Westell Wirespeed ADSL External Modem: Can I Get A Little Help Here?
Written: Aug 12 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Attractive design, easy to read LED indicators
Cons: Strange clicking noises, shaky support.
The Bottom Line: I can't recommend a product that only supplies the material and not the support.
|
|
|
| rpllingrock's Full Review: Westell Wirespeed External DMT ADSL Ethernet Modem |
An attractive design is just part of my overall satisfaction with this modem. My concern is with customer support and if Westell itself will survive longer than my modem! ;)
This modem was obtained for $99 and not by choice, but rather as a package from my DSL provider, SNET, part of the SBC Network. From various postings, I’ve learned that this wasn’t SNET’s choice either. It appears they were left short of Efficient Network brand modems, and the Westell’s were more readily available.
Installation
It’s just a matter of inserting your phone line (RJ-11), power cord, and RJ45 network cable to your modem.
Going a little further, it includes 2 slotted holes on the rear of the unit to mount either on your workstation, or as I have it, on the side of my bookshelf.
Operation
When a product, in this case, a DSL modem, runs seamlessly in the background without resulting in too much human intervention, I’m left here struggling for words. ;) What I can say is, it has performed to my expectations.
The 4 lights on the front panel signify a handful of diagnostics including Ethernet detection, line retraining, and modem sync’d with line errors.
Gateway Option
An interesting feature of the Westell WireSpeed modem is the ability to turn it into a gateway to the Internet for up to 64 users.
This is accomplished by connecting the modem to a hub instead of just one computer NIC. Should you decide to purchase the WebShare software for $49.95, plan on installing software based firewall program such as ZoneAlarm on each machine since this does not provide any protection at all.
A much easier method would be to purchase a broadband router and forgo the WebShare software. They can be had for about the same price.
If you use Windows ME you’re out of luck! Only 95/98/NT/2000 are supported.
Minor Annoyances
Two things come to mind.
· One, the modem sits about 3 feet from my head, and occasionally I can hear a crackling or clicking sound emanating from the unit. This happens whether or not connected. Some web research revealed that this is not uncommon with this unit, with explanations from the unit expanding and contracting, to a small relay chattering in response to voltage variances in the phone line. Either way, it works, and has for the past 2-½ months.
· Secondly, on occasion, I have to recycle the modem by turning it off and on again, allowing it to retrain the line. The jury is still out on whether this is an ISP problem or modem quirk. I tend to think it is both! ;)
My Non-Scientific Test
Sure the modem works, but I have nothing to compare it to? So, I had the opportunity to test this modem against an Efficient Networks SpeedStream, also provided by my ISP.
The test consisted of downloading the same file on the same computer, and testing of line speed on the SNET site and one other source. Not taking any Internet conditions into consideration, when tested, they both performed nearly identical, leading me to believe that there isn’t much difference between any of these modems!
The Efficient modem always sync’d the line faster but that’s where the differences ended.
Support
The few times I tried to visit the site I was informed that they are having technical difficulties. I tend to believe that it goes a little deeper than this. To this day, I am still not able to fully explore www.westell.com. The company still exists, but if their recent stock price of $1.42 is any indication of future DSL product development, well, we’re in trouble! ;)
Overall
For a sufficient working DSL modem with limited to almost non-existent customer support, I can’t recommend purchasing this out on the street. If you should get it as a packaged product with your ISP, then all should be ok if they support the product directly. I have had no dealings directly with Westell, with the exception of an e-mail I sent on 6-5-01, which has gone unanswered. The e-mail was in regards to a firmware update that exists, but not downloadable to due the difficulties mentioned above.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 99
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.