[ale] more - Problem with traceroute

[d2ove4deb at bellsouth.net (Jim Moore)]

Have been trying to sort this out.
First computer is Cat5 to Netgear router; then Cat5 to ATT Westel modem 
which is set as a "Bridge Ethernet" connection. 
Now the launchmodem which I see as the second hop when I run traceroute 
from the Net Tools gui is the modem configuration start up which I can 
normally only access by having the computer connected directly to the 
modem; i.e.; not able to access it through the router.
The question in my mind then becomes why does traceroute trigger 
launchmodem rather than just hopping onward from the modem?
This is apparently what also happens when I run the netselect command 
and it starts to run traceroutes and times to the list of mirrors which 
it has downloaded and stored.
Anyone know if there's something which I have to change in the modem 
settings to allow traceroutes to pass through?

Jim