Any of you guys actually buy the anti-virus/spyware proggies?

[Chewy]

looks like you finally got my instructions right and that you have a NAT already

NAT is network address translation

damn confusing, I don't pretend to understand it either

[dr_ml422]

So in my case I guess the NAT would be the subnet mask numbers? Because I don't have a multi-port modem. Verizon does sell the modems w/a built in router and multi-port for about $195. Radio Shack has the wireless router for $105. They did tell me though that my address does change when I first hooked up my dsl. Did you understand when I said the 1st #'s came up as the 1 you posted w/extra #'s? They didn't have any xxx's. I just need some clarification so if indeed I do need a NAT I'll get 1. Thnx.

[Chewy]

I changed the numbers to xxx's when I copied my ip from that web link

if the ip shown with ipconfig /all does not match your real ip address then your modem has a builtin NAT

default gateway and dhcp server will be something like 192.xxx.xxx.x

the 192 is a private hardware address, not a real IP

if you type the 192 address into your browser it allows you to surf into your modem?

[dr_ml422]

I got you. So what's that subnet mask? The NAT or part of it?

[Chewy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subnetwork

read this and when you understand it, please explain it to me

[dr_ml422]

Lord almighty. I don't know what to call that definition. Sounds like double talk or just plain confusion. Either way if in fact an explanation from me might be needed I figure it's confusion. First it says it's 1 thing, then it retracts and says it came before the other more recent technology. In both instances it describes a + and -. Oh well, you did already mention you yourself kne lil about this whole genre so I'll leave it at that. Maybe 1 of the other fellas can break this down to a smaller molecule.