Overview

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  Windstream provides high-speed DSL broadband solutions for homes and businesses in the USA. This service provider offers 2Wire modems to its clients in two varieties: one Ethernet port or four Ethernet ports for home networking with multiple computers. The router also includes an optional USB port with which you can connect the modem to a computer without using an Ethernet cable.
  
  

Ethernet

• 2Wire modems offered by Windstream Internet services include either one or four Ethernet ports with which you can connect computers to access the Internet. These ports allow for up to 100 Mbit networking capacity. If your home has Ethernet wiring installed, you should use the four-port flavor of 2Wire and connect the Internet provider’s Ethernet cable into the first port. This modem decodes signals to any destination computer connected to it and encodes signals to a destination outside the local network when installed properly.
  
  

USB

• Windstream 2Wire DSL modems use a USB port for computers that do not have Ethernet inputs. This comes in useful when you have a laptop without Ethernet or anything else that requires USB to connect to the network. For USB connections, you must install the drivers included on the CD that comes with your 2Wire modem. 2Wire uses a USB 1.1 interface, allowing you to transfer at speeds of up to 12 Mbits per second. For less restricted speeds, use an Ethernet port instead when possible.
  
  

Wireless

• 2Wire modems provide a wide range for wireless communication as a wireless access point. Their antennae operate at 400 milliwats (0.4 watts), delivering to an area comparable to the average home. If you choose to begin using 2Wire’s wireless broadcasting features, set a WEP key or WPA when possible. This ensures that no one will intrude on your Internet connection from outside.
  
  

Other Technologies

• 2Wire implements a special packet delivery method for homes that sit far from the local exchange switch that provides Internet service to them. This technically helps counteract the distance problems experienced in most DSL connections. The router also detects your Internet connection’s speed and attempts to choose the fastest way to route packets for quick delivery across the Internet.
  
  2Wire includes a firewall which protects you from certain attacks made on networks and specific computers. Note that this firewall no longer works for a computer configured as an exception through DMZ. Configuring DMZ on one computer means you no longer want 2Wire to protect that computer with NAT and its firewall.