DSL Connection

Hi all. A friend of mine just got DSL (or ADSL as it is known here, not sure it's the same thing) installed at his home, and cant make it work. I went to his place and tried everything i know (I've got DSL at home so I know how to set up Win2K and MacOS to access that), but to no avail. I took my HP notebook (Win2k Pro) with me and here's what i get:
1) The computer sees the router (connection through in-built web pages by the book, ping ok, no problem)
2) The router sees the computer (the "100 Mbps" light comes on when network cable is plugged in)
3) The router recognizes it is connected to a DSL line (DSL light comes on, cables and plugs checked and connected)

Still, no connection possible to the outside world, through PING, Internet Explorer or Outlook Express.

All TCP/IP settings are as specified in the manual, PC and router have been rebooted several times (the router is a Zyxel Prestige 642 SE by the way).

Any suggestions? Please? I'd love to see the look on this friend's face when his life switches from 56k to DSL 512

Thanks in advance,

Alex

 

Does the ISP know the device is out there? Sounds like it is just refusing the connection for some reason.

They normally (at least where I live) do the initial setup for you and make sure everything is working.

That is if I read you correctly and you can open the router with a browser.

And here is more than you probably wanted to know about the various DSL variations.

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DSL - A DSL modem transmits duplex (i.e., data in both directions simultaneously) at 160 kbps over copper lines of up to 18,000 feet. DSL modems use twisted-pair bandwidth from 0 to approximately 80 kHz which precludes the simultaneous use of analog telephone service in most cases


xDSL - the several DSL variations


HDSL - High Data-Rate Digital Subscriber Line
HDSL is simply a better way of transmitting T1/E1 over copper wires, using less bandwidth without repeaters. It uses more advanced modulation techniques to transmit 1.544 Mbps over lines up to 12,000 feet long.

SDSL - Single-Line Digital Subscriber Line
SDSL is a single-line version of HDSL, transmitting T1/E1 signals over a single twisted pair, and able to operate over the plain old telephone service (POTS) so that a single line can support POTS and T-1/E-1 at the same time. It fits the market for residence connection which must often work over a single telephone line. However, SDSL will not reach much beyond 10,000 feet. At the same distance, ADSL reaches rates above 6 Mbps.

ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line
ADSL is intended to complete the connection with the customer's premise. It transmits two separate data streams with much more bandwidth devoted to the downstream leg to the customer than returning. It is effective because symmetric signals in many pairs within a cable (as occurs in cables coming out of the central office) significantly limit the data rate and possible line length.

 

Thank you for your reply, Newt. It confirms my suspicion that the problem lies with the ISP.
They know the device is out there, because my friend has been pestering them everyday about the connection that wasn't working (the ADSL light wouldn't come on because another provider --the land-line owner, Swisscom-- hadn't made the switch in their central).
Then the ISP phoned my friend and said "Your line is ready, you can now connect ". And lo! the ADSL light came on when the router was switched on. But alas, we could go no further...

So i guess it's back to the hotline and yelling at 'em until things work 8)

Thanks a lot for the info on DSL variations, things are a bit clearer now...