Cable Modems

Andy Moore · 05 November 2007, 19:48

I access the internet via a cable modem provided by my cable company.

How can I go wireless?

Biggles · 05 November 2007, 21:34

Andy,

AlthoughI've notlooked in to it too closely I mdid observe whilst I was in pC World last week a rather large display of broadban router/modems.The display was split in half with one side for telephone and the other for cable. Both wireless and wired. Might be a good starting point.
Although I'm no great lover of PC World sometimes they do have good deals and at least you can have hands on look at the boxes.

Failing that google cable modem/routers or use www.kelkoo.co.uk to search for a bargain.

PC sites I purchase from are:-

www.dabs.com

www.savastore.co.uk

www.ebuyer.co.uk

www.microdirect.com

Below is some more info:-

http://www.netgear.co.uk/home_newnetwork_routers.php

Hope that helps.

Nick.

Andy Moore · 05 November 2007, 21:38

Thanks for that Nick.

So, will I have to replace my entire cable modem? Or do I plug a wireless modem into its USB port and, in effect, piggy-back the new wireless modem?

Nos4r2 · 05 November 2007, 22:08

All you need is a wireless router plugged into your cable modem and the plugin reciever for your PC. (it's got a name but I've got a mental block)

Biggles · 05 November 2007, 22:14

Andy,

Don't take my word on it. I haven't read any instructions. But cost wise you won't save anything doing that. Might as well just buy a new cable modem/router with all the bits you want on it.

Me personally I am hard wired. Set it up a few years ago and the whole house is cabled up. But now I've got a wireless laptop I'm thinking of adding one wireless connection. The only way I can see to do it is buy a whole new box of tricks. I wouldn't save any money adding a new box to my present setup and I'm not sure if its possible.

Plus if you do buy a router and you've got any ideas of expansion get the one with as many ports as possible and the wireless function. Then you've got the best of both worlds. If your going to be serious about networking you can buy hard drives and printers that plug straight in to the router. Although more expensive they can be accessed by any PC on your network without any specific one being switched on. Means a lot more flexibilty. Also means you should be thinking about how many ports your going to need for the future. Broadband/Lan speeds seem to be one of the slowest advancing PC technolgies so you get a reasonable amount of future proofing. Having said that I have to wonder at all the wireless speeds and technologies you see banded around.

As far as my understanding of Router speeds go. It becomes very important if your shoving lots of data around between PC's. Hardwired is usually faster than wireless. I can throw numbers at you but you might just find it confusing and I don't know how much you want to know or what your PC is capable of etc.

Hopefully I've given you enough info to get started. If your needs are simple then PC World is probably the best place to go. At least if you tell the guy what you want and it doesn't do it when you get it home you can always take it back to him. There's a lot to be said for convenience over saving a few quid.

Regards Nick.

Biggles · 05 November 2007, 22:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

All you need is a wireless router plugged into your cable modem and the plugin reciever for your PC. (it's got a name but I've got a mental block)

Matt,

Well done you've obviously got that system in your house.

Forget all the claptrap I have just typed then. That is unless you want the latest and greatest Cable/Broadband/ADSL/Modem/Router/wireless thingymajig

Biggles · 05 November 2007, 22:27

Andy,

I just noticed this little bit of kit whilst doing some research for you. Any good ?

Compaq Fibre Channel Storage 7P ENet RJ45 AUI

This hub can attach up to six StorageWorks Fibre Channel Arrays to a Fibre Channel Host Adaptor for support of up to seventy-two 1-inch or forty-eight 1.6-inch hard drives per server slot.

Choose the Fibre Channel Storage Hub 7 if low total solution cost and simplicity are key requirements. Huh

£346.37 inc. Huh.

http://www.saverstore.com/productinf...9&rstrat=12767

Me thinks you could never run out of options with that.

Andy Moore · 05 November 2007, 22:27

Thanks guys. Food or thought. I might go up to Feces World and take a look.

Andy Moore · 05 November 2007, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

Andy,

I just noticed this little bit of kit whilst doing some research for you. Any good ?

Compaq Fibre Channel Storage 7P ENet RJ45 AUI

This hub can attach up to six StorageWorks Fibre Channel Arrays to a Fibre Channel Host Adaptor for support of up to seventy-two 1-inch or forty-eight 1.6-inch hard drives per server slot.

Choose the Fibre Channel Storage Hub 7 if low total solution cost and simplicity are key requirements. Huh

£346.37 inc. Huh.

http://www.saverstore.com/productinf...9&rstrat=12767

Me thinks you could never run out of options with that.

I don't understand what the hell it is!

You can tell I am an Apple Mac user.

Nos4r2 · 05 November 2007, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

you've obviously got that system in your house.

I have. I didn't have a choice as the NTL connection is (I believe) locked by serial number to the modem they supply. It works quite well and averages 54mbps connection speed (which I'm quite happy with as the router is 2 years old now and is considerably faster than my net connection!)

The hardest part is actually setting it up-it's the old story of doing everything 3 times to get one result.

Biggles · 05 November 2007, 22:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

I don't understand what the hell it is!

Nor me but if I was doing networks at work I'd get half a dozen ! Would make my department seem important then. And my expense account insignificant.

MikeCC · 06 November 2007, 09:36

Go with Nos' suggestion.

Leave the modem in place and just get a Belkin, Netgear or D-Link (or other well-known name) wireless router and a wireless network card for the PC/Mac. It used to be better to have router and cards from the same manufacturer for best performance, probably less so now.

If the Mac already has wireless hardware, then you just need to set up the router and tell the Mac what to look for. There's also USB and PC-Card ones available if you have a laptop and can't retrofit wireless.

Don't forget to set up security settings on the router - WPA etc.

Andy Moore · 06 November 2007, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeCC

Go with Nos' suggestion.

Leave the modem in place and just get a Belkin, Netgear or D-Link (or other well-known name) wireless router and a wireless network card for the PC/Mac. It used to be better to have router and cards from the same manufacturer for best performance, probably less so now.

If the Mac already has wireless hardware, then you just need to set up the router and tell the Mac what to look for. There's also USB and PC-Card ones available if you have a laptop and can't retrofit wireless.

Don't forget to set up security settings on the router - WPA etc.

Thanks.

Can you have a look on www.Amazon.co.uk, just so I can be sure I order the right bit of kit?

MikeCC · 06 November 2007, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

Thanks.

Can you have a look on www.Amazon.co.uk, just so I can be sure I order the right bit of kit?

No, there's too many to choose from

Andy Moore · 06 November 2007, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeCC

No, there's too many to choose from

Fair enough.