dumped the idea, and just plugged the 'Book directly into the DSL modem. Everything went fine. Went through a long setup and registration... it worked. We had DSL!... on ONE computer.

THEN I plug in the Airport. YAY! Now everybody has DSL!

Moral of the story: make sure you set up and REGISTER your DSL as if you're average-joe one computer before you try anything fancy with Airport.

And now we are all happily surfing, and I see usually goes at a download speed of 166 Kbps.... which is WAY better than a modem. Cheers.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you could have just plugged into the AirPort and used Airport Setup and Airport Admin utilities to handle everything.
 
Nah. Only got one Ethernet port on the old Airport base stations, and that's what's plugged into the DSL modem, which is plugged into the wall.
 
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