Advice please: Wireless network with Ethernet modem?

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Advice please: Wireless network with Ethernet modem?

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James

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2866
Location: York

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 07 1:52 pm Post subject: Advice please: Wireless network with Ethernet modem?

At present, we have an adsl modem with 1 ethernet output. We also have lots of USB modems. The result is we have different cables running all over the place.

Questions:
Can you get a wireless router that does not include a modem but receives data from an ethernet cable?

How easy is it to configure a wireless network using such a device?

How secure is it? I’ve heard that keeping wireless networks secure is a lot of work…?

Thanks

James

MarkS

Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 2626

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 07 2:34 pm Post subject:

why do you have lots of modems?

but yes - try these for example.
https://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopSearch.asp?CategoryID=65

Although personally I would probably just buy an adsl wireless router.

wireless security just takes a little time to set up - you want to NOT use WEP.

WPA is the minimum.

edit to say I assume you still want wired capability as well - otherwise you could get away with a wireless access point - Id always get the router though for the control

James

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2866
Location: York

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 07 2:46 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your help mark.

MarkS wrote:

why do you have lots of modems?

I dunno...they just breed or something. I've got 4 speedtouch 330's and one adsl ethernet modem.

MarkS wrote:

I assume you still want wired capability as well - otherwise you could get away with a wireless access point - Id always get the router though for the control

I dont neccessarily want wired capability. If I can run my PC and laptop easily and safely without wired access, then thats what I'll go for.

Whats a wireless access point?
how does it differ from a router?
why does a router have more control?

MarkS

Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 2626

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 07 3:25 pm Post subject:

A wireless access point would just plug into your existing adsl router (might need a crossover cable) and would act as a wireless connection to the internet. It is just a wireless station with a single ethernet port

A router will have a lot of other features built in - typically security stuff and such like. but to some extent its terminology - a wireless AP is a sort of router.

For the cost difference I would get a wireless router - you can then easily connect the laptop by wire when setting up the wireless. One of the issues with wireless is that as soon as you change something you cant connect anymore untill you change the PC setting.

OP

Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 4661
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 07 3:44 pm Post subject:

MarkS wrote:

For the cost difference I would get a wireless router - you can then easily connect the laptop by wire when setting up the wireless. One of the issues with wireless is that as soon as you change something you cant connect anymore untill you change the PC setting.

Good advice, been there, done that.

James

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2866
Location: York

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 07 4:10 pm Post subject:
so the consensus is it can be done, but its not worth the hassle especially for an inexperienced person like me. Thanks to both of you for your advice.

MarkS

Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 2626

Posted: Mon Oct 29, 07 4:49 pm Post subject:

to be clear, doing it with a wireless access point is possible but likely to be tricky/a bit of a fiddle.

doing it with your existing single port adsl router and a wireless broadband router is possible but adds an extra bit of kit - but perfectly possible - potentially a bit of fiddling needed when tracing any issues.

I havent checked the cost difference between an adsl wireless router(ie one with an adsl port for the input) and a broadband wireless router (ie one with an rj45 network port as the input)

James

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2866
Location: York

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 07 10:34 am Post subject:

Thanks Mark.

An alternative to a wireless network I’ve considered is a wired network using homeplugs (where the network signal is piggy-backed on the mains circuit via these things: https://www.homeplugs.co.uk/acatalog/homeplugs.html)

The homeplug has an ethernet (RJ 45) socket into which you can plug you networked hardware.

The modem/router I have has only one Ethernet port. I would like to have the modem attached to our first phone socket (where the phone line enters the house), then have an Ethernet cable passing directly from the modem to the mains circuit (as in figure 1). However, I’m not sure if this is possible, or whether the modem needs to have a pc controlling it (as in figure 2).

If I was able to set up as in fig 1, I’d first have a pc connected to the Ethernet cable, ensure its configured, then remove the pc and plug the modem into the network. Then plug the computers into the network at the more convenient locations.

However, if I need a pc directly wired to the modem at all times via a second Ethernet port, then this wont work for two reasons- firstly our main phone socket is in a corner behind the TV (nota great place to use a computer), secondly the modem only has one Ethernet port.

Is the configuration in figure 1 a possible solution?

MarkS

Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 2626

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 07 10:53 am Post subject:
James, I've not used homeplugs but yes your option 1 should work fine. You can think of the homeplugs as just replacing a length of cat5

James

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2866
Location: York

Posted: Tue Oct 30, 07 11:16 am Post subject:
thanks mark. I'll post how I get on when I do it.

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