I have purchased a Belkin N Router & connected per instructions. I have ATT dsl connection. Also bought high speed modem when troubleshooters said I need to do so. Still.........althought all the lights so 'go' I get a response that I cannot connect. Suggestions?

Your router is designed for high speed connectivity.
to do a dial up connection you will have to use a dial up modem such as a 3com 56K and connect it to a phone line.
The Belkin router is only used on a DSL ( digital subscriber line) or a Cable line.

So if you connect the computer directly to the modem , it works .
That means your modem is working properly. Your ISP is DSL connection. Now connect the modem to the router and the computer to the router. Open the router xet up page and change the settings of the router according to the type of connection you have.
There are 2 types of connection in DSL.
DHCP and PPPOE .

Click Here for step by step instructions

Wellll....since it seemed an impossible task, I tried the next best thing.
I bought a wireless adapter for the other pc and voila! they are on the internet, and I am returning the router.

Westell modem + Verizon DSL w/usb = No connection to router.

What model modem is it, if it doesnt have a built in router then yes you can just add a wireless router. Try Newegg.com the prices are great there

1) With direct connect with modem, check the IP address and default gateway.
(I came across such a modem, it gave default gateway as 192.168.1.254)
I also had the doubt of configuring as a dynamic connection
But it won't work!
Contact your ISP to completely bridge the modem and configure the dsl modem as PPPoE connection with correct username and password.
Finally connect the modem to router and do a complete network power cycle, i.e.: Unplug power from router 1st, then power from modem, unplug the telephone line and now do the exact reverse process... Plug back the tel. cable, then power to modem... now WAIT for lights on modem to come back, then plug in the power to router. This will surely work.

>> do i have to call my internet service provider to activate my modem?

Yes.

Each modem has a unique "address", and your I.S.P. uses that address to authorize each DSL-modem that tries to connect to their network.

Or, if the two of you live in the same house/apartment, you should just buy a "router". Then, both computers can connect to the router, and the router connects to the DSL modem, and both of you can "share" the monthly fee for the _one_ Internet connection.

Connect your DSL to wireless router and enable automatic ip on wireless. check whether DHCP is enable in DSL router or not.

The 2wire dsl modem/router cannot be use with a another cable modem , since this 2wire device is also a modem/router and its made for the DSL conenction that's why it wont work with Cox cable, the best thing that you can do is to ask Cox to give a wireless modem/router like this 2wire so you can still use the wireless connection of your computer..

Hope that helps..........

Scenario 2 to 4: Scenario 2) The modem does not have an Ethernet port. The modem is a dial-up modem for traditional dial-up service. To use the Router, you need a cable/DSL modem and high-speed Internet connection.

Scenario 3) You cannot use the DSL service to connect manually to the Internet.
After you have installed the Router, it will automatically connect to your Internet Service Provider (ISP), so you no longer need to connect manually.

Scenario 4) The DSL telephone line does not fit into the Router’s Internet port.
The Router does not replace your modem. You still need your DSL modem in order to use the Router. Connect the telephone line to the DSL modem, insert the setup CD into your computer, and then follow the on-screen instructions

Maybe you should use same brand of your adapter, use belkin wireless router.

Most of the router has a manual attachment, it will teach you how to configure the router..