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Using DSL Modems for Point to Point Connections?

Posted by Cliff on from the cheaply-providing-network-service dept.

Tommydog asks: "Any techies out there? I'm living in a rural area and would like to know from anyone qualified, if I can hook up 2 DSL modems point to point, and connect to a neighbor's home network who is running Internet Sharing. We do have a dry pair (we can only get one pair) of TELCO wires between our houses, which are about 2 miles apart. Before investing in a couple of single pair modems (T-1's require 2 pair), I'd like to know if anyone has been able to make something like this work. It turns out that I'm just a bit too far for DSL, but this neighbor does have it and will share it if I can get a good connection going. So, anyone have 2 DSL modems working point to point, back to back? Are there any caveats or precautions? Thanks!"

3 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. cut the cord...use high-powered wireless antennae by avi33 · · Score: 5, Informative

    There's an article on I, Cringely that describes this exact scenario.

    However, he wanted to sit in a coffeeshop in town and use his home network, so he claims he installed a couple of high powered "pringle antennae" climbed tree, installed another one as a repeater in a tree somewhere (to get around a mountain) and he was in business. Shouldn't be too hard to line-of-sight something 2 miles.

  2. Re:Yes by ivan256 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Older SDSL modems should do the trick. I know that the SpeedStream 5250 not only works, but when used at both ends can totally autoconfigure a DSL bridge for ethernet at the highest speed your pair is capable of. The best part is that they're old and cheap. You can find them for $10 on eBay, so if you buy them and find out there's a problem with your loop, you're only out $20.

    I've seen these things work at 11,000 feet, and the manual for mine says it's possible to use for up to 18,000 feet (measured by line impedance). If you're 2 miles drive from your friend's house you could have 20k+ feet between the two of you, or worse, your line could go through the CO on the way there. If you're too far out for DSL from the CO, you're definatly too far from your friends house if your line makes a stop at the CO first!

  3. link to older Slashdot discussion by falsification · · Score: 5, Informative
    This was usefully discussed a couple of years ago on Slashdot. Link.

    BTW, if your phone company won't take your order for a "dry pair," ask for an "alarm circuit."

    You should be able to just plug both of them in, configure your TCP/IP stacks to use the DSL "modem" as a gateway, and you're off to the races.