Networks Whats a router?!

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by ChromeX, 6 Apr 2006.

  1. ChromeX

    ChromeX Minimodder

    Joined:
    12 Aug 2004
    Posts:
    1,606
    Likes Received:
    22
    Hi guys, wondering if you could help me out. Me and my sister both have computers and both share the internet (when ever im not online she takes the modem and puts it in her comp and vice versa) and its kinda pissing me off to be honest. So i've worked out an arrangement that I pay for the net and she'll buy the hardware we need.

    Now i've only setup a network via a crossover cable once and it was bloody hell!!!! So I was wondering what gear we need? The way I understand it is we have 2 choices we can both buy a network card and run the internet through my comp which means my comp needs to be on for her to surf, or we can buy the 2 network cards and a router and we can both use the net without the other being comp being on?
     
  2. atanum141

    atanum141 I fapped to your post!

    Joined:
    22 Jul 2004
    Posts:
    7,986
    Likes Received:
    19
    its best to get a all-in-one wireless modemrouter, then get 2 wireless accesspoints(one is sometimes supplied with the router aswell) either usb or pci, and simply network the comps with the router and then you two can both share the net connection.

    One thing tho the router will require initial configuration so it will need to attach to someones machine first then after that is done it can be left in a corner somewhere by itself.
     
  3. hitman012

    hitman012 Minimodder

    Joined:
    6 May 2005
    Posts:
    4,877
    Likes Received:
    19
    Is the modem a cable unit that plugs in via an RJ45 Ethernet port or an ADSL modem? If it's the former, you can just buy any 4-port cable router (I use a Linksys BEFSX41), plug the modem into the WAN port and the computers into the LAN ports, configure it, and you're off.
     
  4. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

    Joined:
    26 May 2004
    Posts:
    3,112
    Likes Received:
    41
    What atanum141 said.

    Although beware they're NOT called wireless access points, they're called any number of things, along the lines of wireless/wifi/802.11g pci cards or adaptors, and wireless/wifi/802.11g USB dongles/adaptors.

    ch424
     
  5. ChromeX

    ChromeX Minimodder

    Joined:
    12 Aug 2004
    Posts:
    1,606
    Likes Received:
    22
    I forgot to mention my sister is 14 and gets £10 a week so wireless gear is out of the question! Besides, call me old fashioned but I prefer the cables route anyway :) Hitman, yeah the modem is an adsl modem. The phone line plugs into that via RJ45 then the modem connects to the comp via USB its a speedtouch 330. I'll need to buy the network cards but they're like what? 10 quid each? Also does the router act like a hub? So would be be able to play games over LAN and share files, that kinda thing? Sorry for the nooby questions but this is all new to me :) and thanks for the replies everyone!
     
  6. kiljoi

    kiljoi I *am* a computer king.

    Joined:
    13 Oct 2003
    Posts:
    2,301
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yeah, the router will act like a hub for you and your sister. Also, if you're going to be that limited on the hardware funds, it might be cheaper (although not as secure) to just get a hub, and plug both PCs and the modem into it. You'll have to run a good firewall program on the computers, and keep your AV up to date, but you should already be doing that anyway.
     
  7. ChromeX

    ChromeX Minimodder

    Joined:
    12 Aug 2004
    Posts:
    1,606
    Likes Received:
    22
    I dont mind paying for security but I do mind paying £80 for a wireless network when I can pay £60 for a wired one which will do the job. Some people like the idea of not having wires everywhere and thats cool.

    My sis said she'd put 40 quid to the total bill, the router that hitman uses is about 45 quid and two NIC's is £20 ish so I dont mind that. But yeah we both use zone alarm, ad-aware and firefox and they're kept upto date so all the favourites really.
     
  8. cpemma

    cpemma Ecky thump

    Joined:
    27 Nov 2001
    Posts:
    12,328
    Likes Received:
    55
    Have a look at Ebuyer's Extra Value Safecom router/modem, £26 with a good SPI firewall and 4 ports. I've got the 1-port version, been excellent.

    You sure you don't have the nics on the mobos already? They that old? :confused:
     
  9. ch424

    ch424 Design Warrior

    Joined:
    26 May 2004
    Posts:
    3,112
    Likes Received:
    41
    This plus two of these should be fine. Those PCI cards are great according to the reviews, but the router may be a bit flakey. EDIT: cpemma's router is probably better.

    That's pretty much your minimum price option for having a router. And yes, that'll let you play games, share files, share printers and everything.

    ch424
     
  10. ChromeX

    ChromeX Minimodder

    Joined:
    12 Aug 2004
    Posts:
    1,606
    Likes Received:
    22
    Thank you very much guys for the help :) yeah my mobo has a nic bt i'd sooner spend an extra tenner or so and get the same cards for both. I want the installation to go smooth, as you can probably guess im no network wizz :p Thanks again :thumb:
     
  11. Glider

    Glider /dev/null

    Joined:
    2 Aug 2005
    Posts:
    4,173
    Likes Received:
    21
    There is no need to be a networking wizz... Just like there is no need to spend €$£ on a NIC, if you have an onboard one. Probably just need to plug in the cable, and maybe run a wizzard. It isn't rocket science. I think that adding an extra NIC in your pc is just making things more complicated.
     
  12. Buzzons

    Buzzons Minimodder

    Joined:
    21 Jul 2005
    Posts:
    3,025
    Likes Received:
    31
  13. Glider

    Glider /dev/null

    Joined:
    2 Aug 2005
    Posts:
    4,173
    Likes Received:
    21
    Buzzons, you seem a good chap, but I notice that you don't post much more in networking then links to your own site.

    I know it can be frustrating to repeat time and time again, but at least clean up your site then.

    I must also make you aware of the following:

     
    Last edited: 10 Apr 2006
  14. ChromeX

    ChromeX Minimodder

    Joined:
    12 Aug 2004
    Posts:
    1,606
    Likes Received:
    22
    Thanks for the link, but thats not what im after :) One last question guys, i've been checking out those linksys modems and discovered that all of them use rj45 connections for the modem. Now like I said in a previous post my modem is USB and i cant find a USB router anywhere!!! So in a moment of clarity I though "hmmm maybe the phone line connects to the router directly and the modem is built into the router unit?! Is this the case? Lemme draw a diagram

    how I thought it worked:
    phone line--->modem (asdl)--->router--->computers

    how it works?:
    phone line--->router(build in asdl modem)--->computers

    EDIT: Actually I think I've figured it out, my problem stems from the speedtouch 330 modem im using, its listed on the speedtouch site as a single user modem. What I need is a proper multi user DSL modem that connects to the phone line, then the rj45 output goes into the input of the router and then me and my sis connect to that through the network cards! Finally got it :D
     
    Last edited: 16 Apr 2006
  15. cpemma

    cpemma Ecky thump

    Joined:
    27 Nov 2001
    Posts:
    12,328
    Likes Received:
    55
    Nearly there. All ADSL modems are single track, phone line in, 1 line out. The router "routes" the signal to different ports so different users can connect, each with their own identity. An office network with no internet access doesn't need a modem, just a router, but you'll find plenty of routers on sale with a built-in ADSL modem for your needs.

    Some (like the Safecom modem/router I linked) have both USB and Ethernet (RJ-45) interfaces,
    but there's no point in using the USB if you've got Ethernet, so don't make it a purchasing feature.

    Forget trying to use the Speedtouch 330 in your new system, mine's packed away in a box "just in case". It can be used under XP, method described here, but AFAICS the master PC will need to be on for the other to surf and there'll be a performance hit as everything's being run by the PC software.
     
    Last edited: 16 Apr 2006
  16. kenco_uk

    kenco_uk I unsuccessfully then tried again

    Joined:
    28 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    9,696
    Likes Received:
    308
    If you want to use your existing usb dsl modem, you could get a Draytek Vigor 2200 router, the main problem with this is cost (even the old 2200usb ain't cheap!), unless you find a second-hand one for a good price (the main problem is, they're damn good routers, so they have a bit of a price premium), you're better off going for an all-in-one tbh.

    Actually, thinking about it, I have a Netgear DG834 sat here doing nothing. Yours for £25, if you want it.

    It's one of the best all-in-one (bar wireless) devices: dsl modem, 4-port hub, nat, etc.. 107 reviews giving 4 and a half stars on average out of five on ebuyer can't be bad!
     
    Last edited: 16 Apr 2006
  17. ChromeX

    ChromeX Minimodder

    Joined:
    12 Aug 2004
    Posts:
    1,606
    Likes Received:
    22
    lol it just so happens thats the exact router I was going to buy! £25 sounds like bargain how do we arrange payment? And I dont get paid till the 28th if thats ok.
     
  18. kenco_uk

    kenco_uk I unsuccessfully then tried again

    Joined:
    28 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    9,696
    Likes Received:
    308
    Yep, that's fine :) I'll PM you in a sec with details.
     
Tags:

Share This Page