What kind of router do we need? ( 2 Views )

1. Hi,
   
   My roomate and I currently have a 4 port wired ethernet router that connects our 2 PCs, a PS2, and an XBox to the cable modem and the internet.
   
   We have decided to go with a wired/wireless combo set up, and are in need of a router that will allow us to hook up the following similtaneously if needed:
   
   Wired side:
   2 PCs
   2 PS2s
   1 XBox
   1 XBox360
   1 PS3 in the future (could replace one of the PS2s)
   
   Wireless side:
   2 Wifi laptops
   1 wifi Palm PDA
   1 PSP
   1 Nintendo DS
   
   All this will share a comcast cablemodem. Any ideas on what models I should look at ? Obviously, more inexpensive would be better, I don't need any fancy features or hardware firewalls... just something that can handle a lot of connections.
   
   
   (S€NSiN_SÝZ_, Micronesia, Federated States of)


2. Well if you have a router you don't need another one.
   
   You need an 8-port switch and a Wi-Fi access point.
   
   Or, if you want to replace the router, you can replace it with a router that has a built-in 4-port switch and built-in Wi-Fi, and accompany it with an 8-port switch.
   
   Or, if you can find a router that has a built-in 8-port switch plus built-in Wi-Fi, that's all you need. I don't think I've seen any of these for less than several hundred dollars, though.
   
   
   (gökçe, Norway)


3. Quote:

   Originally Posted by kumquat Well if you have a router you don't need another one.

   Agreed. You already have the routing part of the equation. You just need to expand your internal network. The quickest and cheapest thing would be to buy an eight port switch and add it to the current setup.
   
   
   (kendine güvenen seksi, Saint Lucia)


4. Quote:

   Originally Posted by MorfiusX Agreed. You already have the routing part of the equation. You just need to expand your internal network. The quickest and cheapest thing would be to buy an eight port switch and add it to the current setup.

   Is that going to make it more difficult to setup or should it still just be PnP ? Like, will my computers have to know they are now going through a switch then a router, or will it be as simple as plugging in the switch, hooking in the network cables, and doing a 'refresh connection' thing in windows?
   
   One of the desktops is running Win2000, one is running WinXP pro, one laptop is running WinXP pro, one is running MacOS 10.4.
   
   
   (Özge , Bahamas)


5. Quote:

   Originally Posted by NulloModo Is that going to make it more difficult to setup or should it still just be PnP ? Like, will my computers have to know they are now going through a switch then a router, or will it be as simple as plugging in the switch, hooking in the network cables, and doing a 'refresh connection' thing in windows? One of the desktops is running Win2000, one is running WinXP pro, one laptop is running WinXP pro, one is running MacOS 10.4.

   It's totally PnP.
   
   Your current router is just a router, which is one device with a WAN port and a LAN port, plus a switch, housed in the same box. You can plug any number of switches into each other in series and it will work as long as there's a router with a DHCP server somewhere on the network. This is how most offices work... there's a router in the basement that's plugged into a switch, and that switch is in turn plugged into each of several switches.. one on the 1st floor, one on the 2nd floor, etc.
   
   The DHCP part is the part that automatically assigns IP addresses, and your current router has that built right into it.. so any computer that has a physical connection to the router, through an access point or through a series of switches, will be able to get on the network and work just fine.
   
   All you have to do is plug the Wi-Fi access point into one of the ports and plug an 8-port switch into one of the other ports. There will be some configuration necessary for the access point (encryption, channel, some stuff like that), but none whatsoever for the switch. The switch automatically and instantly gives you a bunch of extra ethernet ports.
   
   Sorry if that only makes a little sense... I'm sick today ;)
   
   
   (emre, Estonia)


6. Oh, wow, I had no idea it was so easy. Heh, other than setting this up my last experience with networking was daisy-chaining Mac LCIIs for our school lab via appletalk cables... Thanks for your help guys.
   
   
   (bahar, Sweden)


7. Quote:

   Originally Posted by NulloModo Oh, wow, I had no idea it was so easy. Heh, other than setting this up my last experience with networking was daisy-chaining Mac LCIIs for our school lab via appletalk cables... Thanks for your help guys.

   AppleTalk ... Shudder... :)
   
   
   (Onur, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

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