As far as my experience goes, you can't go wrong with a Linksys Router. If
you were to get a hub you'd need two NICs in one computer and one in the
other, and then you'd have to use some connection sharing software on top of
a firewall software package. It makes no sense to get a hub when you need
less with a Router, even though Routers cost more than hubs do. You can,
however, get a four-port Router for just under $90.
You might also consider wireless. But you're looking at higer costs.
Alanb
Their site http://www.linksys.com should give you all the info you need to
setup your system
Fact is, I had my Linksys Router for a little over a year. My ISP went
through some changes and during that time I just couldn't get the net to
work, unless I connected my NIC directly to the cable modem. As such, I
thought I had a bad router port. I called Linksys support and they offered
to give me a brand-new Router, free of charge, as long as I sent the
defective one back. To me, that's good service. As it turned out it was my
ISP***ering with things that was the problem and not the Router. So my
Linksys Router is still going strong, without one problem. It's very easy
to configure and support, from my viewpoint, is nothing short of stellar.
So it's not crap. It's a good Router. It doesn't follow that because you
chose a different Router it must mean that Linksys' Routers aren't any good.
Alanb
> > Hi,
> > Im looking for some suggestions as to what model/brand router to get..
> > I have 2 PC's that I'm going to hook up together, for internet
> > connection sharing, through a cable modem.. (Im confused by all the
> > different available options.. IE: Hub, Switches, Routers, Crossover
> > cables, etc..) So I'm hoping to get a router that has everything I need
> > already in it? I know I'll also need nic cards for both PC's, and
> > suggestions for those are welcome also! Thanks for any info.. Mick
But it's not _perfect_.
I went through three WAP11's before I got one that would stay up for more
than a few days at a time. The one I finally have has been up for 2 months
strait.
CompUSA was getting _very_ annoyed :)
I also have a BEFSR81 router. It works. Well. Except... I have to power
it down and to a hard-reset once a month to keep the thru-put up to snuff.
If I don't, it slowly degrades down to modem speeds or worse.
I'm running a beta version of a new Firmware for this router and I'm hoping
it resolves the problem. I'm not the only one who reports it.
LinkSys stuff is 'ok'. It's not bad, it's not great. You generally get
what you pay for, and it's relatively low-cost equipment.
I do NOT like their NIC cards though. Sheesh, just getting a driver update
is a challange. The last time I looked, there were four different versions
of drivers, to match the 4 different chipsets, they have used in the 10/100
NIC that's sold under the SAME model number!
I read a posting in a newsgroup some time ago from a fellow who managed to
end up with THREE different chipsetted versions of the same marked box card.
It drives him nuts keeping up with what drivers have to go with what
machine!
Therein lies my main gripe with LinkSys. They have a tendancy to change
suppliers mid-stream, with not so much as a mention in the model number of
the peripheral.
The did the same thing with the WPC11 Wireless cards recently. I tried for
a month to get new drivers loaded on an IBM StinkPad, and it wasn't until I
finallly realized there were different builds of the same damned card that I
got the right driver for the one I had.
I've also had two Tech-Support calls end with the statment "Well, I dunno
then".
Like I said. Ok stuff, not great. Gets the job done most of the time, but
I'd never ever use it in any sort of criticl setting.
-Larry
> Fact is, I had my Linksys Router for a little over a year. My ISP went
> through some changes and during that time I just couldn't get the net to
> work, unless I connected my NIC directly to the cable modem. As such, I
> thought I had a bad router port. I called Linksys support and they
offered
> to give me a brand-new Router, free of charge, as long as I sent the
> defective one back. To me, that's good service. As it turned out it was
my
> ISP***ering with things that was the problem and not the Router. So my
> Linksys Router is still going strong, without one problem. It's very easy
> to configure and support, from my viewpoint, is nothing short of stellar.
> So it's not crap. It's a good Router. It doesn't follow that because you
> chose a different Router it must mean that Linksys' Routers aren't any
good.
> Alanb
> > Sohoware NBG800. Don't fall into the Linksys crap.
> > > Hi,
> > > Im looking for some suggestions as to what model/brand router to
get..
> > > I have 2 PC's that I'm going to hook up together, for internet
> > > connection sharing, through a cable modem.. (Im confused by all the
> > > different available options.. IE: Hub, Switches, Routers, Crossover
> > > cables, etc..) So I'm hoping to get a router that has everything I
need
> > > already in it? I know I'll also need nic cards for both PC's, and
> > > suggestions for those are welcome also! Thanks for any info.. Mick
"Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand
alloys and compositions and,......things with molecular structures,....and
the....." - Ash
> Fact is, I had my Linksys Router for a little over a year. My ISP went
> through some changes and during that time I just couldn't get the net to
> work, unless I connected my NIC directly to the cable modem. As such, I
> thought I had a bad router port. I called Linksys support and they offered
> to give me a brand-new Router, free of charge, as long as I sent the
> defective one back. To me, that's good service. As it turned out it was my
> ISP***ering with things that was the problem and not the Router. So my
> Linksys Router is still going strong, without one problem. It's very easy
> to configure and support, from my viewpoint, is nothing short of stellar.
> So it's not crap. It's a good Router. It doesn't follow that because you
> chose a different Router it must mean that Linksys' Routers aren't any good.
> Alanb
> > Sohoware NBG800. Don't fall into the Linksys crap.
> > > Hi,
> > > Im looking for some suggestions as to what model/brand router to get..
> > > I have 2 PC's that I'm going to hook up together, for internet
> > > connection sharing, through a cable modem.. (Im confused by all the
> > > different available options.. IE: Hub, Switches, Routers, Crossover
> > > cables, etc..) So I'm hoping to get a router that has everything I need
> > > already in it? I know I'll also need nic cards for both PC's, and
> > > suggestions for those are welcome also! Thanks for any info.. Mick
I should have explained myself better in my first reply but I was going to
grab lunch and the more my stomach grumbled the less I typed <g>..
Mitch
> Fact is, I had my Linksys Router for a little over a year. My ISP went
> through some changes and during that time I just couldn't get the net to
> work, unless I connected my NIC directly to the cable modem. As such, I
> thought I had a bad router port. I called Linksys support and they
offered
> to give me a brand-new Router, free of charge, as long as I sent the
> defective one back. To me, that's good service. As it turned out it was
my
> ISP***ering with things that was the problem and not the Router. So my
> Linksys Router is still going strong, without one problem. It's very easy
> to configure and support, from my viewpoint, is nothing short of stellar.
> So it's not crap. It's a good Router. It doesn't follow that because you
> chose a different Router it must mean that Linksys' Routers aren't any
good.
> Alanb
> > Sohoware NBG800. Don't fall into the Linksys crap.
> > > Hi,
> > > Im looking for some suggestions as to what model/brand router to
get..
> > > I have 2 PC's that I'm going to hook up together, for internet
> > > connection sharing, through a cable modem.. (Im confused by all the
> > > different available options.. IE: Hub, Switches, Routers, Crossover
> > > cables, etc..) So I'm hoping to get a router that has everything I
need
> > > already in it? I know I'll also need nic cards for both PC's, and
> > > suggestions for those are welcome also! Thanks for any info.. Mick
What I wrote was the way it is. Ok stuff. Not bad, not great. Has no
business being in a production environment.
It's consumer grade, I guess you could say :)
-Larry
better choices among many,
the most part, it should
the original poster may or
> "Don't touch that please, your primitive intellect wouldn't understand
> alloys and compositions and,......things with molecular structures,....and
> the....." - Ash
> > Oh, come. What's wrong with Linksys? You have a Sohoware and that's
fine,
> > but you can't go bashing a what I consider to be a fine product just
because
> > you own something else.
> > Fact is, I had my Linksys Router for a little over a year. My ISP went
> > through some changes and during that time I just couldn't get the net to
> > work, unless I connected my NIC directly to the cable modem. As such, I
> > thought I had a bad router port. I called Linksys support and they
offered
> > to give me a brand-new Router, free of charge, as long as I sent the
> > defective one back. To me, that's good service. As it turned out it
was my
> > ISP***ering with things that was the problem and not the Router. So
my
> > Linksys Router is still going strong, without one problem. It's very
easy
> > to configure and support, from my viewpoint, is nothing short of
stellar.
> > So it's not crap. It's a good Router. It doesn't follow that because
you
> > chose a different Router it must mean that Linksys' Routers aren't any
good.
> > Alanb
> > > Sohoware NBG800. Don't fall into the Linksys crap.
> > > > Hi,
> > > > Im looking for some suggestions as to what model/brand router to
get..
> > > > I have 2 PC's that I'm going to hook up together, for internet
> > > > connection sharing, through a cable modem.. (Im confused by all the
> > > > different available options.. IE: Hub, Switches, Routers, Crossover
> > > > cables, etc..) So I'm hoping to get a router that has everything I
need
> > > > already in it? I know I'll also need nic cards for both PC's, and
> > > > suggestions for those are welcome also! Thanks for any info.. Mick
LGE
I do have one other question.. One of the PC's has a printer hooked up to
it (LPT1) Do I "have" to get a router with a print server, to share the
printer with the other PC? Or can I just leave it hooked directly to the
one PC, and still print a file from the other PC? Thanks again! Mick
> I do have one other question.. One of the PC's has a printer
> hooked up to it (LPT1) Do I "have" to get a router with a print
> server, to share the printer with the other PC? Or can I just
> leave it hooked directly to the one PC, and still print a file
> from the other PC? Thanks again! Mick
>> Hi,
>> Im looking for some suggestions as to what model/brand router to
>> get..
>> I have 2 PC's that I'm going to hook up together, for internet
>> connection sharing, through a cable modem..
I also recall reading that not all routers with printer ports on them
support bi-directional communications, so you may find that things like
onscreen warning of low ink may not work. Check the router's
specifications for printing _very_ carefully, if you decide to go that
route.
HTH,
--
Darryl
> I do have one other question.. One of the PC's has a printer hooked up to
> it (LPT1) Do I "have" to get a router with a print server, to share the
> printer with the other PC? Or can I just leave it hooked directly to the
> one PC, and still print a file from the other PC? Thanks again! Mick
> > Hi,
> > Im looking for some suggestions as to what model/brand router to get..
> > I have 2 PC's that I'm going to hook up together, for internet
> > connection sharing, through a cable modem..
I always stick with Netgear.
I own the RT314 Gateway/Router, and it does what you need beautifully.
Theres a million features on it I will probably never use, but theyre
all there if I need 'em.
Also, you can configure it through your web browser, quite easily.
Like (probably) most of the other routers mentioned here, it doubles
(quadruples?) as a Hub, Switch, and Firewall.
One last thing.... it has 4 ports, and can be expanded (using additional
hubs) to support an insane number of pc's all connected to one Cable
modem or ADSL.
Check it out:
http://www.netgear.com/product_view.asp?xrp=4&yrp=12&zrp=55
And some other, ie. cheaper, options:
http://www.netgear.com/routers_main.asp
