quick question re modems/routers

purplecatlover

my friend currently has talk talk but wants to switch to plusnet. she has talk talk modem (router? whats the difference?). will that work with the new isp or does she need to have their router?

totalsolutions

Router is a device bringing together a modem and a switch.

Modem a device to talk to other modems over standard telephone cables

Hub a device to connect several computers using Cat 5 cables (Cheaper not used nowadays)

Switch an intelligent device to route communication between computers using Cat5 cables
(Expensive, price lowering and more popular)

quidsinquentin

What's the thingy I got from O2 for my broadband then - a modem or a router?

purplecatlover

thanks totalsolutions

but what is the thingy from talk talk then? it needs the usb or ethernet to allow computer to connect to the internet but is broadband.

if the current thing she has is a router, will it work with a new isp or does she have to pay the 7quid postage to get new isp to send a new wired router?

are modems the dial up thingies only or does broadband also use the telephone lines?

what is my bt home hub? is it a hub as your deffinition above or is it just that bt picked hub for the name and its just a router?

how do i tell the difference between a modem and a router as a complete technical dunce? (if its not dial up/broadband specific).

JasX

Basically if you access your internet via the phone line your router will be good for any ISP, its if you need to get the internet via cable (eg virgin media) rather than your phone line you'd have a completly different type.

Some companies are using ADSL2/+ rather than ADSL but unless your friend has specifacally gone for a super high speed connection sold as ADSL2/+ they are probably on ADSL and will be fine

Finally above assumes they are able to access their current modem to update the config settings for the new ISP

totalsolutions

>but what is the thingy from talk talk then
Don't know, I don't have one. Could be cable uses F connector similar to a satellite connector. These things can be locked in to the provider by your PC MAC address and only used on your line/premises.

>are modems the dial up thingies
Yes, modem talk to each other. Broadband is many modems on multi channels at once. So broadband is faster.

>what is my bt home hub

I have thiis too. If it's black and v2 its a router + firewall + VOIP (telephone service) + Switch + USB device + Ethernet 4 ports + DHCP server + wireless WI-FI b,g,n

If it White it is similar but with 2 Ethernet ports + WI-FI b,g

>how do i tell the difference between a modem and a router

A modem has no USB or Ethernet ports and no DHCP server, just RJ11 mini telephone socket and serial sockets, either 15 pin or 25 pin to the PC.

dekh

quidsinquentin wrote: »

What's the thingy I got from O2 for my broadband then - a modem or a router?

Is it a white box that says something like "Wireless box II o2" written on it? If so it is a wireless router. You can connect wirelessly (b + g up to about 54mb speed) or up to 5 PCs with Cat5 cables (at 100mb speed) to the router. If it is the "box III" wireless conectivity also includes n which is better (speed/coverage) if your computer has that sort of wireless card.

purplecatlover

jasx id best have her get the new one form plusnet then, she is more clueless than i am and i would not have a clue how to change the config settings. thank you.

totalsolutions it is the white one i have, with 2 ethernet ports. thanks for answering

totalsolutions

I see Plusnet offer a Free wireless router, what's the problem?

kwikbreaks

espresso wrote: »

So how would she set up the one from Plusnet then? This would need to be configured before it would work.

The advantage for technophobes in taking an ISP supplied router is that the script readers who take calls will have the right pages available to talk the user through the setup. ( At least in theory )

purplecatlover

totalsolutions wrote: »

I see Plusnet offer a Free wireless router, what's the problem?

its 7quid postage and packaging so if her current router would work then she can save that 7 quid.

espresso wrote: »

So how would she set up the one from Plusnet then? This would need to be configured before it would work.

it would either come with installation software, or be like my bt ones have always been and pretty much be plug in and play......and yes i have to go and connect it and plug it in for her.