UK Linux users find alternatives to BT ADSL modem

While Alcatel isn't shipping drivers

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 25th January 2001 14:32 GMT

Free whitepaper – Migrating to the new Dell Management Console

UK Linux users fed up of waiting for Alcatel to get its act together and ship drivers that will let the open source OS talk to the SpeedTouch USB modem BT bundles with its home ADSL offering will soon have some alternatives to choose from.

First, UK ISP Tele2 offers a wireless DSL via its (growing) CDMA network. The service works with Linux and seems relatively cheap - its tarriffs start at £9.99 per month plus a ¤49.99 for 150Kbps home access and range up to £1500 per month for unlimited 1Mbps (installation: £1000). The system connects to you computer via an Ethernet port.

The snag is Tele2's rather limited geographical coverage - if you live outside Leeds, Nottingham, Leicester or Reading, you're probably not going to be able to get it. You also need to have a microwave dish bolted on to the side of your house.

If that doesn't appeal - or you're geographically challenged, in Tele2 terms - US DSL specialist LinkSys is working on a USB-to-RJ45 adaptor, allowing Linux users to connect USB modems to their Ethernet cards, thus negating the need for drivers.

The snag here is that Linksys reckons the adaptor is around three months away from release. ®