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*OT* - What Router do i need?

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*OT* - What Router do i need?

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'ello Daz...sorry, been moving house all weekend and still waiting for my DSL to be switched on, so I'm running on my laptop on dial up.

I have a Draytek Vigor2600VGi which is an enterprise class router with WiFi, ISDN, VoIP and much more, but it is expensive (£250), not that I paid that much ;) ;)

I recently read a review that the Linksys range takes a lot of beating.

Steer clear of any WiFi kit claiming to be 802.11n or "Pre N". This will be the next gen WiFi standard but the details have yet to be finalised so anything claiming to conform is rubbish. Make sure you router has full NAT facilities, plus DoS protection and QoS capabilities. Check out the latest (March) issue of PCPlus magazine. They have a Lab test of some good and not so good wireless networking options.

If you want any more help, just drop me an email and I'll do my best to reply a.s.a.p :)

Rob


"There are 10 types of people in the world, those that understand binary and those that don't"
 
Np Rob, i remembered you saying that you were moving and put the wrong smillie on the end...DOH!

Thanks for the help, I don't really want to go Wifi, as all the cables are already installed 'in the walls' ;)

@ Tom - Nope, the modem connects via USB to the first computer, although it can be connected via RJ45.

Daz
 
Fair enough.

I've only had to mess with 1 NTL box and that was RJ45. Used a Dlink but no print server.

I'm on ADSL and all my routing is taken care of by a machine running Linux.
 
netgear make nice stuff imo

just look on ebuyer for a router with a build in print server, modem and firewall. with the ntl box being usb you will have to scrap it sadly.

if you don't want the printer near the router then you will have to get a print server, these sit at the end of a network cable and make the printer available to all on the network.

As it's only a basic network you don't need anything really flash, just get whatever has the spec you want, i wouldn't worry too much about the make as they will all work.
 
I can't scrap the modem...its my only link to the outside world :( lol

The modem has both USB and RJ45 connections on it. I was using it on RJ45 until i kept getting conflicts between the 2 network cards on the main pc.

Thanks for the info guys, it looks like i need nothing special then, just a standard router that works with NTL.

Daz
 
Here's a setup of my home network:

home.JPG


(if the pic doesn't show up, or shows up as "hosted by angelfire" then right click the picture and put the address in your browser)

I'm wanting to add the PC on the ground floor to my network.

The server in the cellar is already set up to share my NTL internet connection.

BTW it's a genuine dell 2200 Poweredge Server I've got with two network cards - I think it's a dual P2 333Mhz lol. Works a treat with Winproxy :)
 
Nice setup :)

Is the PC on the ground floor not on the network or is it wireless?

Daz
 
Right, first up we're talking about Cable Broadband here ?

In that case you can't replace the modem - it's administered by the Cable company and is their property (you can actually replace it - but we won't go there for the time being :))

Daz - what exactly do you want to achieve - is it just networking the printer, or do you want to stop the PC that the modem is plugged into from needing to be turned on all 24/7 ?

Ian - Wireless is a definate possibility for your needs - what is the PC that you need to connect - what OS ? does it have PCI slots ? does it have a Network Card/Port ? Does is have USB 2 ?
 
The XP Pro system on the "Ground floor" is standalone at the moment.

Yes it has a network card
Yes it has USB2
Yes it has spare PCI slots

Yes I know that the NTL modem can't be replaced - I was wondering HOW to connect the standalone pc I've got on the ground floor to my network.

I can't run a cable to it purely beacuse I can't be arsed. It's too much hassle lifting up carpet, etc.

What solutions can there be to add WIRELESS to my network?
 
The main reason is that my hub has started playing up, turning itself on/off etc...

The main PC (which shares the internet connection), is virtually on 24/7 anyway, but i thought i may aswell get a router as they seem roughly about the same price.

Adding the printer to the network is just a nicety, not a requirement. Its on the network now (connected to the 3rd PC). So its usuable, but you have to make sure the 3rd PC is on etc...

My Ian-esq sketch of my current setup.
1109761925.JPG


Daz
 
Ian - you can easily connect your PC with Wireless providing you can get a signal through the walls/floors - which you should be able to.

You need a Wireless Access Point which will have an RJ45 lead from it and will plug into your hub/switch.

Then you need a Wireless connection device of some kind for the PC to connect to the Access Point. This can be PCI internal, USB external, or simply another Wireless Access Point (WAP) setup as an Access Device. The choice comes down to preference and price really, you may prefer the WAP so it could be used later on an older machine or PS2/XBOX etc... or you may prefer USB the choice is yours.

I would recommend you try to get same manufacturer just for ease of setup really with it being the first foray into wireless :)

I used two US Robotics WAPs to connect my g/f's PC to our home network as her PC is USB1 and has no PCI or PCMCIA slots... they are 22M devices running at a virtual 54M speed (only with devices from the same USR Range) and is fine for data storage, web access, and streaming audio.

When setting up Wireless be sure to secure it once you have it running.. basic tips...
Set devices to use specified MAC Address to MAC Address connections, and turn off Broadcasting.

HTH
 
Daz - What you need is a Broadband Router, one with an RJ45 WAN port, rather than one with an ADSL Modem built in. This will give you a WAN port to plug the Cable modem into. You will also have 4 (or more) RJ45 ports to plug PCs into, although you can simply patch this down into the uplink port of a hub/switch to give you as many ports as you need for network.

These will have numerous functions depending on the manufacturer and vary in price wildly.... for example NAT, firewall, VPN passthrough, VPN termination, ISDN backup, Print server... the list goes on.

At the bottom end of the scale you have this US Robotics.. it has firewall, and print server (but only parallel, not USB) but it's only £25
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=17933

Further up the scale have a look at the Draytek range of Routers, I think someone recommended them earlier... I use a Draytek 2600 series at home and would recommend them for home use... It has Firewall, and VPN Termination, content filtering (if these are of interest) and is a good deal for the price... you would want the 2900 series... see...
http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2900.html
These DO have USB Print Server capabilities.

These should work OK with your Cable modem plugged into them, the only problem would be if NTL have restricted access to a single MAC Address (of your modem) in which case you will need to set the router to use the same MAC address as the modem.
 
For example, a Wireless Access Point with an RJ45 connection would be...?

I don't have a budjet.
 
From looking at your diagram, i would suggest you get yourself a Wireless Modem Router, with the facility to use RJ45.

Ive just recently purchased a ADSL BT 2100, which, has 2 RJ45 ports and is able to allow multiple pcs to connect online via wireless conn, i think somthing similar would suit your needs.
You could install wireless adapters into the PCs on the Ground Floor and First Floor, then on Second floor, you could wire the xbox and pc straight into the modem/router with RG45.

Once its all connected and activated its always on, so no messing about

The printer could be shared with a printer switch, ive just recently installed a belkin switch so up to 4 peeps can share one printer. Only problem with that is that you would need USB cables long enough, and that could prove costly.

Not too sure if this would work with NTL though, but hopefully it may help.
 
That's the thing.

I don't want Wireless to my pc. Far too tempromental.

Dad doesn't mind though, as long as he has Internet access.
 
The other problem with going wireless with muliple pcs is that the bandwidth of the wireless connection 22m, 54m, 100m etc. is a MAX speed NOT average, like MAX Wattage compared to RMS... also the bandwith is Shared between all the PCs connected...

so 54m wireless will actually run at say 30M, but with 3 pcs connected that's 10m each... :(

So if you're only connecting one PC 22m should be fine, 54m and you're good for a while :)

Cheapish 22M WAP:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=55955

D-Link 54g WAP:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=172385

Pretty sure that basically any Wireless Access Point will connect to RJ45.. then for the PC you can either go PCI, USB or use a WAP that supports AP Client mode ...
 
Yeah,

looks fine... check the reviews, lots of people setting it up on NTL... looks a bit fussy to setup, you may even need to upgrade the firmware, but it's actually one of these:
http://www.wellgroups.com/product/2002/product-form-list.php?PRODUCT=bbr-1400
So support is available...

Looking at the comments from NTL users you may or may not have to set up MAC Address spoofing to get it to work.. suck it and see really ;)

Can't go wrong for that price though
 
i've bought a cheap router off ebuyer before and it was really rubbish. the problem is if you need any support, these sort of things are usually made in taiwan and u can't get support easily.

i'd recommend something like http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=45023

which gives you the option of wireless should you need it, but is a top brand.

then if you need a print server, one of these:
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=5750794928&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=37527

i really wouldn't bother saving 10quid or so by getting the no-name versions, they're not worth the hassle.
 
"so 54m wireless will actually run at say 30M, but with 3 pcs connected that's 10m each"

even at 10m, we're talking about sharing what, 1mb of broadband and print capability. 10M is more than enough. even the b standard is more than enough for just sharing a net connection and printer!

Buzz
the poster formerly known as LightWarrior
 
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