Since I moved one building over in my condo complex two years ago, I lost my (now called) ATT DSL. (I still don't understand this!) Earthlink has been the only game in town for my location, but I hate it and it's 2.5x as expensive as ATT. Every time I have a major meltdown with Earthlink, I see if another company is available for my address.

Anyway, today I discovered that Covad now sells for my address at the same price as Earthlink. I've checked reviews online, but most of them are old. As with any company, they are mixed. I also discovered that, at least at one point, Earthlink is a reseller of Covad. If that is currently true, I'm guessing service won't get any better with them.

Does anyone know if Earthlink is really Covad? If it isn't, has anyone had any experience with Covad, especially in the Chicago area?

I've thought about buying a broadband card from Sprint or ATT and dumping DSL, but I need to be able to use the print server on my router to print wirelessly from the laptop. Is there a way to do so with a broadband card?

Usually Earthlink resells someone else's service so they will probably use the same wires. (In Houston they resold Time Warner's Roadrunner service.)

One way to solve the problem is to get an old desktop 1. install a PC slot adapter (~$40), 2. install the mobile card, 3. use an Ethernet connection on the desktop to connect to a wireless router and 4. bridge the two connections together so that the computer just acts as a conduit for traffic. You should then be able to use a WiFi connection at the house and have access to your printer as you did before plus you could then remove the card and take it with you when you are out of your house.

I suggest this way setup since you can also use the desktop as a print server and file server. So you can store lots of files on it and keep your laptop clutter free. Hope this help.

BSL

BSL: So if I went the route you describe, I'd have to get a different router? I thought mobile cards connect in USB slot, which I have on my desktop.

(I don't fully understand everything you wrote, but I have a great computer consultant who can do all this.)

I believe BSL is asking you to consider a mobile broadband solution, such as the (approx) $60 / month services offered by Sprint, Verizon, and others. These services require a device which generally plugs into your USB port, or your Express port. However, the easiest way to share this type of connectivity is not to use a PC.

Rather, many companies make devices which can accept a mobile broadband device and output a Wifi signal. The CradlePoint CTR-350 is one such solution.

On the down side, DSL is wired and (for most people) more consistent. You're highly unlikely to get as fast of a speed using these devices, and you'll pay more per month, and you'll have to make a 1 or 2 year commitment.

boberonicus, I now understand the router comment better. Thanks.

I know broadband cards aren't as fast as DSL. But considering the lack of connectivity and consistently dropped connections I've had this week, along with ICC reps who read from a script and refuse to acknowledge that the problem is EL's connection, not mine, and who won't kick the problem to the right department that can actually fix it (I know from lots of experience when it's EL's problem and am tired of spending several hours a month rebooting and resetting), it can't possibly be worse than what I have now. The extra cost would be offset by being able to have a free connection on the road. I'm totally frustrated.

As for broadband, all providers offer some version of card, or usb device for easy selection based on what computers you need. For example, one can sign up for sprint Sero for 49$ a month, unlimited EVDO and either select and USB dongle type device, or a pc card. If one ONLY had a pc with pc card slot, or express card slot, then that might be the best solution.

The create a bridge and router essentially at the desktop pc, is pretty easy. ICS could easily be enabled to source the USB internet broadband connection and send it to the router via the ethernet on the pc. Then, the router works as usuall and the print should too. Your just offering a different internet source to the desktop pc, (which is this case is really just acting like the modem)

As for DSL, there is usually just ONE true providor, the telco. If ATT is your telco in that area, I don't see why they don't offer DSL, one building shouldn't be an issue it is the local CLEC and the switch you are at. I can assure you Earthlink is simply reselling the ATT circuit, as/or is covad. They may have their OWN pipe coming in to the local switch, but the lines are the local carrier. If you HAD and liked the ATT DSL I would further pursue that.

Or, go SERO (check your coverage at home) and then you get a home and mobile solution

I was on the phone for SEVEN hours once with Earthlinks various chimps-finally got a great tech who was not reading from a card and admitted a EL error and fessed a patch was in the works.

I have att now-happy with them.although expensive for dial up

This doesn't sound right at all.

Go and get an ID here: http://www.dslreports.com/ Then post a [Prequal] question here with your details: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/sbcdirect

It will take them a day or two but they will get back to you. In that AT&T Direct forum they are staffed with engineers and they have access to maps that a CSR does not. Make sure you give your address and phone number in the post, and your old address too. Only the poster can view their post -- it's locked out to all others except the AT&T mods.

I'd be interested to know what they say.

Also, here's the general support forum for your area: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/ilec,am

Sprint will offer a wireless Broadband service in Chicago called Xohm based on the new WiMAX technology. A few companies such as Clearwire had been offering service in smaller cities already. This will be faster than EV-DO, HSDPA services available from Sprint, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.

DallasBill, thank you for pointing me to this forum. I posted my prequal question for ATT and will let you know what answer I get. It's never made sense that I can get Earthlink on an ATT phone line and not get ATT DSL, but no one has been able to explain this situation.

DallasBill is right DSLReports is the best site ever for DSL questions.

I wanted to add though, that if Covad is available in your area now, you might want to check out SpeakEasy. They are a Covad reseller but most of the time (magically) they are cheaper than Covad. Anyhow, I've never had any problem w/ their customer support or service and they have a prequal tool on their site.

http://www.speakeasy.net/

Take care,

-SF

Except that the computer that sources the connection must always be on, ICS isn't secure, and you'll need a cable between the PC and the AP. Further, the Kyocera / Cradlepoint / Top Global routers are serious fun for road warriors. You can turn any room into a hotspot in under a minute. I'm itching to buy one.

of course it is

ICS in this setup is just as secure as what the OP has now or chooses to do with the router?

BB > USB > computer (as secure as it would otherwise be)
ICS via ethernet > router (secure)
Router > computer (as secure as one wants to make the router, MAC, WEP, WPA, WPA2)

yes, the computer has to be on, since it is acting as the modem essentially, as posted.

I also turn a room into a hotspot with my sprint mogul, for less than 25$ a month, voice and data included.

I do not understand how the OP's current setup supports a split tunnel. And most large corporations try to stop them whenever possible, be they via VPN, ICS, or other means. ICS does DHCP and creates an inviting point of attack. Two of my clients disable ICS via GPO. But it sounds like you know a lot more about this topic, so let's defer to you on this one.

my point was trying to be, that in the environment on ONE computer, a single DHCP point in a complete secure environment, being ONE computer not connected to anything else other than the router (which is already in place), this isn't any more a point of weakness than the current environment of DSL coming in to a modem, to a router. The greatest point of weakness here is the router, and possibly hacking of the wireless broadband, but again, it isn't more weak than now (other than possibly the DSL being a wired signal and not the wireless)

As for a corporation, of course they would be interested in shutting down anything that could share the internal or external internet connection with anything more than the one DHCP, MAC or Static connection per desktop within the LAN. With ICS enabled on a corporate LAN, one could simply share the ethernet connection via the computer with a rogue AP and then boom, one could have potentially access to AT LEAST that one computer, if poorly configured.

I don't see that as being the risk, threat or concern here, since this is one computer, not on a LAN.

The point is ICS itself isn't some insecure protocol by nature, it is merely a bonding of two connections, and then a creation of a virtual DHCP server (that one can also be configured as a single static address though)