Router, networking, etc... questions and help please

[BuckStocksHere]

I have many questions - so here goes and thanks for any/all who attempt this endeavor with me:

The background:

I just bought a new computer that has Windows Vista. I also have an older computer, about circa 2001 that has Windows 2000 on it. I do not yet have a router but obviously need to get one so I can get my new computer on the internet also. (unplugging the chord and all that is a pain in the ass).

1. What type of router should I buy - make, model etc. What are prices for this stuff on average? Should I get wireless?

2. Can my older computer even use a new router? Do I need to add anything to my old computer to get it to work. I'm guessing the new computer should work right...right?!?! (God I hope so).

3. I have a firewall through mcafee - will that protect both computers - will I need to do extra security on the router once that is hooked up?

4. Will one of the computers be the "main" computer and sort of "run things"? Is everything done with approval through one computer(which unfortunately would be my old one since I use it and the wifey uses the new one - I would want to be "the commander"!!!

5. Can one computer see the other computer and what is on it? Or is that setup separately through networking features with each computer?


Damn - I feel dumb nowadays. I used to work on computers when Windows 3.11 was around..... this router stuff is ALL new to me....

Thanks in advance - I'm sure I'll be back w/ more questions...

 

[Mike80]

I have many questions - so here goes and thanks for any/all who attempt this endeavor with me:

The background:

I just bought a new computer that has Windows Vista. I also have an older computer, about circa 2001 that has Windows 2000 on it. I do not yet have a router but obviously need to get one so I can get my new computer on the internet also. (unplugging the chord and all that is a pain in the ass).

Sorry about the VISA computer

1. What type of router should I buy - make, model etc. What are prices for this stuff on average? Should I get wireless?

I personally use the Linksys Wireless 802.11 G 2.4 Ghz Broadband Router for both my tower, my server and my laptop. Prices tend to vary from $50 to $90 for the router and another $60 to $120 for the actual wireless card itself (for laptops)...now if you are going to not use a laptop, you'd need to get a wireless NIC, which would run you about the same from $60 to around $100.

2. Can my older computer even use a new router? Do I need to add anything to my old computer to get it to work. I'm guessing the new computer should work right...right?!?! (God I hope so).

the age of the computer shouldn't matter too much since it's a Windows 2000 machine. If it were Windows 95 that might be another issue....

3. I have a firewall through mcafee - will that protect both computers - will I need to do extra security on the router once that is hooked up?

Depends. If you go wireless you sure as hell want to enable one of the security protocols that will be available too you. I personally have all my machines individually firewalled AND I have WPA2 enabled.

4. Will one of the computers be the "main" computer and sort of "run things"? Is everything done with approval through one computer(which unfortunately would be my old one since I use it and the wifey uses the new one - I would want to be "the commander"!!!

That is entirely up to you.

5. Can one computer see the other computer and what is on it? Or is that setup separately through networking features with each computer?

You can share out folders or your entire C: drive if you want. I'd caution you, though, that this is a vulnerability.

Damn - I feel dumb nowadays. I used to work on computers when Windows 3.11 was around..... this router stuff is ALL new to me....

Thanks in advance - I'm sure I'll be back w/ more questions...

The internet has quite a bit of information as Wireless is the big thing these days.

Also, the Linksys manual (if you get Linksys, although I'm sure they all do it) will have instructions about everything.

Hope this helps.

 

[BuckStocksHere]

Indeed it does -

Here's another -

I have COMCAST and apparently I've been told it is against the agreement to run a router or something.....anyone know anything about this...?

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I've had very good luck with a series of Linksys routers. The router will also have a hardwall firewall, which you should make sure is turned on. Also, make sure that you choose to activiate the newer, more complex WAP security encoding for wireless.

 

[CleveBucks]

Given two desktops, you'd only really need wireless if 1) one or both are too far away to run network cable conveniently or 2) you plan on adding a notebook down the line. Otherwise just go with a wired router. Linksys is very good. Netgear isn't bad. They should all work though.

Should have no problem with the W2k box... provided it has a network card. If not, you can buy a wired PCI card for less than 20 bucks.

I find the firewalls from Norton, McAfee etc to be too intrusive for the average user. The router will give you a built-in layer of protection. Enable the Vista firewall and get rid of the McAfee firewall, in my opinion. Completely optional though.

When both are hooked up to the router, they operate interdependent of each other. Neither "controls" the network or the other PC.

File/print sharing can be enabled in order to access files and printers remotely. If you don't need that functionality, disable file/print sharing.

 

[BrutusMaximus]

Given two desktops, you'd only really need wireless if 1) one or both are too far away to run network cable conveniently or 2) you plan on adding a notebook down the line. Otherwise just go with a wired router. Linksys is very good. Netgear isn't bad. They should all work though.

Should have no problem with the W2k box... provided it has a network card. If not, you can buy a wired PCI card for less than 20 bucks.

I find the firewalls from Norton, McAfee etc to be too intrusive for the average user. The router will give you a built-in layer of protection. Enable the Vista firewall and get rid of the McAfee firewall, in my opinion. Completely optional though.

When both are hooked up to the router, they operate interdependent of each other. Neither "controls" the network or the other PC.

File/print sharing can be enabled in order to access files and printers remotely. If you don't need that functionality, disable file/print sharing.

Agree on everything here

I have COMCAST and apparently I've been told it is against the agreement to run a router or something.....anyone know anything about this...?

Ehh I have heard of this being in the use policy or whatever. Basically it just states that the internet is for use on 1 computer only or something. However, a router just distributes the same internet to multiple computers. It doesnt change the speed, or the way that the service works. I know at least 100 people who have comcast and use a router. Not much they can do to stop it

 

[Dryden]

It is not generally against the agreement to run a router -- you are allowed to install your own third party router and share your Internet connection around your home, provided:

1. You secure it and accept liability for all wireless traffic originating from your WAP.
2. You troubleshoot and manage the router. If it doesn't work, don't call your provider.
3. Your agreement will likely state that you're not allowed to *host* Web sites, FTP servers, and other server services from your location, though most people do it anyway.

 

[THEWOOD]

Anyone ever had a wireless router get fried by lightning? I even had it hooked up to a surge protector. I should be happy thats all I lost. The building across the street from me was the one who got directly hit, all the windows on the 3rd floor blew out and caught a window AC unit on fire.

 

[powerlifter]

Anyone ever had a wireless router get fried by lightning? I even had it hooked up to a surge protector. I should be happy thats all I lost. The building across the street from me was the one who got directly hit, all the windows on the 3rd floor blew out and caught a window AC unit on fire.

Just for shits and giggles you should try plugging in another ac adapter to confirm it's totally fried before u toss it.

 

[MaxBuck]

Anyone ever had a wireless router get fried by lightning? I even had it hooked up to a surge protector. I should be happy thats all I lost. The building across the street from me was the one who got directly hit, all the windows on the 3rd floor blew out and caught a window AC unit on fire.

TPIWWP

 

[BuckeyeFlorida]

Looking to the BPers for help so I don't have to buy the wife a new laptop.

She has a Dell XPS m1330 (running Vista) with a N wireless card and I have a Macbook Pro also with a N wireless card. Our ISP is Comcast (sucks, but it's a monopoly here, so whatever...) and we have our own Belkin N Wireless Router. When hard-wired to the modem our internet speed is about 35mbps. When wireless, my laptop DL is about 5 mbps and her's is about 1 mbps (give or take). I know we'll never get wired speeds via wireless, but both seem ridiculously slow given the speeds for which we pay. Her's is particularly problematic because it's like working on dial-up most times, hence her wanting a new laptop.

I've wiped her machine and our router and had the modem replaced, but the speeds still suck! Does it sound like our router could be going bad? We live in an apartment building with lots of wireless networks. Could interference be the cause?

Any ideas would be much appreciated!

 

[MaxBuck]

I have no idea whether the following link could be helpful, but it's worth at least what you paid for it:

5 Ways To Fix Slow 802.11n Speed

 

[Dryden]

I would check if there is a firmware update for your router and any wireless cards that connect to it. However, given it's a Belkin, I'll guess you're S-O-L. You could also poke around the settings in the router and disable n-support and force it to 802.11g.

I've had very good success with mixed-vendor interoperability using Linksys and Netgear products, and lots of headaches with virtually everything else.

 

[alexhortdog95]

1. I just bought a new computer that has Windows Vista. I also have an older computer, about circa 2001 that has Windows 2000 on it. I do not yet have a router but obviously need to get one so I can get my new computer on the internet also. (unplugging the chord and all that is a pain in the ass).

• Unless you're willing and able to upgrade the OS on the computer that has 2000 on it (and the hardware is compatible with an upgrade), I'd take it around the back of the house. Two nine millimeter slugs in the CPU should about do it, unless you wanna go Office Space on it.

2. What type of router should I buy - make, model etc. What are prices for this stuff on average? Should I get wireless?

• Do you have a need for wireless? If you don't have a laptop (or other perfs that use wireless), then just go wired. It's faster, more secure, and you'll get invaluable experience with cutting and dropping new wire, trust me.

3a. Can my older computer even use a new router? Do I need to add anything to my old computer to get it to work.

• See Point 1. If the hardware is compatible with an upgrade, then I'd upgrade that bad boy. If not, building a brand new computer is cheaper at times than buying one from the store (plus you can pick what YOU want on it).

3b. I'm guessing the new computer should work right...right?!?! (God I hope so).

• Depending on which flavor of Vista you have, you should be okay.

4. I have a firewall through mcafee - will that protect both computers - will I need to do extra security on the router once that is hooked up?

• This is a bit of a pet peeve of mine, becuase until a few days ago, I was a faithful McAfee user. Till I started getting all those darned popups telling me I had to fork over ANOTHER fifty bucks for another year. Then I did some research and found Avast Virus Protection. It's highly rated, it's user friendly, and best of all, it's free!

5. Will one of the computers be the "main" computer and sort of "run things"? Is everything done with approval through one computer(which unfortunately would be my old one since I use it and the wifey uses the new one - I would want to be "the commander"!!!

• You are running a home network, not a server based setup, so both computers would have about the same permissions (that is, if you haven't gone Michael Bolton on the old one and can still use it). But depending on which OS you're running, you can set yourself up as the admin on both computers (I have the same 'wifey' problem you do!)

6. Can one computer see the other computer and what is on it? Or is that setup separately through networking features with each computer?

• You can setup your computer to be remoted into, depending on the operating system you're running. For example, as the admin of my church's network, I can remote into any computer in the building except the one running Vista Home Premium (they will all be getting Windows 7 Pro very soon) by using Remote Desktop. If you don't want to go that route, then you can use just about any flavor of VNC to remote into, control, and monitor any computer you put it onto.

Damn - I feel dumb nowadays. I used to work on computers when Windows 3.11 was around..... this router stuff is ALL new to me....

• Don't feel intimidated. Many PC components and software are very user friendly now-a-days. You just have to do a bit of research. Best place to learn? Your friendly neighborhood Google.

Hope this helps!

 

[alexhortdog95]

Looking to the BPers for help so I don't have to buy the wife a new laptop.

She has a Dell XPS m1330 (running Vista) with a N wireless card and I have a Macbook Pro also with a N wireless card. Our ISP is Comcast (sucks, but it's a monopoly here, so whatever...) and we have our own Belkin N Wireless Router. When hard-wired to the modem our internet speed is about 35mbps. When wireless, my laptop DL is about 5 mbps and her's is about 1 mbps (give or take). I know we'll never get wired speeds via wireless, but both seem ridiculously slow given the speeds for which we pay. Her's is particularly problematic because it's like working on dial-up most times, hence her wanting a new laptop.

I've wiped her machine and our router and had the modem replaced, but the speeds still suck! Does it sound like our router could be going bad? We live in an apartment building with lots of wireless networks. Could interference be the cause?

Any ideas would be much appreciated!

What kind of bandwidth are you paying for? Is it DSL?