Re: DSL provider on the south shore

["John Abreau-2" <user=184@nabble.blu.org>]

 I had a similar issue with Earthlink DSL requiring a Mac or Windows 
to setup, although there wasn't any step that I'd describe as a 
registration.  Their tech support was useless for getting it to 
work with Linux, but after poking at it a bit, I discovered that the 
DSL modem would activate as soon as I used it for a DNS query. 

I don't know if that's an Earthlink-specific procedure or if it's 
standard for DSL modems. 


Cole Tuininga wrote: 
> Hey folks - 
> 
> We got my mother in law a system (it's her first computer) and I stuck 
> Ubuntu on it.  When she came up (I live in NH lakes region - she lives 
> down in New Bedford, MA) I gave her a tour of using it and give her some 
> instructions on how to get Internet service for home.   
> 
> She ended up going with Verizon.  They sent her a DSL kit which I talked 
> her through setting up.  When they finally turned the service on, sure 
> enough - she has to register ... which (according to the dumbass Verizon 
> web app) can only be done from a Windows or Mac system.  Tech support 
> told her that they will not in any way support getting set up with a 
> Linux system.  Idiots.   
> 
> Sorry - I'm a bit frustrated that in this day and age, providers are 
> still doing silly things like forcing people to use *only* the OS's they 
> want you to use. 
> 
> In any case, she doesn't have any friends down there that can bring over 
> a Windows system to get past the registration (at which point, I'm 
> guessing the service would just work).  She also can't afford the 
> $60/month that Comcast wants to charge her. 
> 
> So I'm wondering - does anybody have experience with (not dialup) 
> service providers down that way who have half a clue ... or even just 
> don't do things like this that *prevent* Linux users from getting 
> online? 
> 
> Thanks in advance. 
> 
>