Aol DSL USB connection or Ethernet Connection 681

Ethernet is more suitable for DSL use than USB, which I use only as a last resort for networks. Ethernet allows the possibility to EASILY share the DSL connection among computers. You can do it with USB DSL, but the computer directly attached to the DSL modem needs to be powered on for anyone else to access the internet.

Depending on the number and type of USB devices attached to the computer, there may be some interference, slowdown or erratic operation of USB DSL. An Ethernet DSL connection has dedicated hardware and the probability of any problem is just about nil.

If you use a router, as recommended by others, depending on the brand name and type of DSL service, you may need to contact the DSL provider to help you through manual setup of the router. I have used Linksys (now part of Cisco) routers, wired and wireless, for over three years with no complaints from clients... Ben Myers