Router
Router
You're thinking about creating a router using a PCI card from the past and connecting it to a modern single RJ45 card via a switch. That sounds like a unique approach, but it's definitely not standard practice. Most routers today rely on standardized interfaces and firmware updates, making such a setup tricky. The old dial-up cards you mentioned are indeed outdated and won't work with current hardware. While you've had some experience with new routers recently, they seem to be expensive and unreliable for long-term use. It might be worth exploring DIY solutions or consulting vintage electronics forums for more detailed guidance.
DSL remains available, though higher speeds are now offered by some providers. Yes, services exceeding 20+ Mbps are still accessible.
Internet performance relies on several elements: 1) The real data rate your provider delivers 2) Router capabilities 3) Network switch handling 4) Cable bandwidth 5) PC network card compatibility. For good speeds, confirm your ISP offers at least 20mbps first, then check router and PC cards. This guide was updated on November 25, 2019 by LogicalDrm
You're able to handle this, though it might not be necessary for your situation. If you're checking out routers, it seems like there are electrical problems nearby—like power spikes or copper line issues. I strongly suggest using a surge protector for both power and phone lines. Based on your requirements, a pure router won't suffice; a Draytek Vigor 130 would be ideal. I've used it with both vectored and non-vectored ADSL2+ and VDSL2 connections, and it performed better than any other router. Just note it's a single-port device so you'll need to connect it to a switch or AP. For ISPs, I've tried around a dozen brands including Belkin, TP-Link, Draytek, Huawei, Netgear, Asus, etc. If you prefer an all-in-one solution, the Asus RT-AC68U looks great—good Wi-Fi and routing at a reasonable price.
They don’t seem to produce PCIe modem cards. From what I see, you’ll still need a DSL modem to connect to Ethernet. In fact, most DSL devices act as gateways and often come with a built-in router.
Two nearby stores carry this item, but using a modem router with a surge protector might be simpler than what they're offering right now.
As far as my ISP is concerned its just a router. My ISP uses the lines ASID (Port based) to authenticate. Just configure your VCI/VPI/Multiplexing/PPP settings, and it will authenticate on most DSL networks. In my case my ISP uses G.Vectoring, but this card supports that. It would generally only be an issue if your ISP does mac address filtering to restrict what devices can be connected to their network, but you could just spoof that anyway. In my country there is a differentiation between the infrastructure (wholesale) and the service (retail). You can use any device you like on the networks as long as theyre compatible. Mainly because customers are constantly churning between Retail providers who give them the best deal.