Broadband Compatability ?

We are presently on Xtra dial up and looking to take up the Xrta deal at the moment for switching to broadband.

Is anyone with an old system running Xtra Broadband with Windows ME 2000 software ? will it work?

We looked at the technical specifications for software on Telecoms web site and ME 2000 is not mentioned, although we meet all other requirements. DH rang telecom and was informed the we should up grade - cheeky buggers!. When DH said we cant up grade as the computer is so old and we couldnt afford to up grade anyway..he was told it might work..or it might have problems:rolleyes:.

So if anyone is running ME please let me know - I dont want to switch and find we cant run broadband and end up with a $90 fee for termination of contract.

ccrk9;154090 wrote: Is anyone with an old system running Xtra Broadband with Windows ME 2000 software ? will it work?

Answer: It depends...

IF you go for Xtra's free modem deal, you may have problems because IIRC, it uses a USB connection and USB doesn't work too well with Windows ME.

However, if you pay an extra $99 I think it is, Xtra will throw in a Wireless Router which has ethernet ports and you should be fine with that. Basically, Windows ME is just Windows 98SE with some extra crap thrown in that in some cases did more harm than good.

Wyseyes may be able to shed more light on this, as he is more familiar with the D-Link stuff than I am.

To reiterate: Make doubly sure that the modem/router that Xtra give you has an Ethernet port rather than USB because you are asking for trouble otherwise.

Thanks Grant. We were looking at the free modem deal....I know what a USB port is but that is as far as my knowledge goes. DH is a computer person but couldnt get any sense out of Telecom (what a supprise!) so will flag your comments to DH.

Umm... do you have an ethernet port on your computer?

I'd agree that you should avoid the USB-only broadband modem. You need a modem with an ethernet port on it. Also, you don't need any of the software that comes with the modem- do not install it on your computer. You might need some software for ME though, but if your computer has an ethernet port then the drivers and so on will most likely be present already (even though they are not being used).

But the first and most important question is, do you have an ethernet port?

Here is a picture of one (in case you weren't sure):

wiki.pomona.edu/bin/view/FAQ/EthernetPort

ame;154108 wrote: But the first and most important question is, do you have an ethernet port?

Yes, good point Ame, it would pay to check. Given that the computer is running Windows ME, I think it would be pretty unlikely not to have an Ethernet port as most PCs of that era had them built in to the motherboard.

If however you don't have an Ethernet port, a suitable plug-in card only costs about $20 at DSE. This will occupy one PCI slot in your PC.

And YES, Windows ME is supported by the driver disk:

"Drivers and or documentation for Win 9x, Me, NT, XP, 2000, DOS, Linux, Unix & Netware are provided with product on single 3.5" floppy disk"

If the PC is that old, it is bound to have a floppy drive

ccrk9

First make sure of which OS you have. Windows Millennium Edition (ME) is a far different beast than Windows 2000. Do you remember Windows 98? It had a 'corporate' brother called Windows NT4.0, which was much more stable and suited for business and networked systems.

Two years later, they released Windows 2000, the corporate upgrade to NT4.0. Secretly they called NT5.0. Then they took all the good bits out of it, hobbled and knobbled it, and called it ME.

Just like Windows XP Professional (NT5.2), hobbled became XP Home.

Yes, check to make sure you have the Ethernet port. If not, then make sure that if you get one, it will run under ME/Win200 (whatever you have). Current prices, DSE= $20, Online = $9.

The D-Link ADSL Modems -
302T = USB Only.... Avoid this. Because. Just Because.
502T = USB and Ethernet, works well but only with one computer.
504T = Ethernet x 4. Works great, 4 computers at once, (think if a guest with a laptop visits).
604T = Ethernet x 4 + Wireless. Even greater, flexible, but no use if you don't do the wireless often.

Seems that Xtra only offer the 502T and the 604T.
The 502T can be turned into a 504T with a $20 Ethernet switch (think power 4-way plugboard for ethernet) and a couple of $5 cables. This may be an easier cheaper upgrade if required.

A big thanks to everyone. DH thinks we do have an Ethernet port but is going to check. We only have the one very old computer so muti connections are not an issue. Yes we do have Microsoft Windows ME 2000. I will flag all this info to DH and he can take it from there. We are waiting on Telecom to do a line test for us which takes 24 to 48 hours, and they will ring us with the result...yeah right. The main issue was the fact their so called technical information didnt tell us about compatability with ME and of course their techs were pretty useless as well.

Whoops, got myself a bit muddled..Windows ME not 2000. But its now neither here or there for the moment as we dont have an Ethernet port so will need a conversion ...Grrr. But the what else can be expected of crappy Gateway computers...And no we didnt buy it - in fact we recommended the friend who did buy it not to as they spent huge $ for a system that they could have had for half the price with better warrenty servicing - no wonder Gateway went out of business in NZ.

When it didnt work out after 2 years constant problems (faulty key boards, power board problems etc) we were given the system as a spare. Trouble is the "spare" is now our only operating computer.

Then to cap it off last night the whole system crashed and DH even had to re install our dail up software.

I think a new computer with decent software has just been moved up the priority list! Maybe I need to find a few $ for a lotto ticket next week.[]
So I suspect broadband is still awhile away for us .

ccrk9;154590 wrote: ...we dont have an Ethernet port so will need a conversion ...Grrr.

A plug-in card is $19.98 at Dick Smith and it does support Windows ME.

I can give you the link if you are interested

Thanks Grant - no problem with DS as we often use them...on the rare times we go into town.

Telecom have managed to put a nail in the coffin of broadband for us at the moment. DH rang them to find out the results of the line test as they hadnt contacted us in the 24 to 48 hours promised. Their response was "sorry we hadnt rung back" (yeah right!) but "as you are so far from the exchange we want to send someone out to install the broadband - at a cost of $150.00". When asked why we needed a tech to come out they couldnt answer but switched us thru to another person (presumably a tech) but the phone rang and rang and rang...so DH gave up and will try later. So a hold on Broadband for us as thats extra money we dont have at the moment. DH will talk try and talk to them again later ...DH has been a computer person by profession in a wide range of areas (installations, systems analysis,-you name it he's done it) and used to work for Telecom, has been in the exchanges etc over the years so he should be able to get some sense out of them if he can talk to someone.

So will wait and see what happens.

ccrk9;154863 wrote: ...we want to send someone out to install the broadband - at a cost of $150.00"

By the sounds of it, they want to install a Master Filter for you, rather than the usual plug-in variety. These are made by Marque Magnetics and you can buy them from MasterTrade as MM3200 for around $50 - $70 according to whether you get Trade Price or not.

ccrk9;154863 wrote: DH has been a computer person by profession in a wide range of areas (installations, systems analysis,-you name it he's done it) and used to work for Telecom, has been in the exchanges etc over the years so he should be able to get some sense out of them if he can talk to someone.

In that case, DH can install the Master Filter himself, no problem. There are just 4 wires:

- 2 for Input from the Line (in parallel with your ADSL modem)
- 2 for Output to ALL phones/faxes/alarms/Sky Decoders in the house

A Master Filter will give you the best chance of getting reliable broadband. It is my understanding that Telecom won't charge you the $150 in the event that the installation is unsuccessful. However, it is a lot to pay when DH could do the job himself for $50 to $70.

Cheers,
Grant.

Thanks Grant I will pass this on to DH - he could certainly install just about anything that connects to computers and phone lines, he's done so before although he's been out of the computer stuff for a little while now - seems he likes digging holes for fence posts and grubbing around in old jeans or shorts instead of wearing a tie and doing high pressure work like he used to [:0][]

Just remember...

The orange pair is for the incoming line, and the ADSL point.
The blue pair are for all the phones/faxes etc.