Wireless Router & Cable Modem..?

buckmoy · 12-05-2005, 16:57

Hi there

I have a Motorola SURFboard Cable Modem, which takes an input from my Telewest STB in the living room, the modem pushing out an ethernet connection to my PC.

A flatmate wants to use wireless on his laptop, so I want to get a wireless router to transmit the signal, but still have an ethernet cable running to my PC (don't want to by a PCI wireless card for it)

Two main questions:
1) Can the wireless router take the input straight from the STB, or does it need to take input in the form of the Ethernet connection my cable modem is pushing out - in other words, can I take my cable modem out of the loop?

2) Any good wireless routers anyone can recommend?

Many thanks

philquinney · 12-05-2005, 17:02

Hey buckmoy,

You need something like the Linksys WRT54g or Netgear WGR614: both of these will use the ethernet cable that your desktop machine currently uses to "split" the connection, kind of like a four way plug.

Both of my suggestions have the ability to connect wireless and wired clients simultaneously, so you can both surf at the same time.

Hope this helps,

Phil.

PS: Welcome to cableforum

12-05-2005, 18:00

I believe you still need the cable modem in the loop, though. AFAIK, unlike NTL, Telewest do not support any cable modem built into the STB.

Halcyon · 12-05-2005, 19:00

to the forums

Yes, you would be best to use your cable modem.
The Linksys router mentioned is a good solution and you can use it to send the wireless signal out around your house. Your cable modem will plug into this router.

Most of these routers have also ports for wired systems, and so you can hook up your PC that doesnt have wireless to it through wired cable and have wirelessly linked machines working at the same time too.

buckmoy · 12-05-2005, 22:22

Nice one

Thanks for the warm welcome and swift responses.

Yeah - kind of makes sense still needing a modem in the network somewhere.

These ones you recommended are both 54Mbps - any reason to go for 108Mbps - or is this pointless due to bottlenecks elsewhere?

(I have 1 Meg connection, whatever that means...curse the edge of my knowledge...when it comes to networking I don't have a clue).

Halcyon · 12-05-2005, 23:23

It will only go as fast as your slowest connected device and seeing that cable connection speeds will not reach that speed for years, there is no real advantage.

buckmoy · 18-05-2005, 13:06

Hi all

Well I took delivery today of a Linksys WRT54g

Followed the config instructions and its working fine pushing a network connection to my PC over ethernet, unfortunately no wireless devices are picking up a signal.

Any noob ish things I might be missing? All my devices are 802.11b, so I've even tried selecting wireless netowrk mode as B only, as opposed to mixed. Tried it on a few different channels, am transmitting SSID, turned off the router firewall...any ideas?

Ta

SMHarman · 18-05-2005, 14:01

Turn off the wireless security, you have turned on the SSID and change its name to something you recognise also make sure you have turned on the wireless in the configuration page of the router.

Check the wireless devices are switched on- centrino laptops have a flight mode which turns off the wireless functionaltiy.

It could be faulty on the wireless side