OT - Another Broadband & Router Query...

[Stephen]

Ok, so Ive finally got around to moving over to broadband. Did the comparison thing and found a compnay called Homecall (part of the Phones4U group apparently). Now the particular package is £24.99 a month for unlimited 512kbp (the maximum I can get on my exchange) and free local and national phone calls.

Now the question is, are they any good? Has anyone heard of them? Now, Im assuming that since they're part of Phones4U they cant be too ropey, and there is a backup dialup service if needs be.

Now, once I go ahead and get broadband I'll need a router to connect mine and the parents PC's. Am I right in thinking that the router goes after the modem and splits the connection to both PC's? I have no idea about it, lol. So can anyone recommend a nice cheap and cheerful that will do the job no problems, baring in mind its only going to be on a 512kbp connection. I had a quick look on Ebuyer and found a Dlink one for £19.99 but I have no idea if it'd be suitable or not.

Cheers!

 

[Cynic-al]

you can get just routers or routers with modems built in.

If you are getting a LAN (rather than a USB) modem from the company then you need a router to go after the modem, or you could just use a cheap hub or switch. The advantage to this is that if you have problems and you call the help desk you won't get the standard reply "your not using our hardware therefore faf off"

However a router with a modem, firewall and switch built in are generally easier and neater to setup. I have a netgear unit which was £60 but there are lots of cheaper alternatives, all will do what you want.

 

[Stephen]

Its says on the website that I need a free USB port so im assuming that it'll be a USB modem.

 

[Cynic-al]

if you want to use the USB modem you will have to plug that into one PC then setup a network between the two and share the internet connection over the network. Problem with that is that the PC with the broadband always has to be on.

It may be better to get a router, see if they offer one as an upgrade option.

 

[Stephen]

Thats not a problem, it'll be connected to mine and its never switched off anyway. Only ever rebooted now and again.

 

[Cynic-al]

personally i would still get a router, but that is your choice.

Ensure both pc's have a lan card, you will need wither a cross over cable to go between them or two patch cables and a cheap hub/switch, or you could go wireless, get two wireless lan cards and connect in adhoc mode.

Personally if you are not moving lots, like you would with a laptop, then i would always run a cable over a wireless system, but that's just me.

 

[Stephen]

Right, so in simple terms. I can either plug the modem into my pc and connect them via a LAN? Or get a modem/router? How does that work exactly and what do i need for it?

 

[Cynic-al]

a routher with a build in modem makes the internet connection for you, then each pc plug into the router via a lan (local area network) card and get the internet traffic from that.

Eitherway you need a network to share the connection

with a router


PC1---cable---Router---cable---PC2



with a modem

Modem---PC1---cable---PC2

 

[Stephen]

So just going with the modem would be the cheaper option? Im not looking at getting really technical as its only a 512kbp connection so i cant see the point. What are the particular benefits of using a router over not using one?

Cheers

 

[Cynic-al]

easier to setup, your not relying on one pc to be working 24-7 to maintain the connection, you can have hardware firewall features build into the router.

sharing the internet connection will put an extra work load on your pc as if your parents are surfing the net your pc will have to get the information and pass it to thier pc, not sure what sort of a load this will cause but it may slow your pc if your into intense games.

plus it's just a neater sloution.

But both will do what you want.

 

[Stephen]

Simple option it is then. I dont game at all, its only for downloading really and to free up the phone line.

Cheers!

 

[Cynic-al]

are they both winxp pro?

 

[Cynic-al]

once you have the internet working on your first pc follow one of these guides;

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/ics

 

[Stephen]

Ermm...mine is and im pretty sure the other is.

 

[Cynic-al]

ok, that guide should help, if not there are plently of others on the internet

 

[Stephen]

Seems simple enough. Would it be possible as well if i dont have all the gear straight away to just install the drivers etc on both pc's and just plug the modem into whichever pc is being used?

 

[Cynic-al]

don't see why not, theres one way to find out. remember your modem needs to be near a phoneline, also remember you need a micro filter on every phone point in the house with something plugged into it, not just the pc, but phones, faxes, sky, everything.

if your pc's are fairly new then they will probably have a network socket on the motherboard, if that were the case all you would need is a cross over cable.

 

[Scott]

thats expensive for 512k, wanadoo are 1mb at that price
there is a cheap router on ebuyer its their cheap and chearful 4port adsl router, ive got one and its cheap and chearful does the job,


Scottmetro - Formerly Scottemotive

 

[Anonymous]

My parents use homecall - they pay £35 a month for uncapped 512k. Sounds expensive HOWEVER that includes their line rental (worth £12 a month at BT inc VAT), and free calls to landlines at any time (worth about £150 a month if you are on the phone as much as my mum).

The broadband service isnt bad, not as good as my 720k cable connection, but it does the job. Its unmetered too.

Jonathan

 

[Stephen]

Looking at the website suggested it says that the host machine needs 2 LAN cards but it doesnt explain why. Any ideas?