Hmm so its not just my posts you think are stupid, thats nice to know.
Its not so stupid when you think of it as a kit.
If you go to adsl with plusnet, they provide an internal modem, [which you have to fit btw] and they say thats your job to fit it.
In a similar way BT send you a modem and microfilters, you have to set the external modem up, then insert the microfilters inline with the modem.
So i suppose its asking the question should ntl supply one as part of a "kit".
If you read most technically minded replies to less tech type people, the first answer is "have you got rid of usb and got a network card yet" when connection problems arise.