Hey guys, I just got my westell wirespeed dsl modem from verizon a few days ago and am having trouble with the ethernet port. The internet works if I use the usb port to connect to my computer, but when i use the ethernet port to connect to the computer nothing happens, the light doesn't even turn on in the modem. Tried testing on multiple computers and with multiple ethernet cables to see if it was just my nic card but that also failed. Then I reformatted my computer AND updated the drivers to my nic card and it still did not work. I even bought a new nic card and it still refuses to work. When the nic card is plugged into the modem, the green light doesn't turn on in the back, but when the card is plugged into the router, the light does turn on. I called tech support and they keep insisting that the problem is with my nic card and not the modem because no ip address shows up when i type in ipconfig/all in the dos prompt. Is an ip address supposed to show up even if you are not connected to anything? I honestly believe that there is something wrong with the port on the back of the modem and that Verizon just doesn't want to send me a new one.

It is the modem, I thought they discontinued the Westel's by now but apparently not. When I first got Verizon DSL years ago one of the first questions the techs asked was ALWAYS "is it a Westel"? You need to get Verizon to replace it by whatever means required. This may involve some creative thinking and/or bullying on your part. Tell them it's totally dead (no lights-no sync). Tell them you do not have a USB port and need an Ethernet modem. Tell them to send you a replacement as the cable company internet guys you called promised you that you would not have this problem with them. You get the idea... Jimi_l