Router help needed please

Former_MSE_Dan

Hi guys,

Wonder if any of you can help me out - am looking to buy a wireless router, but don't really know enough about them to make an informed choice!

I know i need it to be Cable compatible, and to support 1MB broadband. Also, can anyone shed light on me as to whether you can run wired and wireless computers simultaneously? And ( i know tthis is probably v simple) if i have two comps, and two wireless cards, is it simple to run both of them wirelessly?

So, some Questions!

1) Is there much difference between 54 and 108mbps? I mainly surf, but get lots of email and download the odd file. For the price difference, is it worth it

2)What makes do you recommend? I've been looking at Netgear, cuz I heard they're good

3) How much should I be looking to pay? I found some on ebuyer, how do these sound? Here

Thanks so much for any help guys!!

delluver

54mbps does me fine for general everyday use.

You can combine wireless and part wireless, yes - I have a diagram of my network if you wanna see? PM me.

Don't pay more than £50, try US Robotics, Microdirect, Linksys.

Former_MSE_Dan

Sorry, non-techie that's me What's part wireless?

Would a laptop with a W/card, and a Desktop plugged directly into the router work? or does the desktop have to be plugged into the modem?

delluver

MSE_Dan wrote:

Sorry, non-techie that's me What's part wireless?

Would a laptop with a W/card, and a Desktop plugged directly into the router work? or does the desktop have to be plugged into the modem?

Have a look at our techie threads on wireless networking etc... there's 2 on the techie board.

I meant wireless and wired - part wireless network.

MercilessKiller

MSE_Dan wrote:

Hi guys,

Wonder if any of you can help me out - am looking to buy a wireless router, but don't really know enough about them to make an informed choice!

I know i need it to be Cable compatible, and to support 1MB broadband. Also, can anyone shed light on me as to whether you can run wired and wireless computers simultaneously? And ( i know tthis is probably v simple) if i have two comps, and two wireless cards, is it simple to run both of them wirelessly?

So, some Questions!

1) Is there much difference between 54 and 108mbps? I mainly surf, but get lots of email and download the odd file. For the price difference, is it worth it

2)What makes do you recommend? I've been looking at Netgear, cuz I heard they're good

3) How much should I be looking to pay? I found some on ebuyer, how do these sound? Here

Thanks so much for any help guys!!

First of all Dan, You can easily set up a 4 comp network with cross wired and wireless. As well as your 4 ethernet ports on the router you get a wireless signal for multiple computers Will cover 2 easily.

For the wireless computer it is very easy to connect them to the network. You first would need to make sure windows firewall and other firewalls like zone alarm are turned off completely (while setting up just so there's no teething problems. These can be configured at a later date to work behind the router).

Once done the wireless signal will automatically detect and connect you to the network. If you use WEP Encryption security (recommended) then it will ask you for the Wireless Access Key which is a Hexadecimal security code the router will produce in its config settings

As for which router, Netgear and Linksys are the both most used home router providers. I use a netgear but I know of people with Linksys and both work very well with no problems setting up, as long as instructions are followed properly of course.

You should be looking at around £50ish for a very decent Cable wireless router modem. Any Wireless Cable Router from either companies will do the trick.

The difference between 54mpbs and 108mbps, isn't very noticable. BUT, you may as well get the 108mbps simply for the future of internet connections and the fact that the prices don't differ that much at all.

If you do see a significant price difference, then 54mpbs would do you more than fine

Hope this info is all ok.

MercilessKiller

MSE_Dan wrote:

Sorry, non-techie that's me What's part wireless?

Would a laptop with a W/card, and a Desktop plugged directly into the router work? or does the desktop have to be plugged into the modem?

The modem plugs into the router through an ethernet connection (so 5 ehternet ports on router, one for internet, 4 for outbound to computers).

All computers then connect to the router and share the connection

delluver

MercilessKiller wrote:

First of all Dan, You can easily set up a 4 comp network with cross wired and wireless. As well as your 4 ethernet ports on the router you get a wireless signal for multiple computers Will cover 2 easily.

For the wireless computer it is very easy to connect them to the network. You first would need to make sure windows firewall and other firewalls like zone alarm are turned off completely (while setting up just so there's no teething problems. These can be configured at a later date to work behind the router).

Once done the wireless signal will automatically detect and connect you to the network. If you use WEP Encryption security (recommended) then it will ask you for the Wireless Access Key which is a Hexadecimal security code the router will produce in its config settings

As for which router, Netgear and Linksys are the both most used home router providers. I use a netgear but I know of people with Linksys and both work very well with no problems setting up, as long as instructions are followed properly of course.

You should be looking at around £50ish for a very decent Cable wireless router modem. Any Wireless Cable Router from either companies will do the trick.

The difference between 54mpbs and 108mbps, isn't very noticable. BUT, you may as well get the 108mbps simply for the future of internet connections and the fact that the prices don't differ that much at all.

If you do see a significant price difference, then 54mpbs would do you more than fine

Hope this info is all ok.

Agreed.

Sitting here with a Guinness, so glad you gave the advice... bit pished tonight. lol.

Kommunist

1) Is there much difference between 54 and 108mbps? I mainly surf, but get lots of email and download the odd file.

For what you are doing - not at all. However, if you would ever consider P2P (the evil thing, I know!) then you might have problems. Not speed-related, though.

2)What makes do you recommend? I've been looking at Netgear, cuz I heard they're good

Linksys WRT54G/GS and steer clear from DLink. IMHO.

This one will do. If you want P2P networking, consider GS model as it is got more memory (important for NAT) and is more powerful AFAIR.

MercilessKiller

Lol no worries. got home from work, leg killing me, thought i'd come on the comp and this gave me something to think about for 5 mins

Rex_Mundi

54Mbps or 108Mbps wont make any difference to the speed of the internet for any computers connected to the router.

It will make a difference if you plan to transfer lots of data between the computers on your network. In this case, you should go for the 108Mbps. It will mean that you can transfer the data quicker between your home computers.

It's perfectly possible and OK to have one computer connected to the router through wireless, and the other connected to the router through a cable.

Netgear make very good routers. This would be my recommendation. You need to make sure whichever one you buy (whatever make) will work with your ISP. If you are not sure, let us know who the ISP is, and we can tell you compatable models.

delluver

Rex_Mundi wrote:

54Mbps or 108Mbps wont make any difference to the speed of the internet for any computers connected to the router.

It will make a difference if you plan to transfer lots of data between the computers on your network. In this case, you should go for the 108Mbps. It will mean that you can transfer the data quicker between your home computers.

It's perfectly possible and OK to have one computer connected to the router through wireless, and the other connected to the router through a cable.

Netgear make very good routers. This would be my recommendation. You need to make sure whichever one you buy (whatever make) will work with your ISP. If you are not sure, let us know who the ISP is, and we can tell you compatable models.

Yep! Giv your ISP a bell.