Anybody here using Tiscali ADSL & an internal modem?

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 22 Jul 2005, 08:52

Right now I am using F1 Internet for my broadband connection, but I want to move to Tiscali for various reasons - it's cheaper for the same connection speed and provides me with 100MB Web space which I don't have any of at the moment, and it provides e-mail addresses & better service than the non-existant service I get now.

The Web space is the most important thing to me - as some of you will know, I used to run www.asianfilmreviews.tk but it has been out of action for many months now due to the fact I have no Web space since it stopped working with my current provider and they have done nothing to resolve the issue.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I have a built-in ADSL modem (Connexant AccessRunner DSL) in my computer, and I don't want to remove it and install the free external USB modem that Tiscali provide. This is partly for lack of space reasons and partly because a PCI modem takes less system resources than a USB one, which also ties up another USB port on the back of my PC, which I don't want.

I am wondering if any of you have any experience with using Tiscali broadband without their own modem - do they give you all the necessary information to setup your own software & modem, or do they only provide a setup CD for their modem?

I need to know the following information:

Line Setup - Modulation, Wiring Selection
Protocol Setup - VPI, VCI, Encapsulation Mode, Max Send & Receive Packet Lengths, PCR

Has anyone had any experience trying to find out this information from Tiscali themselves? I am thinking of writing them an e-mail before I sign up as I don't want to be stuck with using their external modem.

I just thought I'd ask on here and a few other forums first...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Jul 2005, 16:10

They only provide you with a setup CD but you may find if you e-mail them they'll provide you with the information.

The setup CD runs through the process and says when to plug the modem in (for a newbie it's amazingly simple). I guess you could skip this part and click "yes it's plugged in" when it actually isn't. I don't know I've not tried it.

I'd be surprised if your modem doesn't work on Tiscali. I never knew you could get internal ADSL modems. They're certainly rare. I guess because USB modems are easier to install for newbies.

How much did it cost? From where? Does it have a router built in?

It's a great idea. I always used internal modems in the days of dial-up, for the same reasons as you. Besides I have loads of PCI slots in my PC.

p.s - What make/model is your DVD-RAM drive. I'm looking to get one that also supports DL.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 23 Jul 2005, 16:29

I asked on a different forum and basically found out all the information I need so I won't be using a USB modem!

I can set the whole thing up manually to work with my (much better) internal modem.

The modem itself cost me about £20 about 18 months ago and works perfectly without hogging system resources like a USB modem does. Sure, they're easy for first-timers but I'm experienced with building & maintaining computers so I don't need simplicity.

I think I got the modem from either Aria Technology or Microland Technology (now sadly gone bust).

My DVD-RAM drive is an LG and despite what Toge has said in the past, they are rugged and reliable. I have 3 LG DVD / CD drives (all different models) and they all work perfectly.

My DVD-RAM drive isn't actually dual-layer, as I bought it when dual-layer was just coming in and they were a lot more expensive. Besides, the dual-layer discs cost a bomb too so to me they're not worth it. 4.7GB is enough on 1 disc for me.

Take a look at www.aria.co.uk for their DVD-RAM drives. In my experience, you can't go wrong with an LG drive at all.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 23 Jul 2005, 17:02

LG was the make I was going to get. I'm not sure what Toge means as I've heard nothing but praise for DVD-RAM.

It's a much better format than both DVD+ or DVD- . It's a pity it's so unsupported on DVD players and generally for that matter.

The only downside is LG only seems to support DVD+R DL and not DVD-R DL as well. I'd personally want both as well as DVD-RAM. You're right DL is expensive (the cheapest I can find is £2.30 per disc) so I wouldn't use it often but I would use it.

Are Aria better than eBuyer?

p.s - Does the modem have a router built in?

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 23 Jul 2005, 22:19

The modem is just a modem - no built in router. You just plug it in a PCI slot and it has 1 RJ11 socket for the phone line.

DVD-RAM is an excellent format! You can drag-and-drop to it within Windows Explorer, you can open & write to files on the disc without having to save to a different session, its portable, etc, etc, etc. It's just so versatile and like having a mini hard drive.

All my friends are getting DVD-RAM drives because they see the potential behind them.

I think you are a little mislead with your comment on DVD-RAM being unsupported in DVD players. Approximately 90% of the Japanese market in DVD-Video recorders is DVD-RAM. It is supported byt the big players like Panasonic & Toshiba.

Around 80% of the American market is DVD-RAM too. In the UK, the last time I read our ERT update at work, I think it said DVD-RAM had about 60% of the market share. We sell only DVD-RAM Video recorders from Panasonic, and they are fantastic pieces of equipment. The fact that the new models also support every other format is a bonus point.

£2.30 is very expensive for a single disc! I can buy 3 Panasonic DVD-RAM discs for £4.60 from work (trade price), so for me DVD-RAM was and still is the best option.

My advice, go for DVD-RAM!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 Jul 2005, 02:00

IronMonkey wrote:The modem is just a modem - no built in router. You just plug it in a PCI slot and it has 1 RJ11 socket for the phone line.

Can you get these? I ask as ideally a router with ADSL modem built in is better.

IronMonkey wrote:I think you are a little mislead with your comment on DVD-RAM being unsupported in DVD players. Approximately 90% of the Japanese market in DVD-Video recorders is DVD-RAM. It is supported byt the big players like Panasonic & Toshiba.

You're talking about DVD Recorders I'm talking about DVD Players big difference, unless I'm mistaken and DVD Players are commonly found being able to play them?

£2.30 is very expensive for a single disc! I can buy 3 Panasonic DVD-RAM discs for £4.60 from work (trade price), so for me DVD-RAM was and still is the best option.

DVD-RAM is only single layer. There is a place for DVD+/R DL. I've just found DL discs for £1.99 each (still to much but there getting there):

http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product.php ... =DVR1028-1

I'll be buying a box of DL and DVD-RAM. I'll be copying all my DVD-RWs to DVD-RAM. You can buy DVD-RAM discs for the same price (£1.50 each) from svp.co.uk. They're Ritek or Datasafe branded which I'm sure will be fine.

My advice, go for DVD-RAM!

I already decided I would for the reliability of them mainly.

I have important data backed up to DVD-RW and I no longer trust the format (DVD+ either). I have always bought cheap CD-Rs and they're still going strong years later but many of my cheap DVD-Rs now skip and jump all over the place

Thanks btw.

Toge · Post by **Toge** » 24 Jul 2005, 10:38

I'm always backing Pioneer. LG would have been a choice if it didn't produce so many coasters for my friend

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 24 Jul 2005, 12:50

I've never had a single coaster yet on my 2 LG recorders (the 3rd is just a DVD-ROM drive).

Are you sure your friend is burning the discs correctly? Wat software is he using?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 Jul 2005, 13:07

As far as I can tell Pioneer don't support DVD-RAM, in fact very few companies do.

p.s - I specifically talking about non-cartridge DVD-RAM discs.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 24 Jul 2005, 16:56

Non-cartridge & cartridge discs are exactly the same, except cartridge use is more common for double sided DVD-RAM discs.

You can remove a disc from a cartridge & you can also put it back in too...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 24 Jul 2005, 17:41

True but as they're more expensive they don't interest me.

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 24 Jul 2005, 20:52

Not if you can get them at trade prices like me!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 Jul 2005, 11:35

I'd have trouble fitting them in a LG DVD Writer

Toge · Post by **Toge** » 25 Jul 2005, 13:09

My friend is a nero user

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 25 Jul 2005, 14:28

Me to. Nero Burning Rom (not the crappy Express version) is the best. I've used Adaptec EasyCD and WinONCD but Nero is better.

Toge · Post by **Toge** » 25 Jul 2005, 19:22

Express is fine - I do my backups with it.