Simple modem to do a simple job
Written: Aug 22 '01 (Updated Aug 22 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Stable, fast, easy to use, can not configure it
Cons: Can not configure it
The Bottom Line: For the average user, the 5260 is a great ADSL modem, and a smart choice.
For the curious, sophisticated, wants-to-see-behind-the-scenes user, the 5260 is going to frustrate you.
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| mathesius's Full Review: Efficient Networks SpeedStream 5260 DSL Modem (120... |
The Efficient 5260 is a simple ADSL ethernet bridge. It doesn't give you anything fancy, or complicated. You plug it in & it does its job. That's the good news. That's also the bad news, but I'll get to that.
First, the Technical Specs:
- Supports any flavor (standard) of ADSL, automagically. Doesn't matter what your service provider has: ANSI t1.413 issue 2, ITU 992.1 or 992.2 (g.dmt or g.lite).
- Standard RFC 2684 (was RFC 1483) ethernet bridged encapsulation
- Standard RJ45 10BaseT jack for your ethernet connection
- Standard RJ11 jack for your phone (DSL) connection
Now, the Inside Scoop:
Most people don't buy ADSL modems on their own. You probably received it from your ISP or service provider. Your service provider made a pretty smart choice, from their point of view, in selling or providing you with an Efficient 5260.
Physically the 5260 is pretty small, about the size of a VHS tape. It has four lights to tell you that your ADSL connection is up, and the ethernet connection is working right. It gets kind of warm when it's on. I have had one for over a year, and it hasn't started smoking yet, so I guess that's ok.
I think it's pretty rugged too: I've dropped mine from 6 feet several times, and nothing inside broke. Not even a slight rattle. The thing just works!
On new units Efficient does provide a two-year warranty (if you go to their website & fill out a warranty extension).
The 5260 auto-detects the type of ADSL, so the service provider only needs to stock one model of modem even if they are providing some customers with g.lite and some with ANSI standard ADSL.
Since the 5260 is a self-learning ethernet bridge, it automatically bridges the traffic from your computer to the DSLAM. Nothing to configure there.
The 5260 is an ethernet bridge, not USB, so it is easier for the service provider to support. Especially on older computers where USB doesn't work that well.
Finally, the 5260 comes with its ATM address settings pre-configured. Usually they come with a VPI of 0 and a VCI of 35. We end-users don't care about that, as long as it works. So, truly, there is nothing you have to configure on the Efficient 5260. Plug it in and it works.
Since the 5260 has nothing to configure, there is no WAY to configure it. The new 5260 has no user interface at all. So you have no way to view statistics of your connection. No way to look at the settings. No way to see or do anything with your modem.
That's good to the service provider, because it means us end-users can't reconfigure the modems & possibly mess them up so they don't work.
This could be bad to us though, since I've got no way to see its statistics. Did it drop any cells? What's my signal to noise ratio?
Truth to be told, I have no reason to care about those things. If my DSL service isn't working, I call my service provider & they check things out. If it is working, I don't need to see those things.
On a slight tangent, Efficient has added some brains to their PPPoE client software, called Enternet. If you're a PPPoE user, and have the Enternet client, you're in luck. Enternet now gives you some simple statistics about the modem performance.
In Day to Day use the 5260 works great.
I've never had to reboot the modem (turn it off & back on) to get it to train up with the service providers DSLAM. If their DSLAM is working, my modem is working. That's nice.
It also trains up pretty fast. The DSL light will start blinking green for a bit, then it will go solid green and the ATM light will flash green as traffic goes across.
Performance wise I have no complaints, it uploads & downloads fast. It's hard to factor the Internet in, so I won't cite any figures here. Suffice to say, it's fast.
Overall I'm happy with the 5260. It works well which is all I ask for.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 240
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Epinions.com ID:
mathesius
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Member: Steve Mathesius
Location: Milton, WI
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 8 members
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