OT - Home networking help

[Wimmy]

Network bods I need a little help.
I'm currently running on a 1mb broadband connection on blueyonder and about to install a 2nd pc at home for work. For this I need a router (pref wireless but not essential).
I have no idea what spec I should be looking at. Input and outputs should be RJ45, after that - I'm lost. Can anyone suggest any router/hub I should be looking at and what sort of spec? As cheap as possible please.
Ta in Advance

 

[Tom]

Linksys and D-link both make some quite cheap DSL/Cable routers. Can't remember the numbers offhand but the d-link is about £30.

 

[Joske]

I've got a Belkin 4 port Router/Hub all in one. Cost me £49 last year, but the best thing is it comes with a lifetime guarantee. I've seen it in PC world for less now about £29 or £39. It isn't wireless though.

I got mine from PC world.

Also the equipment you need depends on if its wireless or not. If you go PC world you can buy network kits, that includes the wireless lan cards for each PC and a router or hub.

If you want the PC's to access the internet use a Router, a Hub only, really allows info to be sent to and from each computer. Switch is only needed if you have loads of computers connected.

If you buy a non wireless one, then make sure you know the diference between crossover and straight through network wires.


Joske

 

[Wimmy]

So if I were to go wireless I would need new network cards too? Hmmmm. Was thinking of going wireless as I dont know how many pc's and where in the house I'll be sticking them.
Also, would be nice to get a pc in the car and be able to tranfer data from car pc to home pc whilst in the driveway

 

[Ian@Work]

The problem with wireless networking is that the radio signals do not like walls. So your thinking eh.. so what's the point in wireless networking?

If you do get a wireless router, you will prefebly need to put it up somewhere high, like in the attic as you will get best reception from your wireless network cards no matter where you put your computers.

...But you will still need to install wireless network cards in each system. Like Tom said, D-link do produce some good equiptment and I highly recommend them too.

 

[Tom]

Wireless is a waste of time IMO. Even sitting within 10 feet of a 54G basestation you won't get 54meg.

There are some new standards on the way which should help things but unless you are desperate for wire free operation just stick to normal wired networking.

 

[Dan]

i'd say go wireless - i use Linksys and DLink - never had a problem with them, and I don't liek the way that Belkin things set up, but that's just personal preference.

Wireless Broadband Router, or, if you've already got a Router but it's not wireless, get one of these (i've got one)

Linksys Wap 11:

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=3634528377&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=37494

then, instead of changing network cards, just buy how ever many of these you neeed...

USB Wireless Dongle: they're top - and you can use plug and unplug them, so if someone brings a laptop round you can plug this in and away you go - they can use internet on it.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=51323

 

[Ian@Work]

Sorry Dan but I have to agree with Tom.

Wireless networking is pants.

 

[Ian@Work]

Shame you don't have an apple/mac applemac, mac, apple whatever really.

You could of had one of these:

Plugs into your mains socket, which you can network computers to.

So for example, if you had two computers that needed networking, you could have 2 of these little gadgets, plug one into your mains upstains and one downstairs and just literially plug your cat 5 network cable into it and viola, out comes the data at the other end! Like magic..

 

[Dan]

wireless networking is spot on for what wimmy requires though!

that's why it's spot on for me, cos i use it at home and it means i don't have wires under floorboards and running along the walls etc, go wireless - it's much better for home use!

 

[Alex]

works perfectly for me, solid 11mpbs connection, i have 4-5 pcs on lan and they all work great, even playing games online u experience no lag.

 

[Tom]

802.11b?

 

[scottemotive]

im my experience, the Linksys routers were excellent, very easy to setup and highly configurable (ensure to block common UDP ports) and change the password used to access the routers config immediately aswell.

there are new wireless standards out at the moment not too sure about these but better off just goin with cat5 cables into the router if they are in close proximity, if you live in a mansion or have a laptop and someday feel like working anywhere in your house (for whatever reason) go wireless but yes you will need wireless network cards for each receiving device.

stay away from USB its not as quick as ethernet

i got a cheap and cheerful Ebuyer router for ADSL for my home network it works great.

 

[cynic-al]

wireless is great... with a laptop, you can wander about and have full access to everything without trailing a wire.

But for a desktop pc i would use a wire, it's far better in my opinion.

Depending what hardware you have you could just get a cheap and nasty switch for about £10 and plug your current router/modem and the pc's into that. And a wireless access point if you really want one.

 

[Ian@Work]

There are several ways about this problem here.

I'm in the same dilemma at the moment.

Maybe I'll just buy a dell 'xeon' server and stick it down in the cellar and then run a DNS/DHCP server from it, and obviously it'd be a PDC.

All network problems solved

 

[Anonymous]

where u gonna steal that from ian j/k

Smee

 

[Anonymous]

Cynic-Al

A switch will not route external IP data (i.e internet) it will only switch an ethernet network

you need a router to be able to share an outside IP (i.e an internet connection) either via hardware being a router or software being a gateway(however the PC acts as the host to the gateway)

 

[Bravo-Dan]

I networked two computers ages ago, all you need is your RJ45, but make sure its a twisted RJ45, otherwise data can only be sent 1 way. Connect just using your onboard networking (if you have it) and it will help if your using XP PRO(SP2 if possible), as PRO is more network based in some way!

If you wanna go wireless use Belkin, they were the first to design wireless networking, and just get 2 network cards. You dont really need a router enless your planning on connecting more computers in the future.

Dan

 

[scottemotive]

whatabout your SDC? if your cellar floods? cellers being generally cool are great for running overclocked hardware mind

 

[Ian@Work]

Scottemotive, I'm not going to need to overclock it as I'm only going to be hosting 3 maybe 4 computers at max.

I have got a P4 3.2 here at work that's overclocked to 3.72Ghz on an abit board, very nice.

Anymore though and it just brings up error after error! lol

Smee - I'm working now mate, hence the name Ian@Work.. I'm IT manager for a company down in leicestershir, and I love it.