Hi. Im moving to my dads soon, and need to get a new router. Right now im looking at a DGL-4100, and the reviews ive read make it sound like its pretty good. I was wondering if anyone here had any suggestions about one that might be a better choice? thanks
If you happen to have an old PC laying around which you might be able to use, I'd simply build my own router for free using IPCop or m0n0wall. "Gaming router" or no, usually the CPU in such devices are around ~100MHz and they have around ~8-32mb RAM. If you build your own, it could be much more powerful for much less cost, say ~500MHz with 128MB RAM -- that's powerful enough for a corporate network. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend D-Link simply because they have a history of low-quality hardware and poorly-trained technical support. Netgear or Linksys might be a better option if you need to buy a home router appliance.
Hi, and thanks for the idea about using an old PC to make one, but at this moment in time its not really viable, and the layout of the PC's and phone jack would cause issues too. Its also interesting to know about the sometimes poor quality of Dlink gear. Now you've said it its got me thinking if it's the modem i want or not, but times pressing and i need to make a decision pretty quick lol. another quick question though, with the dgl-4100, do i need a modem aswell or is it "built in"? The last thing i want is to be all set up and ready to go, and find i need to buy yet more stuff my minds not yet made up so im still open to sugestions if anyone else reads this a quick overview or my main uses, im sure it has an affect on what gear you would suggest: Generally i use the internet for gaming, and surfing various web pages / streaming video's. Sometimes i may have a friend round with his PC and we usually play games over the LAN or over the net, and normally when im in bed or at work/college i'll have a P2P program running, mainly to keep my download:upload ratio up really appreciate your help, Gareth
If Your wanting an all-in-one box quickly, you cant go far wrong with a linksys box... I've had a Linksys WAG54G for at least a year now, as long as ive had an internet connection at home (my parents didnt want it but i won in the end ). I am a 'heavy' bandwidth user (i say heavy, i can only get 2MBit but i make full use of it!!!). Im guessing your looking for a router with an ADSL modem? or does your dad have cable? The argos catalog is ok... if you need it fast that is, and they split the linksys products into adsl and cable (last time i HAD to get one quickly, i was quite happy with the descriptions too). Did cost £60 though :/ (ADSL Modem, 4 port switch and wirless hub all-in-one wonder box ) Give some thought to what AT (Anti-Trend) suggested, it will be a much better router and all you'll need to buy is a 5 port switch (£5-15 depending on where you go). also gives you alot more control than your average home router (ie give data on ports used by your games higher priority, so it deals with that data before, say, web browsing ). [OT] God i like my smiley's don't i! [/OT]
Hi again. Just a quick question again, as its something holding me up and confusing me a little. With alot of the routers ive been looking at, they dont always say whether or not you need a modem with it or not. How can i tell if it needs one? as most of them just have 4 LAN ports and a WAN port. /edit/ also with that in mind what is the defference between a router and a switch? thanks for your help!
I never knew.... :O I use a large number of D-Link network hubs at work and so, far even with heavy use and a fair few nocks, they still soldier on. However, at home I am very happily using the Netgear DG834G. It has wireless, ADSL modem and a simple firewall all built in. But the real reason I am using it is because it came free from Sky, my current ISP. Otherwise I probably could not afford to buy it (circa £80).
the models with 4 LAN ports and a WAN port are normally referred to as a "Broadband Router", my router (with a modem) is referred to as an "ADSL Gateway" If your not sure which it is, post a link up and we'll have a look A Switch moves data between different computers, a Router moves data between different networks (ie your home network and your isp's network).
Well after a fair bit of research, the only router ive found that is designed with gaming in mind is the dgl-4100 from D-Link, but it doesnt come with a modem. I think im going to bite the bullet and take a chance with D-Link, but how do i know if that router will work in the UK? (im having a hard time finding it on UK based websites) And with that router in mind i thought i might as well get a D-Link modem aswell, maybe the DSL-320T? If you think there could be any problems, a better solution or anything i will still be listening Links: DSL-320T DGL-4100 (Not listed on the UK site...) PS: Thanks for the defenitions, makes sense Gareth
are Hayes / Zoom any good ?[ot]i have a Hayes 158085 (i think) basically a network router attached to 1 machine, i bought the wrong thing, when i was thick[/ot]
ok ive changed my mind, i dont think its worth all the trouble and money to get that router anymore, after all my dad will only use the net lightly, and not often, and if i want a good ping ill just stop the downloads.... Would anyone recommend a DG834?
I prefer the ones with the blue steel chassis because they tend to last longer, but they are decent performers regardless. If you do not already have an ATU (aka DSL modem) though, it's got one built-in.
switches work as routers also i used a d-link switch (for a server) and it worked nice and was never hot (used it to cool modem) i also have a d-link router and i like it but it does heat up alot
Not really, if you join 2 networks with a switch then really there just ONE big network, instead of two smaller ones.
Of course you can, it all really depends on the hardware that links the two networks (in this case home/business network to the Internet [the internetwork]). Any computer hardware (most routers are are just mini-dedicated computers) can do port forwarding (Obviously only with two interfaces to route between ). Its the software that deals with port forwarding and other 'fancy things'.
