What Is A Router?

[monkeyhead]

hi i think i may need a router.but first what is a router?Is it better than a network hub?Is it true u download your conection details to hit so u dont have to turn the "server like"computer on to connect to the internet?
Many thanks
Monkeyhead

[cwctv]

http://www.homenethelp.com/router-guide/index.asp

[monkeyhead]

but is it true u download your conection details to hit so u dont have to turn the "server like"computer on to connect to the internet?
many thanks
Monkeyhead

[cwctv]

With a router your line goes to the router to feed all machine on there and not to your one machine (server say)so yes you don't need all machines on.

[monkeyhead]

I have 4 computers and 1 laptop,
3 comps and the laptop are xp and are fairly new
1 comp is ME and runs at 1ghz
I also have a xbox i would like 2 link up to the network
would this router do the job?
Linksys Router (http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=34&scid=29&prid=155)P.S I need the 8 ports

[cwctv]

Ok not an expert on these things but reading the article I should say yes thats one reason I sent you to that site.


Note:
This unit requires an external Cable or DSL modem with an Ethernet RJ-45 interface. 

Which is what you have on a Lan connection

[monkeyhead]

i heard there was some conflick with usb/ethernet versions
my external modem is this
speed touch usb (http://www.speedtouchdsl.com/produsb.htm#usb)
mine is the usb at a glance version
is it ok?
many thanks
monkeyhead

[cwctv]

Can't see how this connects to anything as only one cable I take it that goes into your phoneline does it have any other holes anywhere for the Ethernet RJ-45 in/out anything at all.

[james_bond_rulez]

routers are the stuff that routes ur traffic <_<

can&#39;t be more general than that i was worried u r too noob to read it <_<

[monkeyhead]

routers are the stuff that routes ur traffic&nbsp; <_<

can&#39;t be more general than that i was worried u r too noob to read it&nbsp; <_<
dont be so negative :angry:
any way it has a little spliter thin on the actual cable which i presume is Ethernet RJ-45

[cwctv]

Well in that case we can&#39;t presume how do you connect it to your machine by usb I think mine is but I also have Ethernet RJ-45 which if you didn&#39;t know looks like a phone line one but as more pins.
Sorry but its the funnist modem I have seen weird.

[Amarjit]

A router as mentioned before, allows you to route all incoming DSL traffic coming from your line to various different devices.

Depending on your router, your PCs will require a 10/100Mbps PCI ethernet card each. Your XBOX will have an ethernet port as well.

[monkeyhead]

for "saftey" should i go buy a decent well known adsl modem ?

[Spicker]

webopedia&#33; (http://webopedia.com/)

[lynx]

Originally posted by monkeyhead@7 December 2003 - 11:29

routers are the stuff that routes ur traffic&nbsp; <_<

can&#39;t be more general than that i was worried u r too noob to read it&nbsp; <_<
dont be so negative :angry:
any way it has a little spliter thin on the actual cable which i presume is Ethernet RJ-45
I&#39;m assuming you mean the cable that connects to the phone line.
That little splitter thing on the cable is a dsl filter. It stops you getting high frequency whistling on the phone. It is NOT an ethernet RJ45 connector.

You won&#39;t be able to use a router with your speedtouch usb modem, as you have gathered you need an ethernet connection between your modem and your router so you need to get a new modem too. Or you can get a combined modem/router. There&#39;s a single port one here (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=48448) if you&#39;ve already got a hub/switch, or a four port one here (http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=48449) which combines a four port hub too..