home networing using a router query

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blair
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Blair

At present I have a working network between my laptop (XP) and my
desktop(98SE) using a crossover cable. I am connected to ADSL Broadband via
a USB connection
Everything is working well.
I am about to replace the Desktop with another desktop but running XP.
I also wanted in future to be able to run each PC independently so I was
planning to use a router.
I would like to get the router working with my present setup before I
purchase the new Desktop.
I have read numerous technical articles which leave me slightly confused as
to what type of router and connections it should have, that I should buy
and what cables I should use.
Can someone give me a simple answer without being referred to another long
article?
Blair
 
Well, the first question is whether your DSL modem has an ethernet port. If
it only supports a USB connection, you will have a limited choice of routers
because most do not support this. So you might want to replace the modem or
use a modem/router combo device. If you decide to do this, check with your
ISP to make sure that any modem replacement is compatible with their
connection.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP
 
At present I have a working network between my laptop (XP) and my
desktop(98SE) using a crossover cable. I am connected to ADSL Broadband via
a USB connection
Everything is working well.
I am about to replace the Desktop with another desktop but running XP.
I also wanted in future to be able to run each PC independently so I was
planning to use a router.
I would like to get the router working with my present setup before I
purchase the new Desktop.
I have read numerous technical articles which leave me slightly confused as
to what type of router and connections it should have, that I should buy
and what cables I should use.
Can someone give me a simple answer without being referred to another long
article?
Blair
Click to expand...

Blair,

If you mean that your ADSL modem uses a USB connection to your computer, then
you will have a problem there. There are no routers that will accept an
Internet (WAN) connection by USB cable. You're going to have to start by
replacing your ADSL modem, with one that provides an Ethernet connection.

Having done that, there are dozens of possible routers that you could buy. The
long articles, describing the many possibilities, are a reflection of that fact.
If you could start with some questions, we can possibly help you. What you've
told us above doesn't leave much of a starting point.
 
Hehe i hate those answers to, links aren't answers people! We can all google
it thats why we come here.

Anyway i presume your end goal here is to have multiple computers sharing
the same internet connection? Am i right? Also i'd go straight for the new
pc, because in XP everything is a million times easier anyway.

If you cant be bothered to read my detailed answer below then, any wireless
router with a built in adsl modem priced around £30-£50, cat 5 RJ45 cables
and your done, just read your routers instructions and ask your isp for the
adsl setup really easy.

What you will need is:

a) every computer/laptop to have a network card or wireless adapter
(nowadays all computers come with network connection as standard so i am
pretty certain you will have it)

b) If your not going wireless then the cables you need are standard CAT5
RJ45 connector cables. (You only need crossover cables when connecting 2
routers together or 2 computers directly together with no router)

c) Once you have those the choice of router is vast but they all do the same
thing. Obviously if you want wireless then get a wireless router, to be
honest go for a wireless one either way, they all come with 4 or so network
ports anyway so you can use it with cables and the option for wireless is
there also.

d) (if your going with cables skip this) When choosing a wireless router
take into account the size of your house, how far you will be from the
router at any time and the speed it goes at. The minimum speed now i believe
is 54mbps and they go up to 108mbps, 125mbps and so on. So if you have a big
house get one with a decent range, but ont he whoel any £30-£40 wireless
router will be fine.

e) When buying the router I haven't seen any that have a usb port for the
adsl modem. So unless your modem has an ethernet connection then you will
want a wireless router that laso has a built in ADSL modem.

f) Once you have your ADSL wireless router and your wireless adapter in your
laptop or your desktop pc and your cat5 cables if you need them then you are
ready. Simply unpack your router, plug it in the wall and turn it on, get
the cat5 cable and plug it in the socket in the router, the other end in
your pc. Do the same with the laptop (do not use your crossover cable
obviously as you only use that in the instances mentioned above) and usually
the routers are shipped with DHCP on by default. So your laptop and your pc
will get an ip address autmatically and they will be able to talk to each
other just fine.

If you use wirless you will need to do a little configuring first but this
all differs from make to make on the router as to how you do this, and there
are plenty of tutorials if you are really stuck on the net to explain what
to do.

To get your internet working you will need to plug in your adsl to the
router as well again this will be explained in the manual. Most likely you
will need PPPOe settings from your ISP or similar and they will either have
somewhere with instructions or you can call them on the settings needed for
your router to access broadband.

Once that is done you will find your pc and laptop find the internet on
their own as they auto detect the proxy (your router) and your away

That help?
 
Thanks for this fundamental information My ISP modem is USB so I will now
check with the ISP before I go further
Blair
 
Chuck said:
Blair,

If you mean that your ADSL modem uses a USB connection to your computer, then
you will have a problem there. There are no routers that will accept an
Internet (WAN) connection by USB cable. You're going to have to start by
replacing your ADSL modem, with one that provides an Ethernet connection.

Having done that, there are dozens of possible routers that you could buy. The
long articles, describing the many possibilities, are a reflection of that fact.
If you could start with some questions, we can possibly help you. What you've
told us above doesn't leave much of a starting point.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your help. Yes my ADSL modem has a USB connection so I am going
to contact my ISP to find out if they can supply an Ethernet connection
Blair
 
That was a great reply Daniel. You certainly made it easy to follow.
I am intending to contact my ISP first to check if they can supply a modem
with an Ethernet connection or alternatively ask them if a router with built
in modem would be acceptable
Will let you know what they say
Blair
 
Thanks for your help. Yes my ADSL modem has a USB connection so I am going
to contact my ISP to find out if they can supply an Ethernet connection
Blair
Click to expand...

OK, that's a good start. Now, when you have specific questions, ask them, so we
can give specific answers. Most here would prefer to give specific answers -
but we can only give them to specific questions. Hence the long articles, which
generally use Hypertext to instruct.
 
Glad it helped, i will try to remember to keep an eye on this thread as it
trails down the list. Feel free to email me direct assuming my email is
shown on here.

Good luck
 
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