802.11 Acccess Points with Dialup Capabilities?

timothy asks: "Since I like to visit friends and family, yet still be able to access the internet without hurting -their- access, I have purchased an all-in-one Linksys NAT box which combines firewall, NAT, 4-port switch, and 802.11b access in one cute little box. That's great when staying with people who have an ethernet network, but doesn't work for dialup. More and more people have DSL or cable, but Motel6 is still POTS! ;)"

"I'm thinking of either selling or supplementing the Linksys because it lacks a serial port for controlling a modem. In fact, despite the many brands of wireless AP right now, the only maker I can find with the ability to use a modem (besides Apple -- both generations of Airport have built-in modems) is SMC. One of their Barricade models has a serial port in addition to 3 hardwired ethernet ports and wireless, and a friend has demonstrated how it can be hooked up with an inexpensive 56K modem. This model has a decent web-based interface, but it's also not ideal for travel: sort of clunky to need a 2nd box (the modem), another wallwart, etc.

Can anyone suggest a box more akin to the Linksys (seems well-constructed, stacks, good indicator lights on front) but with a built-in modem? The ideal would be a single box I could set up quickly on any borrowed phone line to provide both wired and wireless access. The Apple Airport is the only one-box way to do this I can find, but I've heard only bad things about the Java setup utility necessary to make it work under Linux. (It also doesn't allow MAC address cloning, not necessary for dialup but often is when broadband is available) All suggestions welcome!"

Comments

Modem instructions for the Barricade?

[Anonymous Coward]

Does the SMC barricade come with instructions on how to setup a modem? Can the modem be set to demand-dial? Or is that just one of those "oh look, I made it use a modem even though it's not supported" things.

Re:Modem instructions for the Barricade?

[Steve Cowan]

The SMC Barricade will demand-dial a modem when the broadband connection goes down.

According to the instructions, you can set the modem to be the sole WAN connection, or you can have it only dial up when the broadband WAN goes down. Of course, you can also define basic PPP settings and modem init string.

Re:Modem instructions for the Barricade?

[karnal]

I could probably answer this myself, but how exactly does the SMC Barricade detect if the broadband network is "down"? (I'm assuming you mention this particular solution because you own and use one...)

I know most times when my Cable modem fritzes (kinda like yesterday during the unSuper Bowl) the modem will either not respond with a DHCP renewal, or give me a "fake" bridging address (192.168.100.11 seems to be the key). Also, the current router I use (bbiagent floppy router) doesn't necessarily lose the address as soon as the cable modem loses connection, so there's no real testing going on in my current firewall....

Thanks!

Re:Modem instructions for the Barricade?

[Insightfill]

Yeah, I've got an Efficient Networks 5861 hooked up to our DSL at home and its specs say it has dial-up backup. I haven't had to try this out yet (knock-knock), but it says it does. Just plug it in the DB9 in the back and roll. I know, but it's another box.

Another post has also mentioned using another PC with Slackware (or heck, even Windows ICS), but I have to ask if sharing the connection doesn't, by definition, hurt their access already.

Seriously, I've tried to get two computers to share one modem, and it was like getting two people to share a phone booth, but more painful. Depending upon usage patterns, we could be talking serious slow-downs, here. That general stat about only 10% of users on a shared connection actually using it doesn't apply when you're at 56k.

Don't do it, man. The only thing worse than having no internet access is having half of one. At least when the net is down, you can go in the other room and watch TV.

Airport configuration

[Cadre]

Apple has also released a Windows utility to configure the Airport (it isn't Java). If you don't have Windows box, perhaps it will run under WINE?

Re:Airport configuration

[GiMP]

There is Linux software as well, of course.. it is not officially supported, but what is ? :)

Re:Airport configuration

[Perdo]

Or run linux on the airport itself.

MAC address cloning ... *or* DHCP Release

[Steve Cowan]

(It also doesn't allow MAC address cloning, not necessary for dialup but often is when broadband is available)

That is a nice feature in the SMC barricade, but is not usually necessary for broadband provided you can make what ever computer have plugged into your cable modem do a DHCP Release. This causes the remote DHCP server to "take back" your IP address and stop associating it with your MAC address.

Then you're free to plug any piece of hardware into your cable modem, and your connection should continue to work fine.

One warning though: if you do plug a network router that doesn't do MAC address cloning, make sure it is able to do this "release" prior to having it discover its first IP address. If it cannot release, then you may have trouble with your ISP if you try to disconnect the router and operate without it.

Pick up a catalog or something.

[NetJunkie]

Orinoco (formerly Lucent) has a home gateway product that's an 802.11 AP with NAT and a built-in 56K modem. Orinoco's wireless products are great.

www.wavelan.com

Re:Pick up a catalog or something.

[Jackhamr]

I know they make the model RG-1000 that does 802.11, NAT, and has the 56 modem built in. It goes for about $220US

Airport

[Espen]

Sounds like you've already found the product you are looking for: the Apple Airport. I haven't tried Apple's Windows tool yet, because the Java one works fine for us (in fact I have a Mac on my desk and I still use the Java Configuratior for some tasks).

Dial-in is useful, too

[Anonymous Coward]

There's another reason that 802.11 access client boxes need telephone modems. If you get a feed from a wireless Internet provider, then your remote dial-up access to the net can be done with your own phone line and your own modem, as opposed to dialing into the ISP's pool. A tremendous amount of the expense of being an ISP is paying for all those oversubscribed phone lines to answer incoming calls.

Dlink has one

[mcmoyer]

I have a D-Link 713p wireless AP that has a 4 port switch, a serial port, and a printer port. That might suit your needs.

MultiTech RouteFinder family

[Fencepost]

The wireless access point in the Routefinder family (model RF802EW) has this kind of setup. Unfortunately, it only has a single LAN port (plus WAN and serial ports). For a long time, the non-wireless model (RF500S) was the only consumer-priced firewall/router that supported a backup modem.

D-Link DI-713

[hansendc]

I have D-Link DI-713, which has been replaced with the DI-714. It has a built in RS-232 port so that you can set the box's IP, or change the admin password. But, you can also hook an external modem up to it.

I know, I know, it's and extra box to lug around, but I already had an extra modem to use on mine, until I got broadband.

It works pretty well, you can set the inactivty timeout, and everything.

486DX2 66

[Calle Ballz]

It's called a 486 in a mini tower with an install of slackware 4. You need one (1) modem and one (1) ethernet card... configure ppp-setup to always stay on. Run IP Masquerading and you are set. You'll be able to plug your linksys AP into the ethernet card and you have every box on the network through 802.11b

I know it's kinda chunky, but it kept all my boxes online for months until I got DSL and a cisco router.

Let me ask you this....

[Chanc_Gorkon]

If your at a friends house with your laptop and they don't have a network or broadband connection and all they have is a dialup, why don't you just use the dialup with your built in modem?? Most laptops have these built in. If it's a winmodem and doesn't work under linux, external modems are small enough to just stick in your bag as well. You can always cart the WAP in your bag as they aren't that big and if they have broadband, good, if they don't, well use the modem.

I know most hotel rooms if they do have a analog port to plugin to, they are not always in the right spots, especially in a Motel 6, so this may not seem nice, but when are you in a hotel, for business, why are you staying at a hotel that doesn't have a nice desk in the room like a Hilton? (I was at one once and this worked great when I borrowed a department laptop so I can check e-mail when at a conference.....). When on vacation, if I had a laptop, I may surf in the morning looking up local stuff, and maybe check my e-mail, but after that I unplug and remain that way until the next day. Same would go at my parents house. They have a computer and so does my brother for that matter. I can use either in a pinch.

Re:Let me ask you this....

[NOT-2-QUICK]

Per your comments:

"When on vacation, if I had a laptop, I may surf in the morning looking up local stuff, and maybe check my e-mail, but after that I unplug and remain that way until the next day."

You obviously have a rather low 'GQ' - Geek Quotient. I mean seriously, what is up with this blasphemy...first you admit to not having a laptop (hello, it's for you - the 1990's are calling) and then you go so far as to not spend the entire day online while vacationing. How do you live?

Wow, how did you ever find this site!!! Away with you, geek imposter!!! ;-)

3Com OfficeConnect 56K LAN Modem

[sobiloff]

The 3Com OfficeConnect 56K LAN Modem does everything you want in a single box. I bought one for my parents, who can't see the value in paying for a cable modem and are content with using an analog phone line. It seems to work pretty well and has a browser-based interface for configuring it. (The interface is way ugly, but functional.)

Score +1, Informative?

[Wakko Warner]

Yeah, this is a great portable solution.

- A.P.

RG-1000

[rlangis]

I would suggest the Orinoco RG-1000. It has dialup, ethernet, NAT, is hackable, can be flashed with the latest Airport Firmware, and if you know the right People, can be had for $50 or so.

I've got one, and I love it.