[Gllug] ADSL modem -- WTF?

[Ian Norton]

Tethys wrote:

>I went up to TCR the other lunchtime to try and get a simple ADSL
>bridge/router for my parents' imminent ADSL line. When I went and
>asked, the salesdroids all asked if I already had a modem[1]. WTF?
>Given that there is no modulation/demodulation going on, it's got
>to be a marketing ploy, as that's a term people are used to. But
>what is it? You can buy a standalone ADSL modem, an ADSL router,
>or a single box with the two combined. If the "modem" is the bit
>that handles the PPPoA, then what's the router (i.e., what makes
>it specifically an ADSL router as opposed to any other IP router)?
>
>All I want is a box with two leads -- one into my phone socket and
>off to my ISP, and one into my firewall (and on to the rest of my
>network). It needs to be able to route my IP range frmo the outside
>world and on into my network. It looks like the D-Link DSL-502T
>should do that. Does that sound reasonable?
>
>Incidentally, has anyone else noticed how hard it is to buy a
>non-wireless ADSL router these days?
>
>Tet
>
>[1] In their limited world, a modem is for single computers, and a
>    router is for multiple computers. But you can get routers without
>    an integrated hub/switch, so I wonder how they expect that to work.
>  
>
I have one of those truly evil BT 'speedtouch' green sperm dsl modem 
things, yours for £10 :-)

Ian
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