What are the essential settings for connecting to AOL Broadband?
When setting up a modem router, you will be prompted to enter certain details that govern the type of connection you establish. Depending on the hardware you have, the way in which you enter these details may differ. However, you are likely to be prompted to enter them during the installation of your router and a wireless adapter.
Some modem router installation guides will automatically enter some of these details. Therefore, you may not be prompted for them all. In other cases, the options will be named differently. If you experience problems setting up your chosen home networking solution, you should refer to the documentation included with the device.
Required details:
Connection protocol: PPPoE
VPI: 0
VCI: 38
Note that sometimes you will be asked for both figures together (VPI/VCI). In that instance, you enter them separated by a comma: 0,38
Username: yourscreenname@aol.com
Password: youraolpassword
Authentication: CHAP
Please read these important guidelines about screen names and passwords used to configure a modem router to sign on to AOL Broadband.
Wireless settings:
When configuring a wireless modem router, you may also be prompted for the following:
- SSID: This is the 'name' of the modem router you are using and is used by wireless adapters when they attempt to establish a connection.
- WPA encryption key: The WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access ) key is the equivalent of a password on your modem router. Depending on your setup, it may be necessary to define one of these and ensure that any wireless adapters that connect to the modem router have the same key in their settings.
- Network type: There are a number of possible choices available here but, if the option is available, you should choose Base station.
- MTU setting: MTU (Maximum Transfer Unit) defines the largest data packet size you can transmit in one go across a network. The AOL Broadband network runs at an MTU of 1400. Many modem routers have inbuilt auto-configurations where the hardware identifies that the AOL Broadband traffic has an MTU of 1400 and dynamically adjusts. Alternatively, you may have to manually change the MTU setting on the modem router. If the router hardware does not have this facility, the MTU setting can be changed manually on the computer to 1400.
You can change the MTU setting on your computer by using DrTCP. This is a free software utility that is a shortcut to editing your registry and is available at: http://www.broadbandreports.com/drtcp. - MRU setting: MRU (Maximum Routing Unit) is required by some modem routers and should be set to the same value as the MTU of 1400.
- MSS setting: MSS (Maximum Segment Size) is required by some modem routers and dynamically adjusts the packet size to fit the MTU. It should be set to 1360.