My girlfriend just started law school, and picked up a laptop to help her in the learning of the lawyering. Now she wants to hook it up to the DSL line that I have in my house, so I’m tenuously wading into networking for the first time. For the record, I have a PC.
I think we’re pretty set on a wired network: it’s cheaper, and both computers are going to be used in my study, anyways.
It’s my understanding that all I require is a router that will link the DSL modem to two ethernet cables that lead to each computer. Is that right? Also, does anyone have any recommendations on a low-cost router that’s reliable and easy to set up?
I’ve had really good luck with D-link routers over the years. They have a web-based interface–you basically just plug everything in, punch in the web address they give you, you go through a brief setup wizard and you’re done. They’re pretty reliable and also inexpensive as far as these things go.
Just make sure you have an ethernet card for both computers (and a lot of new computers these days have them built in already) and a couple of sufficiently long ethernet cables and you’ll be set. If you get stuck, come back here.
There’s almost no cost difference between wired and wireless these days, assuming you go 802.11b rather than 802.11g (and even then, it’s not much). You can get hardware for either for less than $50 for the router and less than $25-30 for USB adapters. Shop hard enough and you might even be able to get a router and two adapters for less than $50. Or you could do both – my NetGear wireless router has a built-in 10/100 4-port hub, so I have my desktop, which sits within a couple of feet of the router, connected via a 10BASE-T cable and the other machines at home (including two other desktops and a couple of laptops) on the wireless LAN.
You should be able to configure everything yourself with no problem. I really like having the flexibility of wireless for a home network – running cable is a pain, and especially if you think you may need to shift around from place to place. Plus if you go wireless at home, you’ll have the stuff you need to use public wireless hot spots (Starbucks, Kinkos, airports, etc.). Unless you have any serious security concerns, I can’t think of any good reason to go wired vs. wireless.
They change so fast that I’m not sure they even make mine anymore. But purely at random (because I happened to be on the Circuit City site for something else), I found this D-Link wireless router/hub for $29.99 after rebate – and it’s even 802.11g. There’s a Belkin 802.11b router/hub at Circuit City for $19.99 after rebate.
Oh, and actually, it looks like they do still make mine – but because it’s an old 802.11b design, it’s actually more expensive (there’s no rebates being offered).
For some reason, Circuit City doesn’t seem to have much in the way of adapters, however. So picking at random from the other options and going to Outpost.com, I see this adapter, for $24.99, that supports both b and g. You can get a refurb D-Link 802.11b adapter at the same site for $19.99.
I just wanted to thank ravensack for asking “Recommend a …” and not “Recommend me a …”
Also, listen to squeegee. Many/most wireless routers when plugged in straight out of the box allow anyone with a wireless card to connect to the network. So any neighbor or stranger within a couple hundred feet could have access.
I, too, have a netgear wireless/wired router. (I was under the assumption that most current wireless routers have wired capability.)
You should go wireless - cost difference is small to zero, convenience advantage is large. If you do, I predict you’ll soon be saying “I can’t believe I actually thought about trying to get by with a wired router.”
Thanks for all the advice so far. It’s very helpful.
One thing is puzzling me, though: looking through the websites for Circuit City, Best Buy, and the like, I see routers that range in price from about $45 bucks or so to over $150. Out of curiousity, what do the $150+ routers “do” that the lower-priced ones don’t?
Some of the more expensive models support the 108Mbps transmission rate, and some of them might have a stronger signal, meaning you can move further from the base unit or to a location with more walls in between without adversely affecting performance. Honestly, however, unless your girlfriend wants to take the laptop down the street to the neighborhood pool or she’s a hardcore gamer and needs the speed, I don’t see where they do anything you need.
