I'm going to set up a home network between 2 computers and 1 laptop (notebook). I have ethernet network adapters/interface cards at each computer and have purchased CAT5e ethernet network cables to the required lengths needed in my home. I'm going to use the network mainly to share an ADSL connection between all my computers at any one time. And so I realise I must purchase a router.

My question is which type of router should I buy? I mean there are a lot of routers out there which act as hubs or switches or both or have built in firewalls. I'm not sure what the difference is between a hub and switch and which is better/faster? Can anyone recommend a specific router which is very reliable and fast?

I use a Lynksys BEFSX41 Router Firewall that supports my PC network (4 machines) with a Netgear Wireless Router for the Macs (3 machines). Both routers will support either machines, I just have a split network. Although the price is higher, I personally recommend a firewall/router as a minimum for securing a home setup, as the features are a bit more robust than the basic security that results from the basic Network Address Translation that a router provides. I have always had good luck with Linksys products, and their setup is easy to understand.

:m: Peace.

I use a Linksys BEFW11P1 which includes the slot for a wireless card. It only supports two computers directly so I got a cheap 10 port hub. I have two desktops and a laptop connected (sometimes) upstairs and another lap top accessed via the wireless downstairs for the kids and wife. I used to have my MAC hooked up but I gave up that platform about two years ago.

It works well. It was quite cheap on sale, I believe about $70 and the hub was on sale for about $15. Oh, if you want to use the wireless you have to buy those cards too, which can be had pretty cheaply here in Silicon Valley. I wonder if maybe the unit has been discontinued as the faster "G" wireless networking cards have become common. Just to my right at eye level so I can see the status lights, I have my ADSL modem with the hub on top of that and then the wireless router. This router also includes a parallel centronics port for a print server but I found that feature is just too slow for my taste and I got multiple ink jet printers now, one was a gift from my current employer.

The one main thing with ASDL Routers is making sure that the protocol they use to connect to your telephone exchange is the correct one, or you won't get your connection working.

The best thing to do there is consult your Telephone company and ask them what protocol they use if you hook up an ASDL router.

There is also the likelihood that your ISP won't offer much support either, this is because they don't want to build up a large library of Router help files for their service, which is a shame.

I personally have a Mentor MR4A/UK ASDL Router (4 port and Inbuilt Firewall), I connect that to a hub and then run my main machines off the hub. If I rig up any systems as servers (machines up 24/7) then I'll connect them to the router, since the router I leave on 24/7 so I can connect to the internet through the network.

You don't necessarily need a ASDL router, if the modem connects to your computer with a cat5 cable, then any router will do. I don't have a personal favorite router. I'm using a microsoft mn-700 wireless access point right now. It uses universal plug n play, but i'm not entirely sure what advantage that gives me. Supposedly opens and closes ports dynamically. It's also got a Stateful Packet Inspection firewall built-in, which is kinda nice.

uh, cross=over cable

no, a regular cable from modem to router. That's how mine is anyway.

hmmm. not mine. maybe yours does auto sensing and switches the tx and rcv lines

the router I had before this one was a cheap ass compaq router, and it used a regular cat5 as well. I wouldn't credit it with any advanced technology. Why would it need a crossover cable? That's for a direct computer to computer connection. I suppose maybe if the modem required it. Does the modem consider itself a "computer" on the network? I use a westell modem.

I've got one of the earliest Alcatel. Did a quick search on the web and I see that DSL modems are now made with the crossover done within. Had mine for going on four years now. There also appears to be some auto switching incorporated into some units. All other connections to my router are straight through so I suspect it is my modem. New knowledge for me.

I just need sumthing clearing up. My laptop and my high spec computer has windows XP installed. But my low spec computer has windows 98 installed. Is this goin to in any way effect the performance of my home network? I mean are there any compatibility issues between the operating systems? I know that the hardware in my computers don't have any issues regarding compatibility with a network though.

You will need your XP disk to install the network drivers to the windows 98 system, this usually just means inserting the XP disk and there is an option for setting up a network. (At least on XP Pro)

Compatibility wise, the only real issues are if you have two programs that have different driver sets to make them run, they might be incompatible. An example of this is "Gangsters" a game that will only work on XP if given some extra patches, but it won't allow multiplayers between an XP machine running the game and 98.

That particular example doesn't however occur often.

Got another problem. I jus bought a Linksys Cable/DSL Router with a 4-Port Switch, model number BEFSR41. Heres the link to the official site:

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=20&grid=5

I'm tryin to get it to work with my Thomson Speedtouch 330 USB ADSL modem. When I bought this router, I knew i had to use a separate modem to connect to the ADSL. But, after reading the instructions, it says that i have gotta connect my ADSL line through the ethernet port on my PC as it does not have any RJ-11 or USB ports on the back of the router so i can connect the modem direct to the router.

What should i do to get my modem to work with this router? As I dont wanna buy an ethernet cable/DSL modem as they are rare and very expensive. Any ideas anyone?

I see no ethernet to USB adaptors via a quick search. I'm afraid you are out of luck. I don't know if any router will work with that modem. I see eBay apparently has sales of ethernet equipped DSL modems for less than $30.

USB modem, ouch. What kind of bandwidth does that give you?

Well there are these:
================
http://discountcablesusa.com/usb-ethernet.html
http://www.connecttech.net/product_info.php/products_id/1450 $5

Hope those help.

Ooh, that second site actually lists one with the right genders. It would be interesting to see if it works and/or without any degradation of bandwidth.

I think i'm gonna need a converter that has the actual RJ-45 male plug but has at the other end, a female USB port. Can't find any of those at the moment.

And can't I just use the modem like normal and use the router to split the signal instead of connecting the modem directly to the router? I mean connect to the ADSL line with the modem then configure the router to split the signal across the network?

What you can do (assuming the router will work as a switch) is dial out through on of the computers and set it up as a gateway, connecting the other computers (via the router/switch) to the network card on that computer.

But that kind of defeats the purpose of having bought a router in the first place.

And I'm not sure if plugging the USB cable from the modem to the router via some assortment of converters will work.

You really should have bought a router capable of dialing out by itself.

Stoneman,
http://www.connecttech.net/product_info.php/cPath/53_170/products_id/1448
That is a Female USB to Male RJ45 adapter, basically you plug the male RJ45 end into your Router, and the cable from your USB modem into the Female USB end.

Note however that if your USB DSL Modem doesn't have external power, it might need a powered USB connection to draw from which means using an adapter might not work without a USB HUB being somehow chucked in the middle.

(If this is the problem I would suggest selling both the Router and the Modem on E-bay, and buying an all in one Router/Modem.)

Yeah, I guess thats what i'll have to do. What other modem/router can you recommend that I buy then? Cos I know that Linksys don't do routers that have got a modem built in.

Well it's dependent on what service your using and of course ISP, the main point is to work out what is compatible with the ISP you intend to use, otherwise your going to get rid of one problem and replace it with another.

Rather than Asking you who your ISP is or where you are, I decided to skip that by using an IP lookup (since us Moderators can do that on occasion, Hope thats not a problem.)

By the looks of it your currently using Tiscali and are in the UK which cuts down some of the main problems that would occur trying to explain settings elsewhere on the planet.

In the UK British telecom uses PPPoA for it's ASDL communications. a breakdown of PPPoA is "Point-to-Point Protocol over Asynchronous Transfer Mode", it can also be refered to PPPoATM. (Other Countries can use different methods based upon their exchanges.)

This means any DSL-Modem/Router you go for that connects over a BT network will require PPPoA compatibility. (This is not the same when you talk about Cable, since Cable connections are more like connecting to the LAN than a dialup modem.)

With BT networks they use a CHAP authentication process and a setting of "VPI: 0" and "VCI: 38", and an "AAL5 Encapsulation of VcMUX".

VPI stands for "Virtual Path Identifier" and VCI stands for "Virtual Circuit Identifier". Since the current BT network is used by third parties selling their own brands of ASDL, the VCI number could be different if you used Tiscalli since "38" I believe points at BT's networks. (Note: putting a wrong number in doesn't grant you access to someone elses network)

There is of course a bit more to it than just numbering different networks, but I'm not that gifted with either the engineering technical knowledge of this subject or the time and effort hunting the info down. (Feel free to add to the explanation though)

Resources:
Cisco PDF on PPPoA Architecture
(http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/794/pppoa_arch.html)

Settings for Tascali
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/help/broadband/router_settings.html

Looking at those settings suggests a MENTOR MR4A/UK ASDL Modem/Router is compatible.

This DLink one is also compatible:
http://www.savastore.com/products/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Savastore&product%5Fid=10275341&pid=1

Netgear DG834 ADSL Modem/Router/Switch/Firewall (also compatible)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Conventional_115.html

There are some Cheap ASDLModem/Routers but they only have 1x Ethernet port (Thats why they are cheap)

Yeah i got tiscali right now but i'm gonna change to someone called topletter next month. They're a lot cheaper than tiscali and BT. Here's their site:

http://www.topletter.com

I heard about those Netgear DG8 series modem/routers. They tend to be sold for a pretty high price on ebay. Usually about £40-£60. They get good reviews aswell.

I bought the linksys router for £26 in total including p&p. I went for the linksys one cos it was in my price range and it had a built in switch. Sometimes you have to buy a separate hub/switch as some routers dont come with extras.

Plus, i already had a modem and was trying to make use of it so i wouldn't need to sell it but it looks likely that i'll have to sell it now.

Actually, i wanted to ask you somethin else aswell. Can't i buy a cable or a converter/fitting that converts my RJ-11 cable from the microfilter into a RJ-45 plug?

I know that its unlikely that there will be a cable that has an RJ-11 at one end of the cable and a RJ-45 plug at the other end as the RJ-45 cable has 8 wires and the RJ-11, 2 wires. But, i believe that it may be possible to find a converter that does this job. Any ideas?

Looking at who you are going with suggests they would be using the same settings as Tiscali and BT, which means those Routers previously mentioned are compatible.

As for RJ-11 to RJ-45, I don't think thats possible just by cables, because the Modem that would connect to the microfilter has to deal with the protocol, which your router at the end of the RJ-45 won't be dealing with. (In otherwords I think a connection like that would be a waste of time)

Sorry to bring this subject up again. I have'nt been able to find anything cheap until now. I sold my Speedtouch ADSL Modem and my Linksys Cable/DSL Router. I've found a Modem/Router thats within my price range. This is the link from Ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5706363196&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

I also e-mailed the guy thats selling them and this is what he told me. "yes it has 4 rj-45 ports, 1 usb port, 1 rj-11 port, power supply, cd driver, ethernet cable, adsl modem cable and quick instalation guide".

I just want you to confirm that this Modem/Router is compatible with my ADSL line. As it is significantly cheaper then Netgear and Etec modem/routers. It looks OK to me. (And I dropped my idea of buying a USB - RJ-45 converter.)

It looks compatible, it has apparently both PPP over ATM (which is needed in the UK when dealing with BT lines which all providers other than cable use) and PPP over Ethernet (Which could mean Cable use as well)

You just have to note if you get it and it doesn't seem to connect, it doesn't necessarily mean that your equipments wrong it can actually mean that one error has caused your connect upline at the exchange to fault, and it usually takes up to 45mins for the systems there to reset themselves for another attempt. (I'm telling you that in advance to lower the tension of connection :D)

Thanks for that Stryderunknown. I'll bear that in mind when i connect it up.