Quick AOL Question.....

[Westyfield2]

Right, this isn't for me (wouldn't touch AOL with a barge-pole!) but:

Computer died, needed new one very quick so got something off the highstreet with Vista (previously using XP).
BT Voyager 105 Modem currently used doesn't have Vista drivers.
Zoom modem purchased but AOL installation software stubbornly demands the Voyager and will not recognise an alternative.


Now ofcourse my adivce is ditching AOL, but a quick tempory fix is required.



I've got a spare NetGear DG834GT ADSL router lying around, could that be given the AOL connection details and the computer connected by ethernet? (Ie like a normal PPPoA ISP with standard username & password)


I imagine the answers no, otherwise no-one in their right mind would install the AOL software...

 

[marc2003]

you don't need the software at all. even with a modem, all you need is the drivers and then you can create a connection manually. of course the router would be the best bet if you can spare it. i believe the mtu value needs tweaking to work on aol. a quick search should sort you out.

 

[tolien]

The MTU needs tweaking to 1400, but beyond that the instructions should be on the AOL site (or a post on this forum).

 

[Westyfield2]

The MTU needs tweaking to 1400, but beyond that the instructions should be on the AOL site (or a post on this forum).

Thanks, just found some info on the AOL site: http://myaolbroadband.co.uk/broadband/faqHomeNetworking.adp#answer05

Connection Protocol: PPPoE
VPI: 0
VCI: 38
Note that sometimes you will be asked for both figures together (VPI/VCI). In that instance, you enter them separated by a comma: 0,38
Username: [email protected]
Password: youraolpassword


Please read these important guidelines about screen names and passwords used to configure a router to sign on to AOL.

MTU Setting: MTU (Maximum Transfer Unit) defines the largest data packet size you can transmit in one go across a network. The AOL network runs at an MTU of 1450. Many routers have inbuilt auto-configurations where the hardware identifies that the AOL traffic has an MTU of 1450 and dynamically adjusts. Alternatively you may have to manually change the MTU setting on the modem router.

If the router hardware does not have this facility, the MTU setting can manually be changed on the computer to 1450.

You can change the MTU setting on your computer by using DrTCP. This is a free software utility that is a shortcut to editing your registry. This is available at: http://www.broadbandreports.com/drtcp.

MRU Setting: MRU (Maximum Routing Unit) is required by some modem routers and should be set to the same value as the MTU of 1450.

MSS Setting: MSS (Maximum Segment Size) is required by some modem routers and dynamically adjusts the packet size to fit the MTU. It should be set to 1410.

Probably a stupid question, but I thought in the UK we use PPPoA not PPPoE?

 

[tolien]

PPPoA should work as well.
It isn't a country-specific thing, but rather provider-specific. Be don't use PPP at all.

 

[Westyfield2]

PPPoA should work as well.
It isn't a country-specific thing, but rather provider-specific. Be don't use PPP at all.

Oh right, thanks

 

[Westyfield2]

One more thing, tolien said MTU:1400, AOL website says 1450

Am I right in thinking that both would work, but 1400 is a safer bet (because it's a smaller maximum data packet)

 

[tolien]

I'm fairly sure 1400's what BTw say you should use with PPPoE, but it won't do any harm to try either - 1450 should (in theory) be a little faster.