PaulHamper
@217.219.x.x
| Cisco 678 & Actiontec
I am going to sign up for Qwest DSL Premier with MSN for the promotion pricing. My friend let me have a Cisco 678 he hasn't used in a few years. I would assume it's working, since I can play around with the settings, and flash it to the latest DMT 2.4.8. However, since I get free rental for 1 year, and just have to pay shipping, should I get the Actiontec just in case? Will it be a hassle to return it later if I don't need it? |
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dynodb
Premium,VIP
join:2004-04-21
Minneapolis, MN | The 678 is a MUCH more reliable modem, but it might be worth the shipping cost to get the Actiontec just to have a spare, even if it just sits in the closet for a year.
Your call. |
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mortaldivine
join:2002-02-07
Bountiful, UT | Second vote for using the more reliable 678. |
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Vin DSL
join:2002-08-10
Gilbert, AZ
| said by mortaldivine  :Second vote for using the more reliable 678. Third vote... |
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longstreet
join:2004-11-14
Plano, TX | I'll chime in . .cisco is a great product.
Two thumbs up! |
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Bink007
@qwest.net
| reply to PaulHamper
Since you are really not paying for it, get the Actiontec. When they sent mine, it came in a nice box and I was able to simply send it back to Qwest in the same box once they gave me an RMA number. Also, the "box" included splitters that you'll likely need for your phone lines. FWIW, the latest CBOS for the 678 is 2.4.9--I don't know what changed since 2.4.8:
cbos>sh ver
Cisco Broadband Operating System
CBOS (tm) 678 Software (C678-I-M), Version v2.4.9 - Release Software
Copyright (c) 1986-2001 by cisco Systems, Inc.
Compiled Nov 17 2004 15:26:29
DMT FULL firmware version G96
NVRAM image at 0x1030f6f0
*** RFC1483 Bridging Mode Enabled *** |
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PaulHamper
@net.sa | Do you have to pay return shipping?
(And where do you get 2.4.9?) |
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Bink007
@qwest.net | No. I got 2.4.9 from Cisco. |
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BillyBobbby
@washington.edu | Do you have a link/file of the 2.4.9 firmware still? |
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woodward
XMission Broadband
VIP
join:2000-12-28
Salt Lake City, UT
| reply to PaulHamper
Resolved Issues
===========
- CSCeg24149 - A 6xx series CPE running CBOS version 2.4.8 or earlier could experience a memory allocation issue with certain SNMP queries
----
That's the difference between 2.4.8 and 2.4.9. If you haven't run into this error, you don't need it. |
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caffeinator
Coming soon to a cup near you..
Premium
join:2005-01-16
Spokane, WA
 ·WebBand
1 edit | reply to PaulHamper
I also RMA'd my 701 after it died with the "red power light" issue..took quite a while to do it since they first wanted it sent to Actiontech..who didn't give me an RMA #. :-(
Heck with that...
But, I did finally get it sent back using the original box and the new RMA from Qwest...they said it would take up to 45 days though for the credit to appear...spiffy.
Although I'd like a 678, I'm happy with my $9.00 USR 9002 from eBay now..works great. 
It's even supported under *nix and BSD by the USR & Open Source Eagle drivers.
*note*
the girl on the tech support line actually told me that the 678 and USR9002 wouldn't work and tried like mad to sell me a new actiontech..LOL.
-CaFF |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Why didn't qwest over night you a new modem? I've had a few swaps in my days and the modem showed up the very next day.
Did you buy your own modem to avoid the monthly fee? or did you rent one from them?
(If you owned your momdem rather than renting, now you know why it's never a good idea to own one these days) |
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caffeinator
Coming soon to a cup near you..
Premium
join:2005-01-16
Spokane, WA
·WebBand
1 edit | Since at that time it was an issue (the red power light) they wern't aware of the cause for, they were sending all of the modems with that issue back to Actiontech for testing at that time, and so would not give me a RMA from Qwest.
I was told to talk to Actiontech about getting an RMA from them...which never happened. I got escalated to senior techs at both places..lotta bull.
After spending a couple weeks without service, I said screw it and bought my own modem. To save the rental, and to avoid actiontech altogether. Months later now, I tried to get a RMA # from Qwest, and surprise, I got one..aparentally this issue had blown over by now and they could give me a Qwest RMA instead of bouncing me around Actiontech.
Agreed, never rely on anyone but yourself for hardware. 
--
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - A. Einstein |
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longstreet
join:2004-11-14
Plano, TX
3 edits | Strange, the techs can pull your RMA number for you, it's all in a database.
They have a tool available to them that can look up their order history and anything that was ever shipped to them, and it's associated RMA (if they know HOW to use the tool)
Alot depends on how much the tech knows, most of the frontline people are fairly moronic, and can barely use most of the tools.
I've never heard of someone getting sent to actiontech for an RMA when they received the modem from Qwest, that's backwards . . .you should only be doing a return to Qwest |
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Feanacar
Premium
join:2005-02-19
Weston, OR | reply to PaulHamper
Pretty much covered, but another Vote for the Cisco.
I keep the ActionTec around just in case TS really wants
me to put in on, otherwise it collects dust... |
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christcorp
Premium
join:2001-05-21
Cheyenne, WY
 ·Bresnan Online
 ·VOIPo
| reply to longstreet
Actually, because of certain issues with the actiontec when it first came out. i.e. excessive fec errors, dropping train, etc..., Actiontec was handling the modems directly, if the reported problem was on a list of certain problems. They wanted to make sure they directly received the modems so they could test and evaluate the reported problems.
If the problem was a so called "Normal" problem. i.e Dropped it, power surge, just went dead, etc..., then those went back through the normal Qwest channels.
This was actually requested by actiontec so they could evaluate the "Exact Modem" having the "Specific" problem, instead of dealing with second hand knowledge, or looking at modems that had nothing to do with that list of reported issues. Later... Mike.... |
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longstreet
join:2004-11-14
Plano, TX | I was onboard at qwest when the GT701 first started shipping, our training group was the first to support them and I never heard of a return to actiontech, but i'm not doubting it |
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caffeinator
Coming soon to a cup near you..
Premium
join:2005-01-16
Spokane, WA
·WebBand
| reply to christcorp
thx, it did happen to me..even the girl up front knew about the "red power light" issues at that time, and quickly asked me about it, then put me to tech, who then asked about 4 questions, then escalated it to Actiontech. I got to know those guys well. :-(
I stll have the contact info for the lead tech at Ationtech because of it..funny, he barely speaks english..tad on the India side. Lots of fun.
No surprise I now have the same brand of modem I used for over a decade on BBS...USR.
Unsupported by Qwest, of course. They tell me it won't work..LOL. Silly.
--
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - A. Einstein |
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Vin DSL
join:2002-08-10
Gilbert, AZ
1 edit | said by caffeinator :No surprise I now have the same brand of modem I used for over a decade on BBS...USR. Heh! There's a flash from the past!
I used Hayes modems on my dial-up BBS, until USR made 'us' a deal (at their Comdex booth) 'we' couldn't refuse, on USR V.Everything modems... LoL! Those were the days, huh?
Are you saying USR makes ADSL equipment?
EDIT: Well, I'll be damned!
»www.usr.com/products/networking/···menu.asp
I'm gonna have to check this out... Thanks!
--
.:: Visit Vin DSL's Web Site | Try Vin DSL's Speed Test ::. |
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MrPete7
join:2005-05-08
Colorado Springs, CO
| reply to PaulHamper
One caution on Cisco -- apparently you won't go faster than 896 on the upload side...not that it matters a whole lot.
(BTW, our ActionTec has been rock-solid ever since we put those param fixes in. If they could only release that in the firmware. Then again, Qwest is dropping them as a vendor pretty soon as noted elsewhere here, so this will all be water under the bridge.) |
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