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Thread ID: 76790 2007-02-15 23:49:00 Which router should I get? annie (6010) Press F1
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525032 2007-02-15 23:49:00 I live in Wellington and we're moving from Telecom ADSL broadband (with their modem/router/switch connecting our 2 networked computers to the internet) to TelstraClear cable broadband.

TelstraClear are giving us a modem, but no router/switch.
So my list of specs is:
1. Router/4-port ethernet switch
2. (Additional wireless network capability would be good for the occasional laptop that comes into the house, but not essential)
3. Firewall
4. Connects to modem via whatever it is that isn't a USB connection.
5. Easy to set up.

Does anyone have any suggestions? My knowledge of networking is pretty limited, I have set up one in the past but it was pretty painful. I've read the background on howstuffworks but find it hard to understand router specs at ascent.co.nz - can't really understand if they're suitable or not.
Cheers
annie (6010)
525033 2007-02-16 00:12:00 Get any router with NAT and pass through capability and you'll be fine. I'm using a cheap as chips TrendNet TW100-S4W1CA (around $120 will be cheaper now, not wireless capable though) with no problems at all on Telstra Cable. Most, if not all, routers on the market today will have those things. Bullion do a good range, or so I hear.

If you want proper firewall capabilities you'll pay a heap more for the pleasure and it won't achieve much more than a NAT router with the addition of software firewalls on each user machine - Unless it's for something more than a home or SOHO network, when you may want to look at spending larger dollars.
Murray P (44)
525034 2007-02-16 00:12:00 Any cheap wireless router will do the job fine (as long as it is a Router, rather than just as switch/wireless AP).

I'd recommend the Linksys WRT54G (or GL) - quite a few people on PF1 use them, and haven't had any issues with them (as do I).
somebody (208)
525035 2007-02-16 00:20:00 Thanks Murray, Somebody - those exact models aren't available it seems, but others are with the same characteristics for about the same price, so I know the sort of thing I need to look for, will look into what Ascent have and order one.
Ta -
annie (6010)
525036 2007-02-16 00:26:00 I have heard not so good stuff about the WRT54G, and apparently the GL is better.

WRT54GL: www.ascent.co.nz
mejobloggs (264)
525037 2007-02-16 00:35:00 Thanks jobloggs - I had a look at that, it looks good but unfortunately is wireless - I should have said I have a cat5 cable running between the computers and the router, so would prefer to use that. Appreciate your help though annie (6010)
525038 2007-02-16 00:37:00 Hi Annie

An additional capability that might be useful on your new wireless router/switch is a USB print server.
This would allow a printer attached to the router to be easily shared over the network...

HTH
BachelorNo1
bachelorno1 (6556)
525039 2007-02-16 00:42:00 Hello Annie. I'm using a WRT54G and I find that it is absolutely fantastic. The set up is quite easy, they are quite cheap, good to look at:D and the customer.IT service is absolutely outstanding. I have not had any problems. Linksys routers are some of the best and very customizable as well and widely available. beeswax34 (63)
525040 2007-02-16 00:48:00 Thanks jobloggs - I had a look at that, it looks good but unfortunately is wireless - I should have said I have a cat5 cable running between the computers and the router, so would prefer to use that. Appreciate your help though

Er, while it is indeed a wireless router, it also has a 4 port switch, meaning you can hook up to four computers via cat5 to it, and it will behave just like any other 4 port router/switch would...
However, having said that, if you are never going to go wireless at any stage you can save a few bucks and just get a four port router (I believe they sell for between $100-$120 these days).
Sherman (9181)
525041 2007-02-16 00:49:00 So the consensus is that wireless is pretty good then? I had been going to go with cable, but if so many people have had good experiences then I might reconsider - annie (6010)
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