I hate my cable company so my options are limited. But yeah, pretty much any adsl modem should work but check with your provider to make sure. I wound up with another Actiontec (GT724WGR) but this one is also a wireless router.

If you are using the telephone line filters, replace those with a single ADSL/POTS splitter and run a separate line from (as close as you can get to) your outside box to your DSL Modem/Bridge.

Call the provider run a signal test...to check for noise on the lines. If the lines are "noisy" and the signal is attenuating, the circuitry in the Line-Out side of the modem may be getting sketchy. Again, this just may be the twisted copper pair back to the DSLAM (the point where your lines terminate). If the lines seem noisy, have them send a tech out to test your lines... tell them your speed started sucking over the past month. The tech can run a loopback from your outside box back to the DSLAM and tell you exactly what the wire distance is, and what the signal to noise ratio is.

If everything looks good, I would keep what you got. The big black and silver SpeedStream's will outlast anything manufactured today. If it ain't broke, don't try and fix it. I had gone through 3 Siemens modems over a 2-year period @ $50 a pop. They run way too hot and they use the absolute cheapest components.

DSL speeds are way slower that most cable broadband providers. With DSL, you are pretty much capped at a 6Mb-down/1Mb-up... under optimal conditions, distance from the central office, and if you are paying for the highest sync rates. With cable, those are probably the worst speeds you'd get at 1/4 the price (assuming a promotional rate is available). I'm not pushing you to switch ISPs (unless you are with AT&T.. then I'd say run as fast as you can!). I was on AT&T's DSL for 14 years. Switched over to cable due to AT&T's monthly usage caps imposed last April, ... and the difference is amazing! For $30-less per month, I am getting 30Mb-down/10Mb-up... and I have the option to upgrade to faster if the need arises.

If you are happy with the performance of your DSL, and are able to accomplish what you need to get done under the constraints of your bandwidth speeds and monthly usage caps... then I would say- stick with what you got.

Also, as pokerfan stated... pretty much any ADSL modem should work. Your DSL provider's website should have the modems they support listed.

you are a wealth of information. how do you know all this stuff? is it just an interest of yours or your job? or both?

thanks again

Work in a related field for many years. I like to research and troubleshoot my own equipment before calling someone onto the premises. Part perfectionist, I guess. I read a lot. I don't like the phone company telling me that the answer to everything related to DSL problems is to reboot the equipment thirty times. Mostly, when I was paying $40+ per month for 12-14 years for a product I cannot see, I'm damn well going to make sure that I am getting my moneys worth and make sure they uphold their commitments.

Thanks for the comment. Hope it helps you understand some of your options.

who do you have? how much do you pay to get 30/10

I've got Premier speeds in a bundled package for around $28/mo. (in the price breakdown) with a 1 yr lock-in rate (currently advertised @ $46/mo without a bundle). The advertised speeds are currently 25/5 - 30 with PowerBoost.
I run speed tests on at least a weekly basis. I almost always get 28.9 down and 5.7 up. This is true during peak and off-peak hours.

The next class level is Ultimate that Advertises at 50/8 - 55 with PowerBoost. But I don't have any need to download the entire Library of Congress every other week just yet, so I am happy with my current pipe.

Their lowest class package is inline with Premium/Elite ADSL speeds and it is less than $20/mo. I hate to knock AT&T, but I actually called them at least six times trying to get them to work with me on raising the monthly usage caps from 200GB to 400GB because I have been such a long time customer, always paying for the highest class offered - never got a return call.

When I left AT&T, I was actually paying close to $50/mo. for a 5/1 package. After I made the switch they called me every other day for a month to "win back" a valued customer. Finally, I received a letter from their Vice President and General Manager over Sales and Marketing - Deborah Peoples, offering gift cards, free months of service, etc., If I switched back. I contacted everyone I could find at AT&T to get in direct contact with Ms. Peoples to explain how her company and her departments were failing to provide for their customers. After speaking with 20 people, in attempts to gain an email address or mailing address, I was only given a generic P.O. Box, but was assured that my 5 page letter detailing my experience with the company would reach her. Well, it's been 10 months and still no response. Not even, a "sorry we suck so bad" response, nothing. As soon as my wireless plan is up, that's moving off of AT&T too.

Honestly, don't settle for what is advertised online... call your local rep, they will almost always give you a better rate and probably throw in an HD-DVR or jump up your HSI speeds at no additional cost.

BTW, I have seen Verizon FiOS customers getting 42/18... not sure what the cost are since it is not available in my area, but may be something else to check into.

Hope you find a decent plan and provider.

Here are the internet speeds available for brighthouse http://brighthouse.com/central-florida/shop/internet/plans

Bottom starts at $50 then add $15 for each level increase

Here are the bundles and their prices
http://brighthouse.com/central-florida/shop/bundles

Bundle are gives the lowest speed Internet and increased speed is same as above