USB ADSL modem = lemon?

[Ext User(silicono2@yahoo.com)]

Last on eBay I saw most USB ADSL modems selling for next to
nothing--under £5 for an Alcatel Speedtouch (or whatever it's called),
delivery included. Back when I was in France if I had elected to buy my
ISP's modem instead of renting, it would have cost 50+ EUR (or 3
EUR/month rent). It's probably an OEM called a Neuf Box (ISP: Neuf
Telecom) and it has USB and Ethernet interfaces. What's making USB only
modems so cheap? Are they that bad? Or is Neuf trying to rip people
off?
There's a small chance I'll move back to France and sign on with Neuf
again in the near future. Therefore this question is of interest (and
the Speedtouch was listed by Neuf as one of the approved compatible
ones). I understand that besides other problems USB modems consume more
CPU cycles than Ethernet; ought that be a concern if I'm still chugging
along on my P3/450 320MB? Especially as I use VOIP a lot?

Seb

[Ext User(DalienX)]

silicono2@yahoo.com wrote:

> Last on eBay I saw most USB ADSL modems selling for next to
> nothing--under £5 for an Alcatel Speedtouch (or whatever it's called),
> delivery included. Back when I was in France if I had elected to buy
> my ISP's modem instead of renting, it would have cost 50+ EUR (or 3
> EUR/month rent). It's probably an OEM called a Neuf Box (ISP: Neuf
> Telecom) and it has USB and Ethernet interfaces. What's making USB
> only modems so cheap? Are they that bad? Or is Neuf trying to rip
> people off?
> There's a small chance I'll move back to France and sign on with Neuf
> again in the near future. Therefore this question is of interest (and
> the Speedtouch was listed by Neuf as one of the approved compatible
> ones). I understand that besides other problems USB modems consume
> more CPU cycles than Ethernet; ought that be a concern if I'm still
> chugging along on my P3/450 320MB? Especially as I use VOIP a lot?
>
> Seb

There was a whole faulty bunch of speedtouch modems. They would
randomly power cycle for no reason at all.
Although it would take hours of painstaking part number checking to be
sure, i'd put money down that these cheap modems on ebay are part of
that faulty batch.

[Ext User(stevesub)]

ADSL Ethernet modem with 4 ports is the only way to go. Why use a
precious USB port for a modem - I seem to always have all my ports in
use for camera, mouse, external keyboard, external hard drive, etc on
my laptop.

Also VOIP via a ATA and normal phone is easy with a 4 port ADSL modem,
not to mention connecting a wireless router or 2nd/3rd computer

Why make life hard for yourself with a USB modem.

Stevesub


silicono2@yahoo.com wrote:
> Last on eBay I saw most USB ADSL modems selling for next to
> nothing--under £5 for an Alcatel Speedtouch (or whatever it's called),
> delivery included. Back when I was in France if I had elected to buy my
> ISP's modem instead of renting, it would have cost 50+ EUR (or 3
> EUR/month rent). It's probably an OEM called a Neuf Box (ISP: Neuf
> Telecom) and it has USB and Ethernet interfaces. What's making USB only
> modems so cheap? Are they that bad? Or is Neuf trying to rip people
> off?
> There's a small chance I'll move back to France and sign on with Neuf
> again in the near future. Therefore this question is of interest (and
> the Speedtouch was listed by Neuf as one of the approved compatible
> ones). I understand that besides other problems USB modems consume more
> CPU cycles than Ethernet; ought that be a concern if I'm still chugging
> along on my P3/450 320MB? Especially as I use VOIP a lot?
>
> Seb

[Ext User(silicono2@yahoo.com)]

stevesub wrote:
> ADSL Ethernet modem with 4 ports is the only way to go. Why use a
> precious USB port for a modem - I seem to always have all my ports in
> use for camera, mouse, external keyboard, external hard drive, etc on
> my laptop.
>
> Also VOIP via a ATA and normal phone is easy with a 4 port ADSL modem,
> not to mention connecting a wireless router or 2nd/3rd computer
>
> Why make life hard for yourself with a USB modem.
>
> Stevesub
[snip]

Well as I said the USB modem was under £5 p/p inc--no good if it's
faulty though. Now I want someone to give me the link to a product page
of an ATA or other dedicated VOIP hardware (follow up to own post from
a while ago). With dedicated VOIP hardware does it mean the performance
of the PC is not a great issue anymore in order to have good voice
quality?

Seb