I don't use DSL so I can't help with the PPPoe. 

But as for a spare modem.You maybe surprise to find Value Village has them often! . I have found several Routers that are upgradable to DD-WRT for $5
Example the other day I picked this one up for $5.99.  http://www.cnet.com/products/linksys-wrt400n-simultaneous-dual-band-wireless-n-router/


On Mon, Apr 18, 2016 at 7:56 AM, William Witteman <wwitteman@gmail.com> wrote:
I have been using the same DSL modem for ages (I think I might have
bought it from iStop), and it continues to work pretty well.  However,
because it has a router in front of it, whenever I have a problem tech
support wants me to plug it directly into my computer and run the
PPPoE from there to eliminate the router as the source of the problem.

A brief, magically resolving problem over the weekend has brought up
two things that I would like to know from the list's vast knowledge.

1) How do I run a PPPoE connection from Linux, preferably from the command line?

2) If I want to buy a new modem as a spare, do people have
recommendations, and should it include a router?

Thanks!
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