Router and Dial-up Question

[JoeH]

Some of the other router makers besides Apple have models that can include a modem for a dial-up connection. They are becoming a bit scarcer with the increasing availability of DSL and cable broadband connections. With the lack of high volume sales, they are also somewhat more expensive than cable/DSL routers. Don't have any brands in mind, stopped following exact models once I got DSL.

[TheTominator]

I have an Asante router with connector for an external modem. I have used it for roughly four years to share my dial-up connection between four computers (three of mine, one a family member's).

I used my G5's Airport card and Mac OS X Internet Sharing to make it wireless for my MacBook. I do have a wireless router I could connect in, but this is simpler and it works well.

(If any vendor decides to provide reasonably-priced and reasonably-performing broadband service to my rural area, I'll be one of the first to subscribe. To date, the offerings have been significantly worse than dial-up.)

[JoeH]

Asante was one of the names I was trying to recall. Unfortunately it looks like they have discontinued the FR3004C/LCmodels that had a serial port for modem connections. SMC and Netgear have/had routers with dial-up backup, would have to search through their product line to se which models have this. Also out there is a company selling an integrated router with modem, WiFlyer, at wiflyer.com. Had not heard of this one before, so I have no idea how good/bad it is.