Router with 56k dial-up?
 

Hi Guys,

A colleague is buying a new laptop which will have a wireless capability.

He would like to install a router (via a wired connection) on his desktop machine so that he can network the two PCs together and share the internet connection.

At present he has a 56k dial-up internet connection.

Both machines running XP Home.

So:

1. Is it possible to buy a router that will be able to make use of his dial-up connection? If so, would this be a standard ADSL router or would it need to be some special sort?
2. He is thinking of upgrading to ADSL Broadband at some stage over the next 12-18 months, will any router that he buys now be capable of doing both the dial-up he has at present and the ADSL in the future?
3. Are we looking at this from the right angle, or is there a better way to tackle the problem?

Thanks.

Re: Router with 56k dial-up?
 

I don't know of any router that can use a dial-up line - not enough bandwidth to share there :(

If he wants to share now before getting ADSL, I would suggest an ADSL Wireless router (Linksys ;) ) but using ICS to bridge the modem connection on the PC with the Lan card. eg PC connects to Dial-up, RJ45 from PC to Router, Wireless from Router to Laptop, Router has no ADSL atm.

That way, when he gets ADSL he can just plug in the splitter and ditch the modem.

HTH

Re: Router with 56k dial-up?
 

He doesn't actually need to share the bandwidth, he's only going to be using one machine at a time.

So, just to check I have this right:

Laptop <wireless > ADSL Router <Ethernet> Desktop

Enable and configure ICS on desktop.

When Broadband installed, remove ICS settings and share ADSL connection from router.

This would mean that the Desktop has to be powered up all the time that he wants to access the internet from the laptop, that's right isn't it?

Re: Router with 56k dial-up?
 

Why not get ADSL now, as those in carpet slippers over at which note, it costs less than £1 a month more than dial up.

I would think buying a second NIC for the Desktop and using ICS will be the best for now.

Re: Router with 56k dial-up?
 

That's pretty much what I told him this morning :)

Why would he need a second NIC? Surely connecting the router to the NIC on the desktop and then wireless into the router from the laptop would be the best bet?

Re: Router with 56k dial-up?
 

Good point, I was foolishly thinking the NIC card in the desktop was connected into some kind of broadband connection duh.

Re: Router with 56k dial-up?
 

You can get routers with for broadband primary use, that have a RS232 port (serial) for connection of a phone line modem or ISDN modem as backup.

http://www.d-link.co.uk/?go=jN7uAYLx...zk36riLU4Tt+g=

Dunno if there is a wireless equivalent - you could always just add a wireless access point to it. Gets expensive though.

And as others have said, the bandwidth off a 56k modem is so limited, I'd just sign for broadband now thus saving the expense and hassle of even seeing if it would work. The router needed can then be cheaper and a combined ADSL wireless device.

Re: Router with 56k dial-up?
 

Sounds about right to me.

Note - most modern laptops have a built-in modem, so if he's only using one at a time you could create a dial-up connection on the laptop with the same details as the PC and plug it in to the nearest home phone socket!

Re: Router with 56k dial-up?
 

Thanks for that Rob, like you say - it starts to get expensive doing things this way.

I think I'll try to badger him some more about Broadband ;)
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Oooh, now there's an idea.

Buy a wireless ADSL router now so that he's got it for when he upgrades in the future. But use the built-in modem on the laptop for the time being :tu:

Nice one :)

Re: Router with 56k dial-up?
 

Why buy one now if it isn't needed? Most computer equipment gets cheaper, faster and better as time goes by.