Basically for ADSL broad band there are 2 basic forms of connection????

1. USB broad band modem

2. Ethernet card connected to a another external device (router?????)

For a lone PC, is there any advantage in going for 2?

1. USB broad band modem

2. Ethernet card connected to a another external device (router?????)

For a lone PC' date=' is there any advantage in going for 2?[/quote']

Only advantage is if you want to leave broadband connected, you don't need to leave on the computer. However, you're unlikely to want to do that with one PC

Chris

In either case, you have a broadband modem - in one case it is a standalone device which plugs into a USB/ethernet port on the computer (this is the first one you mention).

There are three main purposes for adding a router -

1. Might already have a better modem integrated into the device.

2. Improved security, as most have firewalls, etc in them.

3. Connection sharing/building a network.

So if you've just got one machine with a modem, and you're happy that it satisfies points 1 and 2 above, there isn't a whole lot of point changing it...

Rob.

Basically for ADSL broad band there are 2 basic forms of connection????

1. USB broad band modem

2. Ethernet card connected to a another external device (router?????)

For a lone PC' date=' is there any advantage in going for 2?[/quote']

Basically...yes.

You can connect via a PC ethernet adpater card a:

ethernet modem

ADSL Router.

Using an ADSL Router means you can expand you home network to connect up other PC/laptop. Going for a wireless ADSL Route means you can then connect wirelessly to a wireless enabled devices e.g laptop /PC, a wireless brdige connected multimedia device (PS2 etc).

Much easier to share your connection.

With USB you can share an connection but it's a pain to sort out.

Long new thread coming on tonight about my experiences with broadband and the 'adventure' i've had over the last 48 hrs installing it. You WON'T believe it! .... ..2nd thoughts...you WILL if you know my ongoing love affair with the 'electric shed' :eek:

Even makes me laugh now.....but at the time.

My PC has an ethernet card, and the wifes work is giving her a new notebook PC (and I have and old one). Just not sure if I should set up a liitle netwrok in the house or just install the driver for the USB modem on all three, and just plug it into which ever PC is being used (chief reason to want to connect the notebooks would be to update Windows etc).

Long new thread coming on tonight about my experiences with broadband and the 'adventure' i've had over the last 48 hrs installing it. You WON'T believe it!

Even makes me laugh now.....but at the time.

Did ask you to unplug your telephone did they? I'm assuming you had to call customer services.

In that circumstance, it's probably easier to get a router, as it will save a lot of messing around...and would allow you to move files and that between the computers, which may turn out to be useful!

Rob.

In that circumstance' date=' it's probably easier to get a router, as it will save a lot of messing around...and would allow you to move files and that between the computers, which may turn out to be useful!

Rob.[/quote']

I concur with my learned friend.

Did ask you to unplug your telephone did they? I'm assuming you had to call customer services.

Customer services....oh yes.. Will reveal my painful (to me) story later

1 step from 999 too!

Got that bad I had to go and buy another bottle of whiskey and the first fags I've had for months.:thumbdwn:

Could any or you who are more knowledgeable recommend a wireless solution to allow the 3 PCs to share the broadband, and also I would need a ethernet card for the older notebook. Any suggestions would be welcome, as networking is one area of computing that I know very little about. Just kean to get something that someone I know has, and knows works well.

I concur with my learned friend.

So do I.................. :P

William:

Get a netgear wireless access point / router / modem / firewall. Will do wireless connections fine, plus the firewall seems to work quite well.

At the time I got mine, it came bundled with a wireless network pcmcia card, perfect for older laptops. Might be worth seeing what bundles are out there now.

What spec/operating system are in use on the 3 PCs?

My desktop (currently the one connected) is a Celeron 2.2Ghz with 512Mb Ram and Windows XP HE SP2. My notebook is a 400Mhz Pentium 2 with 64Mb Ram running Windows 2000, and my wifes one is to arrive next week, so I am sure it will be fast with XP Pro on it.

At the time I got mine, it came bundled with a wireless network pcmcia card, perfect for older laptops. Might be worth seeing what bundles are out there now.

They're still pushing this bundle - about

One thing no one mentioned about USB broadband modems

they can use upto 30% of system resources

BT supplied me with a 1 port ethernet router but my son wants to connect his up, which is the best way to go?

Tom

BT supplied me with a 1 port ethernet router but my son wants to connect his up' date=' which is the best way to go?

Tom[/quote']

2 options...

ADSL Router - combined mode/router which replaces your ethernet modem

Broadband Router - just a router which you can use inconjunction with your ethernet modem.

Both can be had with wireless variants.

Ebuyer are doing a 3com ADSL w/less router and PCMCIA g card for

There's one other advantage of the router.

When you have a modem you often have to "dial" so you have your username and password on the computer.

We used to set students up with these and got so fed up of reading nasty case sensitive passwords down the phone to students who had "accidently" lost them that moving to routers proved more reliable and cost effective.

As you've got young kids the router will be a better option as they can't delete the password be mistake.

However routers usually have a factory reset button recessed into the back so do keep a backup of the setup data in a secure folder on your PC just in case!

BT supplied me with a 1 port ethernet router but my son wants to connect his up' date=' which is the best way to go?

Tom[/quote']

If it is a proper router then you can just plug a 4 port switch into it and then connect your PCs to the switch.

It would cost you under 15 quid delivered off ebay.