[GazelleIntense]

I have dsl in the house, wired... but my roommate has wireless cable that I borrow for downloading large files.

is there a way to change between the two without having to unplug my dsl wire?

thanks.

[Martian]

The key is to setup separate “Locations” in the Network System Preferences for each of the two different internet connections.
I will try to help if you can give a more detailed description of your two setups.
In my area, cable uploads are much faster than DSL, but that cable company is absolutely impossible to deal with. When the cable goes out, I just switch Locations to activate my slow but dependable DSL backup service, and wait someone else to hassle with the “support” morons who never seem to get the word that they have a problem in part of the city. (The second ISP monthy fee is cheaper than blood pressure meds I might need if I had to talk to them).

[GazelleIntense]

my main isp is dsl.. on an ethernet wire... the other account is my brothers cable... wireless....

right now I turn airport on and disconnect the dsl ethernet cable to access his wireless cable network. a bit of a hassle. my current network setting is automatic... and seems to have no locations set.

[Martian]

So you are using DHCP, the “automatic” setting for the DSL as well as the wireless/cable ISP. This allows either the DSL modem/router unit (seems that your DSL modem contains its own router) or the wireless router to automatically assign an IP address to your computer. The addresses assigned to your computer are most likely,
192.168.xxx.yyy where xxx and yyy are each between 1 and 255. Just a guess is xxx is 1,2 or 100, and yyy is between 2 and 50.
In the Network Systems Preference panel different configuration sets are called “Locations” because this facility is designed to accommodate mobile laptops that try to connect at different physical locations. You want to set up MANUAL configurations that force one connection or the other through software.
Try this:
1) Get online with one of the accounts.
2) Take screenshots of the all the Network System Preference configuration panels.
3) Create a new “Location”. Give it a name like “Manual DSL” or whatever. Don’t screw around with your existing Location settings because you know it works.
4) In your new Location, change the Configure Ipv4 setting from DHCP to MANUALLY.
5) Plug in all the variables to match the settings on your screen shots. For the DSL account you may need a password.
6) You may have to reboot the
router.
7) Hopefully you are now online.
8) Now try these steps all over again with the other service.
9) If all this works, hopefully you can switch between accounts by just switching between your two new Location configuration sets.
If you can only get online with one of your new Locations, see what the original DHCP Locaton connects to. If you are lucky, it will connect to the other service.

[GazelleIntense]

thanks for your help. I created the locations, but the wireless cable don't seem to work until I turn airport on and unplug the ethernet cable for the dsl modem. thanks for trying. If I keep the ethernet cable in, it still uses the dsl connection.

[smax013]

GazelleIntense said:

I have dsl in the house, wired... but my roommate has wireless cable that I borrow for downloading large files.

is there a way to change between the two without having to unplug my dsl wire?

thanks.

Goto the Network panel of the System Preferences. By default, it will typically show the Network Status. It should list Built-in Ethernet as one of the Network connections. Either double click it or select Built-in Ethernet from the "Show" pull down menu. This should take you to the TCP/IP settings for the Built-in Ethernet connection. Change the Configure IPv4 pulldown menu to "Off", then hit the Apply Now button. This should turn off the ethernet connection and allow your AirPort connection to control. When you want to go back to the ethernet connection, then just switch the Configure IPv4 pull down to what you originally had it as (most likely Using DHCP).



If you want to further "ease" the process. create a Location with the Ethernet set to off and one with it set to on and then just use the Location selection from the Apple menu to switch between the two.

[Martian]

smax013 said:

.... Configure IPv4 pulldown menu to "Off", then hit the Apply Now button. This should turn off the ethernet connection and allow your AirPort connection to control.

Good job. This looks both simple and foolproof.



Note for anyone who needs it...my overly complex way works for me to switch between two ISP's both connected through the same Ethernet port.

[smax013]

Martian said:

Good job. This looks both simple and foolproof.






Note for anyone who needs it...my overly complex way works for me to switch between two ISP's both connected through the same Ethernet port.

Helps to be a fool! ;)



Personally, I thought just unplugging the ethernet cable to be simple enough...but I suppose that could be a pain if it is a desktop Mac and you have to reach around the back.

[GazelleIntense]

I see a configure IP6... is that the one?

[smax013]

GazelleIntense said:

I see a configure IP6... is that the one?

It should be the first item in the TCP/IP tab for the Built-in Ethernet. It should be a pull down menu NOT a button. The window/dialog box should look something like this (found this one on the Net): TCP/IP selection picture
Depending on which version of the Mac OS, it might look a little different, I believe. This is how it basically should look under Tiger.