Share broadband with 5 computers?

onzey

Hi

Can anyone recommend a modem/router for a student house connecting 5 computers to adsl over BT line? Require the capability of 5 wired connections. (although wireless would be a bonus as one computer has wireless capability - however prefer to be able to fall back on all wired connections in case wireless signal is poor).

Don't want internet connection sharing.

I've found one or two possibilities with 4x ethernet / 1x USB. Anyone have any experience with such a beast?

Is it better perhaps to get a single port modem/router and a separate multiport switch (hub?)?

Thanks.

BenL

This one on e-buyer looks ok

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=48449

says 5 port but you may want to look over the reviews and specs to make sure.

If I were you i'd be going for one with wireless as well.

You will then have available future space as well, my Netgear can handle 250 wireless devices.

The wireless connections can be extended if you have a particularly large house.

Most wireless routers can go for a long way and into gardens/outside houses etc.

Mine goes outside to the garden, not checked how far at the front yet but a few neighbours would be able to detect quite easily I bet. Good job for security.

Ben

MoneyMonkey

Not too sure what you want? You say for connection to adsl, but don't want to share the internet connection?

I use the Netgear DG834G. It has an adsl modem, 4 port switch, wireless connection, router, hardware firewall, blah blah blah... This allows multiple computers to connect to a single adsl connection. While there is only 4 ports available on the switch, you should simply be able to attach a ethernet hub (very cheap) should you need to extend the hard wire connections.

Hope this helps.

MM

onzey

RE : "Not too sure what you want? You say for connection to adsl, but don't want to share the internet connection"

Sorry, didn't explain myself too well. I was only trying to avoid anyone suggesting using Windows ICS as an alternative, i.e. keeping one pc on to serve the others.


Thanks for suggestions. I think I'll look into the Netgear + hub (if necessary) solution.

Poppycat

The netgear as said by monkey is an excellent router/modem. I have 4 pc's connected through it, and only one wireless.

onzey

I see the DG834GT is actually cheaper than the DG834G at PCWorld at the moment. Is the older (I assume) "G" model more reliable than the "GT"?

Don't think my daughter and her housemates need the latest bells and whistles, just something to get up and running with minimum fuss, and reliable.

rogerramjet

http://www.valutech.co.uk/prodbuy.asp?catid=742&id=2599

good price for this, ok it's a refurb but belkin have a lifetime warrantee.

MoneyMonkey

The GT supports Super G wireless support (108 mega bits per second). This is a non standard, albeit fast, wireless connection. The speed only relates to the wireless connection part, and not the adsl. Personally, I would go for the G , just because it supports a more standard technology. The 54 mega bits per second wireless connection is still very fast (10 X as fast as regular adsl).

MM

wolfman

MoneyMonkey wrote:

The GT supports Super G wireless support (108 mega bits per second). This is a non standard, albeit fast, wireless connection. The speed only relates to the wireless connection part, and not the adsl. Personally, I would go for the G , just because it supports a more standard technology. The 54 mega bits per second wireless connection is still very fast (10 X as fast as regular adsl).

MM

The GT model can run in regular 802.11g (G mode). You have the option of "boosting" the speed to super-g, but don't have to. It's also fully backward compatible right down to 802.11b. It's basically a 802.11g router/modem that can run on speed should you wish (so to speak). You are right though that it's not a "standard" format, although a lot of people seem to be adopting it anyway.

If the GT model is cheaper, best go for that. I have read it to be slightly more problematic, but I believe those issues were cleared up in a firmware release.

*Note, 802.11g may be 54Mbps but you'll be lucky if you get that. Generally you'll get about 60-75% of the potential speed. Super-g (108Mbps) isn't actually double the speed of 802.11g. It's usually 30-40% faster, so figures can be misleading.

Alfie_E

Toxteth_OGrady wrote:

If you want to have all 5 wired with a 4 port modem/router you can always plug an ethernet economiser into one of the router ports.

That won’t help. It’s just a way of re-assigning the pairs in a cable run – with one on each end of the cable. Sadly, it doesn’t magic a port out of nowhere.

Toxteth_OGrady

Thanks Alfie. Live and learn. I didn't check the detail, just happened to see one in my Videk catalog. I'll delete the post so I don't confuse anyone other than myself.

:cool:

TOG