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Network Advice Needed

Steve_Perry

MB Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 3, 2002
Messages
3,241
Location
Wales, U.K.
Car
CLS350CDI Grand Edition
Well after having unlimited 56k dial-up access with ntl for the last 5 years I've decided to join the broadband generation. It was a bit of a no-brainer really... £12-49 pcm for unlimited 56k dial-up access OR ntl's new offer of £15-99 pcm for their 300k service.

Given that my main PC at home is a laptop, I didn't want wires trailing all over the place so I was contemplating getting a wireless router plus a wireless card for my laptop. Would I be correcting in thinking that the set-up would be as follows?

NTL in coming cable -> NTL Cable Modem (with ethernet port) -> Wireless Router -> My laptop + any other computers + PS2 (maybe :p )

Now I realise that cable equipment and ADSL equipment (e.g. modems, routers, etc.) are different and with that in mind would the following be suitable for my requirements?

54M Router & USB Adapator - £119.99 from Maplin
-68i0.jpg


The blokey comes on Nov 6 to do the installation, I'd like to have the kit when he turns up but also I obviously don't want to spend 'hard-earned' on the wrong kit.

TIA,

S.
 
Steve ..... welcome to broadband heaven !! :)

Buy my Linksys 802.11b wifi router & 4 port hub, ... that I used fine with NTL for a while before switching to BT ADSL which I needed an adsl modem / router for instead.

I never ebayed it ..... its still in classifieds somewhere !

Bargain, inc a wifi card !! :D

S.
 
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=9281

Here ya' go.

P.S. Don't expect the NTL engineer to want to help you install a router - they tend to be a bit jobsworth about it and refuse to touch anything not supplied by them to connect to their network ! They will probably just install the cable modem and leave you to it - unless you get a helpful one !

S.
 
Thanks for the offer sym :D Umm couple of questions... does it do 802.11g as opposed to b? And is the supplied card for the PC a USB or PCMCIA device? I'm after USB preferably as my single PCMCIA slot is taken up with a Bluetooth card, whereas I have a single USB 2.0 port left from the 4 included.

I know it may sound overkill given that my access is only 300k but I'd like a top spec router in case I ever decide to upgrade me BB.

S.
 
Sorry - only 802.11b, and its a PCMCIA card :(

My new router is 802.11g, but is backwards compatible with 802.11b cards - I don't actually use 11g .... so not sure whether there are any great benefits - I guess its faster for network filesharing applications, but I'm guessing no real benefit for web browsing.

S.
 
sym said:
Sorry - only 802.11b, and its a PCMCIA card :(

My new router is 802.11g, but is backwards compatible with 802.11b cards - I don't actually use 11g .... so not sure whether there are any great benefits - I guess its faster for network filesharing applications, but I'm guessing no real benefit for web browsing.

S.
D'Oh, Never mind. :( You've hit the nail on the head, I'd like the 11g flavour because then I can perform faster file sharing between my works laptop and my own personal laptop.

Any ideas as to whether what I originally posted would fit the bill? I guess there must be equivalent Linksys and 3comm variants which maybe better value.

S.
 
Last edited:
Steve_Perry said:
...Looks like really good kit, I'll let you know how I get on after the 6th Nov ...
My first wireless broadband post :D Buffalo kit is highly recommended (by me now) :D Both the wireless router and USB keychain adaptor worked flawlessly :rock: and first time! :cool:

The only hiccup was setting up the ntl BB in the first place. The Broadband medic setup CD does not like my DVD rom drive, the drive sounded like it was being attacked from the inside with a blunt instrument :crazy: Even my works laptop drive sounded laboured/knackered but it could read the disc, eventually. :rolleyes: I copied the CD (from works lappy CD drive) to my HDD (on my personal lappy) via CAT5 patch cable. The software then actually ran but only got half way through install before it bottled again...so then I phoned ntl help desk who were excellent, they guided me though setup manually and it all worked. His final gem of advice was to install Broadband medic but I think I shall not bother for now. ;) Saves any more overhead on my OS and probably any garish advertisment splash screens like the old dial-up used to have before I disabled it and configured manually. :devil:

So scores out of 10:

ntl Hardware: 7/10

ntl Software: 1/10

ntl tech support: 10/10

Buffalo Hardware: 9/10

Well pleased with today's progress, :bannana: just have to tidy up now :)

S. (One happy chappy)
 
Just got my PS2 on-line too now :) Set-up was fairly painless with most of the time being spent on registering with Cental Station. Heh quality! Shame I've only got two titles that are online - Burnout3 & Midnight Club2.

S.
 
Guys
People have mentoined the Linksys kit. I see Comets are doing WAG54G + WPC54G for £99 and an extra WPC54G or WMP54G for £120.

Is that a good deal?
Cheers
Ian
 
rirhill said:
Guys
People have mentoined the Linksys kit. I see Comets are doing WAG54G + WPC54G for £99 and an extra WPC54G or WMP54G for £120.

Is that a good deal?
Cheers
Ian


don't get linksys ... try D link or buffalo :D
 
fuzzer said:
don't get linksys ... try D link or buffalo :D
I would certainly recommend Buffalo, cost me roughly £115 for the wireless router and 1x USB2.0 keychain wireless adapter. The setup was a breeze, especially the
WPA-AES security. Plus with the right combination of router and PCMCIA adapter the wireless network can run upto 125Mbps.

S.
 

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