[ale] Better ISP?

[Ron Frazier]

Rich, you had me almost rolling on the floor laughing with that story.

Cornelis, I'm coming into this thread a bit late, so I don't know
everything that's been said, but I thought I'd throw in my two cents.
By the way, I don't think there are any trivial or stupid questions.

I have had Comcast high speed internet via cable for years and really
like it almost all the time, except for the occasional glitch.  It's
much faster than DSL.  I pay a bit extra for a speed increase and get 16
- 20 Mbps most of the time.  Cable is shared with other users so
performance does vary.  That's fast enough to do voip, stream video, do
online conferencing, and download dozens of podcasts without too much
trouble.

It's not real cheap though.  When I had internet alone, I think it was $
60 - $ 70 / month.  Now, I get their Xfinity package which includes high
speed internet, phone, 2 extra phone lines I pay for, and high
definition cable TV with high definition DVR for about $ 160 / mo.
After the 1 year promo is over, I think it will be around $ 200 / mo.
That's still comparable to what I was paying Dish Network, Comcast, and
BellSouth combined for all those services.

I have NO setup whatsoever in each computer that relates to the cable
service.  I park my own router in front of their cable modem so I can
tweak all the options and security settings.  (Routers do NOT come
shipped in a secure and optimal mode.)  I simply set my router to
automatically get an IP from the cable modem.  With this setup, I don't
care how the modem is set up, it's user interface, of if it's replaced.
I override the router's default DNS setting and use opendns instead to
allow me to filter out phishing and rubish sites.  This should be doable
with any provider, it's just a matter of configuring the router
properly.

ALL I have to do on each machine is to get it to connect to my router by
supplying the wireless password.  There is no software to install.  The
PC never even knows it's talking to Comcast.  This works very well for
me, and I use multiple computers running both Linux and Windows.

Note that you MUST configure the router properly to operate in stealth
mode and protect your inner network.  Set the router to avoid replying
to any unsolicited inquiries, refuse remote administration from the
internet, turn off UPNP, have its firewall on, and use WPA / WPA2
wireless encryption with a long random password.  You should also use a
firewall on each PC set up to operate in stealth mode.  (I haven't
figured out how to totally stealth Ubuntu yet.)

You can get long random passwords here:
https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm
I use a 63 digit alpha numeric WPA password which I've converted to all
capital letters.  That's slightly less security, but there are still
trillions of combinations of that many digits.  All caps are easier to
enter into the configuration screen of my internet connected blue ray
dvd player.  I save the password in a text file on my pc.  I figure the
risk of having the pc stolen, then the thief hacking into my home
network by sitting outside are minimal.

You can test your external internet connection for exposed open ports
(which you don't want) using the Shields Up service at
https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 from Gibson Research.  This will
test your router, not your pc.  The only way to test the pc is to expose
it directly to the internet by connecting directly to the cable modem.
Don't do that unless you know you have a firewall running on the pc.
Test it, then put it back behind the router.

The sequence is: pc connects to router wired or wireless, router
connects to modem - usually with lan cable, modem connects to internet -
in my case with a coaxial cable.

If you have any questions about setup, you can contact me.

Sincerely,

Ron

On Wed, 2011-01-05 at 10:55 -0500, Richard Faulkner wrote:
> Just trying to help!  : )
> 
> My first encounter with AT&T tech support went kinda this way...
> 
> Tech:  "What version of Windows are you using sir?"
> Me:  "Fedora 12"
> Tech:  ....long silence...
> Tech:  "Errr...12?"
> Me:  "I use Fedora 12"
> Tech:  ...more confused silence...
> Me:  "That's Linux"
> Tech:  ...stammers for words...
> Me:  "I don't do windows...I take it you don't know what Linux is?"
> Tech:  "No sir, you have to have Windows.  I recommend you install
> Windows."
> 
> You can imagine my response to that.  I think you need to call support
> before 3pm eastern to get a native english speaker (not an off-shore
> type) who might have a clue.  
> 
> CLEAR on the other hand totally understood that I run Linux and knew
> what it was.  Their techs wouldn't fight with me about OS and filled
> my needs w/o grief.  They had a clue.  AT&T is totally
> clueless...sorry to say that but it is my honest opinion and
> observation.  Somewhere in that mass of support there must be someone
> who gets it but I never found them.
> 
> Oh yeah...most of these outfits don't support Chrome either.  A double
> whammy from me as I use it exclusively (unless a site absolutely won't
> support it then run Firefox)....so keep that in mind when getting
> ready to deal with a new ISP.
> 
> RinL
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John <jdp at algoloma.com>
> Reply-to: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts <ale at ale.org>
> To: ale at ale.org
> Subject: Re: [ale] Better ISP?
> Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:28:56 -0500
> 
> Thanks for the correction.
> 
> Here's a link that may be helpful.
> 
> http://www.att.com/gen/general?pid=7305
> 
> It does say that "Linux operating systems are compatible, but not 
> supported."
> 
> 
> 
> On 01/05/2011 09:08 AM, Richard Faulkner wrote:
> > Window$ installation disk is not required to complete the DSL set-up for
> > AT&T.  It provides an interface to talk with the modem and really isn't
> > needed.  All you have to do is to http to the modem (which offers a web
> > interface - obviously) and do the set-up there.  Most any tech will walk
> > you through it and AT&T does have a special number to call for support
> > for those connecting for the first time and driving non-supported OSes.
> >
> > You DO have to be VERY specific on AT&T NOT sending out a connection kit
> > when signing-up.  I told them I was running Linux and NO M$...they sent
> > one anyway.  Several more phone calls I finally "kinda" got a credit for
> > the kit -- waste of time but I don't have any other choices at the
> > moment.  (I won't go to Comcast and have no need for a T).
> >
> > RinL
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: John<jdp at algoloma.com>
> > Reply-to: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts<ale at ale.org>
> > To: ale at ale.org
> > Subject: Re: [ale] Better ISP?
> > Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:59:57 -0500
> >
> >
> > If you are still on dial up and price is a concern, take a look at the
> > extremely basic DSL from AT&T at $14.95/month. You probably can't use
> > VoIP over that connection, but my mother has been on it for the last 4
> > yrs after holding out on dialup for 15 yrs over price. She runs Linux
> > ... now and will never go back to dialup. She likes the simplicity of
> > always-on ISP service.
> >
> > You may need a Windows VM to use the AT&T DSL installer these days, but
> > after that you don't need Windows again. Seems they want to make the DSL
> > router setup, email setup, etc .... "easy" for their customers.  You can
> > fight with support, but you will probably just get told they only
> > support Windows and not get anywhere. It is unlikely that any support
> > people will be allowed to help you with Linux even if they could. The
> > support folks must stay on-script.  OTOH, if you know what you are
> > doing, I've heard that manually configuring the router and email setup
> > can be accomplished if you can get the necessary information without the
> > Windows installer.  I haven't heard whether the installer works under
> > WINE or not.
> >
> > Good luck.
> >
> >
> > On 01/04/2011 08:14 PM, Cornelis van Dijk wrote:
> >> Hello alers,
> >> I recently realized that I am stuck in the Dark Ages with my dial up
> >> at Earthlink. Sometimes it takes five minutes to just get access to my
> >> email, sometimes it does not work at all. Is this a common problem
> >> nowadays? (I was busy for a few years with an autobiography "Panta
> >> Rei", www.virtualbookworm.com;  watch out, this book  slows down your
> >> watch if you get too close to it.)
> >>
> >> Apart from upgrading my PC's I would like to get a better, at least
> >> faster connection. Do I need something like DSL? I have no idea what
> >> else is out there.  I pay about $22.- for the dial up (about a year's
> >> worth of royalties!). I have experimented with other ISP's before but
> >> they have a tendency to go broke in a hurry. Is the "speedfactory"
> >> still around? If so, are they any good?  Every now and then AT&T sends
> >> me some salesmen, but when I ask them whether AT&T supports Linux, I
> >> get this stare. (Is it actually necessary for an ISP to support Linux
> >> in order to use them?)  Some pointers will be appreciated.
> >>
> >> I apologize to the high flyers and system administrators for my
> >> trivial questions. I also apologize for the sneak commercial above, a
> >> justification being that the book was assembled with Linux and Latex,
> >> another one that I have seen worse OT's before. Cor

-- 

(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
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Ron Frazier

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linuxdude AT c3energy.com