[lug] OT: got a spare dsl modem?

[F.L. Whiteley]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-bounces at lug.boulder.co.us 
> [mailto:lug-bounces at lug.boulder.co.us] On Behalf Of Nate Duehr
> Sent: Monday, October 22, 2007 2:17 PM
> To: Boulder (Colorado) Linux Users Group -- General Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [lug] OT: got a spare dsl modem?
> 
> 
> Chris Riddoch wrote:
> > Hi, folks.
> > 
> > I seem to have killed my ~4-year-old DSL modem (Actiontec 
> GT701-wg) by
> > attempting what seemed like a perfectly reasonable firmware 
> upgrade at
> > the time.  Oops.
> > 
> > Would anybody happen to have a spare (working) DSL modem they'd be
> > willing to part with?  On the subject, has anybody tried using a dsl
> > modem that isn't listed on Qwest's website?  Presumably, it 
> would work
> > fine so long as it supports pppoa correctly, but I'm curious whether
> > anyone's tried and had good luck with alternatives.
> 
> Chris,
> 
> I have a spare Cisco 678 that I'd give you for free.  You'd 
> just have to 
> come get it near Arapahoe & I-25 (home) or near 120th & I-25 (work). 
> Let me know if you want me to throw it in the Jeep.
> 
> It definitely has some strange PPPoA settings in it (due to 
> it being set 
> up to route two separate static netblocks from FRII for years until I 
> moved over to the Comcast Business service), so you'd want to 
> factory-default it.
> 
> I think it has the latest version of firmware already in it also, but 
> it'd be worth checking.
> 
> I also don't think I have the original console cable for it, but it's 
> the standard DB-9 to RJ45 "light blue" cable found in every Cisco box 
> I've opened up for years now... I might be able to find one 
> if you don't 
> have one.  Or there's places online that describe the pin-out 
> to make one.
> 
> Let me know if you want it.  You'd have to get the right 
> setup info for 
> it for "regular" Qwest... I don't have that info.
> 
> Hmm, thinking about it there was a CD that came with it, but I never 
> used it... think it had a Windows-based reflash tool and some ancient 
> version of the firmware on it.  Not very useful, and it's 
> probably lost 
> in the piles of old driver CD's somewhere... I'll look and 
> see if I can 
> find it, but you'd probably just end up throwing it out.
> 
> Nate
> _______________________________________________
If he doesn't want it, I have a home for it.

CBOS later than v2.4.0 won't allow telneting until passwords have been
set for both exec and enable modes, so the management cable is
necessary.  If you don't know the passwords, debug mode will need to be
used to erase the old login.  In a com port (at right speed, default
9600, but may have been reconfigured up to 38400, configurable in C678)
terminal session (hyperterminal for windoze), type <ctrl>+C until =>
shows up.  Then type es6<enter>.  After reply, type rb<enter> to reboot,
then configure as ISP requires.  Also, disable the web interface, change
the web port, change the TFTP port and disable, and change the telnet
port.  Default ports are commonly attacked.  The CBOS is just loads of
fun;^)

Some Actiontec models are different from Ciscos, and your ISP may have
to alter settings for a changed modem.

The 15XX series of Actiontec commonly lost ethernet autosense after
several months and they would just 'strobe' while handshaking.  The
ethernet port side of the Actiontec wasn't manually configurable, but
setting a PC ethernet card manually to 10mbps worked.  A very few
ethernet cards didn't have manual speed selection either. The 15XX's did
die regularly also.

Actiontec's run Linux.  IIRC, the default telnet login is admin/admin or
not.  Haven't peeked around in one for some time.

Various models of Zoom are Qwest DMT compatible.  If someone offers you
a Hawkings, refuse, they're junk.  The new Actiontec M1000 is $60 from
Qwest.  A few weeks ago, Circuit City had GT704-WG's for $25.  Check the
ads.  None of the other modems discussed have wireless, if that's
important to you.

Frank Whiteley