- Background:
The Alcatel Speed Touch Home modem installation and setup was a lot easier than the previous 3COM Viper solution. All that was required of me for the Alcatel modem was to make the necessary physical connections and the setup of the IP on the PC. I did have to hard reset the modem (button on the back of the modem) before it would pass data to the internet. NEHP had to remotely add the modem into the NEHP system from the Central Office (CO) before the Sync LED would light solid. Also, I bought the modem from API-Digital who who did an initial setup of the modem.
- Purchase Information:
NEHP does not sell the Alcatel modems but they can be bought from API-Digital (256-723-8940) as referenced on the NEHP DSL web page. This modem came with 3 voice filters, DSL/Voice splitter, a Kensington 10/100 PCI Ethernet NIC, manual, Ethernet cable, and telephone cable for $250 (June 2001).
- The Alcatel Speed Touch Home:
LED's (ltor): LAN, Line TX, Line RX, Line Sync, PWR/Alarm
Power Switch, Power Adapter, LAN/LAN Link LED, Defaults (Reset Button), Line
- SETUP:
Step 1: Purchase ADSL service from NEHP (will have to call for availability and go to the co-op to sign papers).
Step 2: Purchase Modem from API-Digital (256-723-8940), might take a day or two for modem to come in. When the modem arrives, go to API-Digital in Huntsville to pick up. They are in the rear upper floor of the Photocopy building on east University near Red Lobster (door access on east side in rear marked API-Digital, take stairs up).
Step 3: If modem was bought from API-Digital proceed to Step 3, if bought from other, contact NEHP for pre-configuration instructions.
Step 4: Connect the power adapter to the modem (supplied with modem) and power on.
Step 5: Connect modem to the DSL Line (telephone patch cord provided with modem bought from API-Digital) and verify after a brief boot-up sequence the PWR LED will stay solid green and the Line Status LED will be flashing green. Use Voice DSL Splitter/Filters if desired.
Step 6: Call the co-op (723-4211). NEHP will configure and add the modem to the system. When this is complete, the Line Status LED will be lit solid green (stops flashing green). Be sure to get your IP information for step 8.
Step 7: Install Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) in your computer and connect it to the Modem. Can be done before here but required to proceed to step 8. (NIC and Ethernet cable provided with modem from API-Digital).
Step 8: Configure your computer(s) with the IP information provided by NEHP in Step 6 and reboot the computer.
Step 9: If you are unable to surf on the internet, try re-booting the modem via the reset switch (Defaults) on the back of the modem. If this does not work, call the co-op (723-4211).
Step 10: Enjoy gut wrenching internet access speed!
- Results:
Throttled down to only 512kbps up and 512kbps down, the ALCATEL® SPEED TOUCH HOME™ averaged 72 KiloBytes per second (KBps) downloading Microsoft I.E. 4.0 (24 MB) in under 5 and ½ minutes while talking on the phone using the same copper line at the same time:
