Setting up a network...

Pi_GiPi_Gi Join Date: 2002-03-16 Member: 324Members
in Off-Topic
and father insists on the best bang for his buck...  so anyone got recommendations for a good router?  I'm looking the 4 Port Linksys BEFSR41, and a Belkin F5D5230-4.  Of course if you have other recommendations/sites with non-biased reviews that would help me too.
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Comments

  • JedisarJedisar Join Date: 2002-03-03 Member: 264Awaiting Authorization
    go cisco <!--emo&:p--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'><!--endemo--> Then hire me to monitor it.
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  • FamFam Diaper-Wearing Dog On A Ball Join Date: 2002-02-17 Member: 222Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    Have a look at the SMC barricade router, its proved reliable, cheap, easy to use and the support is top-notch. I did a quick google for a review, find it <a href="http://www.awaremag.com/hardware/SMC/barricade/barricade_1.html" target="_blank">here</a>.
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  • pielemuispielemuis Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 72Members, NS1 Playtester
    Heh that link's gonna come in hande Fam, I'm working with a hub and my isters comp as a server, but she keeps crashing the damn thing and she goes to sleep quite early <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo--> so i could use a good and cheap router.
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  • FamFam Diaper-Wearing Dog On A Ball Join Date: 2002-02-17 Member: 222Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    Ive also got a 4 port hub in my loft, and an 8 port switch in my room. All 5 computers here are linked to the internet through my network and the router/cable modem combo, and theres more if we ever need to use one of our laptops. The regular high-tech family. <!--emo&:p--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'><!--endemo-->
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  • DruBoDruBo Back In Beige Join Date: 2002-02-06 Member: 172Members, NS1 Playtester
    A friend of mine has had really good results with <a href="http://www.netgear.com/product_view.asp?xrp=4&yrp=12&zrp=98" target="_blank">Netgear</a> routers and hubs, and another friend of mine will absolutely not abandon his <a href="http://www.linksys.com/Products/product.asp?grid=23&prid=411" target="_blank">Linksys</a> for anything else. I have a <a href="http://www.dlink.com/products/broadband/di704p/" target="_blank">D-Link</a>, and it's cheap and simple, but not really anything to write home about. And it's hella ugly. So it's the Netgear or the Linksys if money isn't much of an issue, and the D-Link if you're on a tight budget, or are terrible at figuring out how to run stuff like that.

    Oh, and don't buy the SMC. I know four people who got those. Three of them exchanged the things for Netgears or Linksyses and one of them hit the SMC with a sledgehammer a few times and melted the remaining pieces into an art piece he calls "the Router of Shame."

    The <a href="http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/detail.jsp?tab=features&pathtype=purchase&sku=3C855-US" target="_blank">3com</a> is probably decent, but nobody I know wants to order a router through the mail, and stores rarely carry them, so I can't give you a review.
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  • pielemuispielemuis Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 72Members, NS1 Playtester
    D-link is quite good I heard and I'm using it at home, can't say it's bad or good, it does what it's supposed to do <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->
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  • KassingerKassinger Shades of grey Join Date: 2002-02-20 Member: 229Members, Constellation
    /me crawls around in the room, finds hub. Kassinger checks all the green lights indicating that all the computers are connected.

    It's a 3com, with 8 ports. It works. <!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->

    /me gets back in chair.

    A router, is that like a smaller version of a hub?
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  • yesukaiyesukai Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 464Members
    A hub is a multiport repeater. It takes the signal off of one line, and re-broadcasts it to all the others. Simple.

    A router does real work. It takes the signal off of the lines, then decides were to send them, or "routes" them. Things going to the internet it send to the internet. Things going to your other computer it sends there. Thing comming in to your computer it sends there. Etc. Its a very smart peice of equipment, and can let you share internet access only using one IP addy. Without a router, you can't share you boradband connection unless your ISP gives you multiple IPs. Even more, hypotheticaly, if you connected a router to a phone line, youde have internet access right there, as thats all the internet is: routers connected to each other. Your ISP has a router. All the "nodes" in the internet are routers. Routers are good.

    As for what router to get, the linksys tend to be fairly cheap ($100) and I've heard good things about them, per ease of use, etc. IF you want to go out, shell out the $55,000 for a cisco router... <!--emo&:D--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'><!--endemo-->.
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  • MonsieurEvilMonsieurEvil Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    [/edit - MonsE gives the more basic answer] A router is a device that actually tells data where it's next destination (route) is. A hub is a way to share a single network connection with several pieces of equipment (like a PC), but it doesn't do anything else. [/end MonsE simple answer edit]

    All the stuff listed above is fine and dandy. You might also consider a <a href="http://www.sonicwall.com" target="_blank">Sonicwall</a> device as well, which is a little pricier but what I've used in various iterations with a lot of success both at home and in businesses. Go for the SOHO device, not the bigger equipment.



    <!--EDIT|MonsieurEvil|April 22 2002,15:10-->
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