Connecting using usb/ethernet

loulou41

Getting bt broadband soon and am a bit concerned whether I could install and get it going without any problems. PC is dell dimension 5150. I have read the instructions for installing on the website and it says type of connection should be either usb/ethernet. Which one do I choose and what do I look at the back of computer? My guess is USB, am I correct? I can identify usb OK. Excuse my ignorance. Thanks.

tomd84

USB is the usb socket, ethernet is the port you use for networks, normally it is locatated next to the usb ports,

I would recommend using ethernet :-)


Thanks Tom :-)

Little_John

Your pc will have both, unless you have a network use the ethernet port as you wont be using it for anything else you can run out of USB ports pretty quick even when you have 6 of them.

The only problem is it depends on what BT send you, either a USB modem or a router, the modem uses a USB port where the router is ethernet.

leesmithg

loulou41 wrote:

Getting bt broadband soon and am a bit concerned whether I could install and get it going without any problems. PC is dell dimension 5150. I have read the instructions for installing on the website and it says type of connection should be either usb/ethernet. Which one do I choose and what do I look at the back of computer? My guess is USB, am I correct? I can identify usb OK. Excuse my ignorance. Thanks.

Make sure also it's enabled in the bios.

Make sure also that you have upto date drivers for your mobo and ethernet port also.

loulou41

leesmithg wrote:

Make sure also it's enabled in the bios.

Make sure also that you have upto date drivers for your mobo and ethernet port also.

Thanks for the above advice, how to I make sure it's enabled in the bios? How do I check for up to date driver. Computer is pretty new bought it in January and it's a dell 5150. I think, bt sends a modem, therefore it will be usb. Thanks again for all your help.

Quincy_3

Hang on a mo.

Did you say you have an ethernet port?

If so just go out and buy a cable if you can use ethernet as its much more stable and USB sucks a bit more power away from the PC so ethernet would be my choice and with that comes no Bios fiddling.

albertross_2

Just use whatever the router or modem supplied by BT allows. A router with ethernet is better than a usb modem, as routers have inbuilt firewalls. Most routers and modems come with a cable, and you don't have to worry about updating ethernet drivers and bios settings, it will just work.

So in summary, you have nothing to worry about, but if you have a choice of router or modem, I would plump for the router, because it gives you added firewall protection over a modem. You can always buy one at a later date for £20-40.

espresso

The chances are that BT will supply a BT Voyager 210 modem/router, which has one USB port and one Ethernet port. If your PC has an Ethernet port, use that to connect as both Ethernet and USB cables are supplied. If you connect via Ethernet, you don't need to install any USB drivers on your PC and Ethernet is much better than USB.

UNICORN_2

Ethernet also makes it easy if you need to connect more than 1 computer in future

loulou41

Thanks to all of you for your good advice. I think, with BT, it comes with usb and ethernet cable, therefore following your advice I will opt for ethernet. Now I understand the difference between the two. Thanks to all of you members who took the trouble to answer my post. Thanks again.

Quincy_3

loulou41 wrote:

Thanks to all of you for your good advice. I think, with BT, it comes with usb and ethernet cable, therefore following your advice I will opt for ethernet. Now I understand the difference between the two. Thanks to all of you members who took the trouble to answer my post. Thanks again.

No worries, Now dish out the thanks