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How
do I know what kind of WAN (Wide Area Network) I have?
The easiest way to tell what type of Internet service
you have is to contact and ask your Internet Service Provider. However,
if they won't tell you or you can't, there are some ways to tell.
Look at the information your ISP gave you to set up
your account, then take a look at the following items to see which
type of service matches most closely:
Also, provided below is a list of connection types and the popular
ISPs that utilize them. Note that this list is not a comprehensive
list of all ISPs nor is it guarunteed to be accurate because of
the changes these ISPs might make to thier services. Some ISPs use
multiple different types of service.
| WAN Types |
Characteristics |
Popular ISPs* |
 |
| Dynamic IP |
Cable or DSL modem |
MediaOne (RoadRunner) and other non-@Home cable modem
services, Earthlink |
|
| DSL/PPPoE** |
Requires special software: IVasion MacPOET/WinPOET,
Sympatico Access Manager, NTS EnterNet
|
Verizon (Online DSL), Bell Atlantic (Infospeed DSL),
Pacific Bell/ Southwestern Bell (Basic DSL), Ameritech
(SpeedPath 768 DSL), SBC (DSL Web Solution), Bell Canada
(Sympatico), Earthlink (DSL) |
|
| DSL (always on) |
DSL Modem |
Verizon (Online Business DSL), Pacific Bell/Southwestern
Bell (Enhanced DSL, Business DSL), Telocity |
|
| Cable (@Home-like) |
Cable Modem |
AT&T@Home, Excite@home, Charter@home, Cox@home |
|
| Cable (Static IP) |
Cable Modem |
Optivision, Cox |
|
| Static IP Address |
Cable or DSL modem |
See DSL (always on) (above) |
|
| Dial-up |
Analog modem (v.90, 56K) to router's COM port |
AOL, CompuServe, Earthlink, NetZero |
|
| ISDN |
ISDN TA to router's COM port |
Qwest, Pacific Bell (Easy ISDN) |
|
* - Internet Service Providers
** - Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet
Dynamic IP (back
to top)
Most residential and small business customers are issued on
dynamic (temporary) IP address. Here is what you will see if you
choose Dynamic IP:
 Parameters:
| Item |
Description |
| |
| Auto-reconnect |
Some ISPs will disconnect a user if there is no internet
activity for a period of time. The Auto-Reconnect will
renew the IP address automatically to ensure your DSL
connection is "Always on". Click to Enable |
|
DSL/PPP over Ethernet
(back to top)
This is a popular choice for residential and small business
customers. The account and password items are assigned by your ISP.
Since your Internet service is not "always on", you can specify
a maximum idle time to keep the connection alive for longer periods
of time. Here is what you will see if you choose DSL/PPPoE:
 Parameters:
DSL (always on)
(back to top)
Select this type of connection if your DSL connection to your
ISP is always on or "Alive." Your ISP will have provided you with
a static IP address, a subnet mask, a gateway (or router) address,
and one or more Domain Name Server (DNS) addresses. Here is what
you will see if you choose DSL (always on):
 Parameters:
Cable (@Home-like)
(back to top)
This setting is for AT&T@HomeÕs cable modem service (and similar
services). Only one setting, the host name, must be specified. Note:
Some ISPs will disconnect the user after a certain period of idle
time. By enabling the Renew IP Forever function, the router will
automatically reconnect to the ISP. Here is what you will see if
you choose Cable (@home-like):
Parameters:
| Item |
Description |
| |
| Host Name |
Name of @Home Host |
|
| Renew IP Forever |
Automatically reconnects to ISP; Click to enable
|
|
Cable (Static IP)
(back to top)
Sometimes your Cable ISP will issue you a static IP (even services
like AT&T@Home). Here is what you will see if you choose Cable
(Static IP):
Parameters:
Static IP Address
(back to top)
This WAN type is most frequently used with business DSL services.
Here is what you will see if you choose Static IP Address:
Parameters:
Dial-up/ISDN
(back to top)
An external dial-up modem may be at-tached to the COM port
on the FR3004C/FR3004LC router. This serial modem may be an analog
(v.90, 56K) or ISDN TA. Here is what you will see if you choose
Dial-up or ISDN:
 Parameters:
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