Are any Ethernet modems instantly compatible with Vista?

[Guest]

Hi there

I recently signed up to Irish Broadband, an Irish ISP who provided me with a
Netgear DM111P ADSL2 Ethernet modem. As mentioned elsewhere on this forum and
online, it's not compatible with Vista, and no-one - certainly not Netgear or
my ISP - seem to know if it's going to be any time soon. Given that I got it
free as part of my signup with Irish Broadband, I was thinking of just
picking up my own modem to use that won't have the same incompatibility
issues with Vista.

(1) Does anyone have a good recommendation of such a Vista-friendly modem?
(2) Will doing this affect my broadband service with my ISP, ie will buying
and attempting to use a modem "off the shelf" create connectivity issues from
the ISP end of things?

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Hi there

I recently signed up to Irish Broadband, an Irish ISP who provided me with
a
Netgear DM111P ADSL2 Ethernet modem. As mentioned elsewhere on this forum
and
online, it's not compatible with Vista, and no-one - certainly not Netgear
or
my ISP - seem to know if it's going to be any time soon. Given that I got
it
free as part of my signup with Irish Broadband, I was thinking of just
picking up my own modem to use that won't have the same incompatibility
issues with Vista.

(1) Does anyone have a good recommendation of such a Vista-friendly modem?
(2) Will doing this affect my broadband service with my ISP, ie will
buying
and attempting to use a modem "off the shelf" create connectivity issues
from
the ISP end of things?

Just use the ethernet port rather than the USB port. That way, no drivers
are required and any OS can be used.

ss.

 

[kirk jim]

Can you explain to me how an ETHERNET modem can be uncompatible
with an OS?

An ethernet modem uses the standard network specs to connect
to the NIC (network card) of your computer.

The computer, in your case vista, does not care if that machine, is
another computer or a router or a modem, as long as it uses the ethernet
protocol it can be used.

Do you need some special software to be installed along with that modem,
so that it can connect to your provider? I have of heard some such
situations.

Theoretetically you should not be required to use special software to
connect with an ISP
using an ethernet modem. If it was USB, that is a totally different thing!

 

[Richard Urban]

An Ethernet modem is not aware of the operating system it is connected to.
The LAN card is. A USB modem, on the other hand, needs Vista drivers.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User

 

[ray]

Hi there

I recently signed up to Irish Broadband, an Irish ISP who provided me with a
Netgear DM111P ADSL2 Ethernet modem. As mentioned elsewhere on this forum and
online, it's not compatible with Vista, and no-one - certainly not Netgear or
my ISP - seem to know if it's going to be any time soon. Given that I got it
free as part of my signup with Irish Broadband, I was thinking of just
picking up my own modem to use that won't have the same incompatibility
issues with Vista.

(1) Does anyone have a good recommendation of such a Vista-friendly modem?
(2) Will doing this affect my broadband service with my ISP, ie will buying
and attempting to use a modem "off the shelf" create connectivity issues from
the ISP end of things?

I don't see why there should be an issue. All you need for an ethernet
connected modem is a driver for your ethernet card. Beyond that, it
doesn't matter if you're running vista, xp or even Linux.

 

[Guest]

Hi all

Thanks for comments, unfortunately I'm no nearer to sorting out my issue!

In reference to your various questions/comments regarding what should be a
lack of problems due to the modem being connected via the Ethernet port and
not a USB port, I can confirm that the modem IS connected via the Ethernet
port, but despite what some of you have said below, there most definitely IS
a compatibilty issue. I'm not hugely computer literate so I don't know why
this is, but even the modem's manufacturers Netgear are upfront about saying
that the DM111P is not currently compatible - you can see as much here, under
the section marked "modems/gateways":

http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n101649.asp

Anyway, the bottom line is that ,, regardless of whether is theoretically
SHOULD be working, it isn't, and even its manufacturer knows it's not - so as
such, if anyone could recommend me one that DOES work with Vista (I'm on Home
Premium), I'd much appreciate it!

Thanks

 

[Mark Shirley]

Cant be a compatability issue over ethernet, its all standarized vista or
not.

My ADSL Netgear router is 2years old. and works fine.....
Windows update may be in order

 

[Guest]

Hi Mark

I don't doubt you're speaking from experience, but take pity on a
technophobe - who should I be requesting this update from? Microsoft, Dell or
Netgear? My PC is barely a month old and bought new from Dell in Ireland so
surely it wouldn't need updating already? And as my previous link showed,
Netgear say a driver is "under development" for the DM111P - should I be
leaning on them to deliver it, leaning on Microsoft (who want to charge me
£40 before I can even talk to a Tech Support consultant) or getting my ISP to
do it for me? Any advice gratefully recieved - this is my first home PC in a
decade, I've grown used to (a) working on Macs and (b) having IT consultants
fix all my problems - so now I'm out on my own I don't know what to do!

Cheers

 

[Mark Shirley]

Sorry, about my bluntness lol.

Well in short, microsoft release summing like 250 System wide updates
(Windows 2000 to Vista) per month, Vista, is still a new release, and
hardware manufactures, are still working there nuts of trying to get there
equipment working, as a general rule of thumb for manufactuers like dell
netgear (any global leader) they will release there updates direct via
windows update. Now this is a certanty, but i dont see why your router wont
work.
All ethernet based equipment is standardized to work no matter what the OS,.

Dell are a good case and point, yes they manufacture the PC, but actually
they do what millions of people do thereself. and this is purley an example,
they purchase:
Motherboard from Gigabyte, CPU from intell, hard drive from hitachi,
graphics from Nvidia, then with all that, they make you a nice shiney case,
and bolt it blasted thing together. yes you pay a premium yes you get
technical support, but cmon is it worth 20% ontop? for people like you the
answer is yes, for people like me the answer is no, because they bolted it
together your taking there word that it will do what they say, where as if
you build it, youu know every single part, you have every single manual and
website address, and you have SPECIFIC drivers bundeld, not the stuff dell
give you.

I doubt windows update will solve the problems, but if im right, youll just
need an updated Network driver, if its dell, its probably Realtek 10/100
fast ether Nic, if its hi end dell it will be Intel Pro Set II 10/100.

Try get the drivers and see.
Im not going into detail on how to find out, but the fastest way is this,
Start>Run type cmd press enter

in the black box, type ipconfig /all look for Local Area Connection and in
there it will list the Card Make/Model, visit the manufactuer and get the
drivers install, reboot and try it all out, theres a 1 in a million chance
the drivers you get cause your card to stop altogether.

if it makes you feel happier use system restore first, and make a restore
point just incase

 

[Guest]

Hey cheers for that. I've mailed Netgear to see what they have to say, I see
elsewhere on these forums that a few other people have the same prob, one of
them already mailed NG who replied saying that they're working with Microsoft
to sort it out. I'll wait and see what NG reply to me but I may well do what
you suggest below. If I do I'll let you know if it worked or not!

Cheers

Jackson

 

[Joe Guidera]

While there are any number of DSL modems that should work just fine with
Vista I'd hesitate to recommend one as I couldn't even begin to say what
standard your ISP (e.g. the local phone company) uses on it's head end
(don't even know if they're using the same ATM spec that we in the states
are).

Anyway, I digress... As others have mentioned you should be able to connect
the DSL modem to the ethernet port on your Vista PC (rather than using the
USB port) without the need for any drivers.

Your Vista PC should be configured to automatically obtain an address using
the DHCP standard.

Best of luck..
J

 

[Guest]

Hi Joe, Mark, anyone else who advised here

Just to let you know, my ISP got onto Netgear and they gave them a link for
a driver update which they'd just come up with, I downloaded it from
Netgear's site, upgraded my modem using it and now it works fine. Hurrah!

Thanks for all the patient advice guys

Jackson