Information on 3com lan modem - 3c886A and 888A

I use these 3com modems for dialup backup in case the DSL or cable connection goes down at commercial customers. I also keep a spare handy for the inevitable emergencies (like when the customer forgets to pay the DSL bill and it takes the DSL provider 10 days to restore service).

No drivers at all. You just plug it into an ethernet port on your computer(s). DHCP in the 3Com 3c886A assigns the computers their IP addresses. Point a web browser at the 3C886A, login, configure, test, and you're done. Setup is almost exactly the same as a DSL router, except that the WAN connection is a dialup modem instead of a DSL account.

Yes. It's really only useful for bonded (multilink) systems. Other than the 2nd modem, they're identical.

Not really. None of mine have blown up and done anything disgusting.

The only oddity I ran into was setting the idle timing. It was somewhat difficult to get it to stay hung up and not dial when the computers came active. The cute graphics on the main status page were more confusing than useful.

No. Leave the Belkin setup alone for now. It defaults to 192.168.2.1 and there's no reason to change that. Most of the configuring will be in the 3com which will act as a router. The reason for using the 3com as a router instead of the Belkin is that there's no easy way to disable the 3com and turn it into an ethernet modem.

However, when you setup the 3com, do NOT connect it to the Belkin initially. Dive into the setup and configure the 3com 3c886a for

When you have the 3com dialing, connecting, and you're able to surf the web with the 3com modem router, then you make the following changes:

1. Disable the DHCP server in the Belkin. You only need one DHCP server and that's in the 3com.
2. Don't plug anything into the Belkin WAN (internet) port.
3. Connect an ethernet cable between one of the LAN ports on the 3com and one of the LAN ports on the Belkin.

This should be easy (famous last words).

Thanks for replying Jeff,

I saw some of your earlier posts and I was hoping you would respond.

So given that I now have the Belkin set up as the router and I intend to change it to an access point, as I understand it I just change its address to that of the 3comm unit and change the wiring.

Is that right?

So in the existing Belkin setup, thats the only change and all the clients stay as they are?

Do I change the Belkin to an access point before I rejig the wiring or after?

Regards

Rob

Thanks Jeff,

Thats good stuff.

I will pass on the 888 and look for an 886.

I intend to go on with this, so if famous last words come true, I may seek your help again. I trust its not necessary, but I am very grateful for your assistance.

Many thanks.

Cheers

Rob