Route Questions

[duffyone]

I'm looking for the “do’s and don’t” and/or suggestions about routers (this time before I buy). I recently changed over to high speed cable internet access… wow, that’s a mouthful. Anyway, I have two computers in the house and right now only one is connected to the cable. I want to connect both.

Buying a router looks easy enough; cable it to the modem and the two computers….. is that it?

Oh! Is there degradation of speed when you put a router between computer and the modem? I did a “connect speed” test at McAfee’s website… the needle went off scale, I think I bent it! I want to keep it that way.

[Bill in SD, CA]

Fairly straightforward and easy to setup.

Cable > Modem > Router > Computers.

You will need an ethernet card for the computers BTW.

You won't notice any speed drop.

Bill

[bailey]

just be sure that the router you get also has a built in eathernet switch, usally there 4-5 ports, and very easy to set up.

[duffyone]

I have Ethernet connections on each computer and have had each of them set-up and working on the cable independently.

I've been looking at 4 port routers... haven't noted any specs referencing "Ethernet switches". Some say they have printer sharing capabilities, kind of nice... one referred to firewall protection, which I assume is software that they through in.

Any particular band recommended? Linksys good? Wait, I guess Netgear ad does say something about the switch thing;

"A built-in 4-port switch makes sure the right people can share your high-speed Internet, files and peripherals, while access controls and firewall protection ensure the wrong people cannot."

Is good?

[Bill in SD, CA]

They're all pretty much the same.

I have a Linksys router.

Works fine - file sharing, printers, etc.

Bill

[bailey]

and there is no connection speed loss at all

[Beemer]

Unless both computers are actively using the connection at the same time. A router allows you to share your one connection from your ISP.

Cheers!

[electric]

if you play computer games on line you will find you will have
a lower ping #with out the router being used

[John Prophet]

a switch is just a smarter version of a hub...with a hub, everything on any port goes out to all the other ports whether it needs to or not...so it causes some slowdowns...a switch is smarter, it only sends stuff to the port where it needs to go so it doesnt interfer with the other ports.

Switches used to cost a lot more than hubs..but not now...so there is not alot of reason to have a hub now...therefore most of the home type routers come with built it 4port switches.

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I would think most of the home type routers would function about the same unless you were really into gaming or running a server from home...in that case you might want to look into the "port forwarding" options...but from what you have said I think most any decent router will do for you.

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I (and tons of other people) use the linksys BEFSR41 and it has worked fine for me...I think it only allows 10 ports to be forwarded which could be a slight issue for advanced gamers etc.

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any router with a switch will allow you to share printers etc

JP