NETGEAR vs. Linksys DSL Router??

[mike_in_katy]

NETGEAR vs. Linksys DSL Router??

Both Netgear and Linsksys have a 4 port DSL router with integrated high speed switching. How do they compare? I can get the Linksys for about $89 after rebate.

Another question - I just signed up for SWBell DSL with one dynamic IP. Will I be able to network 3 home computers using one of the above routers without having a static IP?? I want the 3 machine to function independently of each other (i.e. any one can be on with the others off)

I plan on eventually upgrading to 5 static IP's if this initial exposure is successful.

[RussianBlue]

I have a linksys - the same model you are talking about but mine has wireless capability. So far, it has been outstanding. I honestly have been pleasantly surprised after reading some not-so-great reviews. This was my first ever foray into networking and I found it to be pretty easy to understand.

I am able to surf the net from my laptop (wired or wireless at approximately 11.0 Mbps), while my wife is using the internet on the other side of the room on her computer. I have never tried surfing with the other computer off, although, i don't think it would be an issue because the router is what assigns the IP addresses to the individual computers on the network. The router obtains a single IP from the ISP and then distributes sub-addresses. So, the router is able to obtain the single dynamic IP for the entire network every time you log on - no need for the static IP, and everybody is on the net, and even has firewall protection as the outside world can only see the IP of the router and not the individual workstations.

Sounds like what you are trying to do would work just fine. I don't think you need to get any static IP's. You could theoretically link 4 or 5 of the routers together and run a ****-load of workstations through one cable modem or DSL line. However, bandwith would obviously become a problem at some point.

This is my understanding of the way it works, although keep in mind that I just got my equipment hooked up last weekend. So far, the internet has not been a problem at all. What I need to figure out is how see the other machines on the network!

[Shinta]

what model is that linksys router? its starting to interest me :)

[RussianBlue]

BEFW11S4 is the model number I believe. Check the site below.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=22&prid=173

To tell you the truth, I think I saw it on sale in last week's sunday paper at Circuit City for $169.

Also, before you buy a wireless PCMCIA card for a laptop or PCI card for a desktop, be sure to do a little bit of research. Some of them are MUCH better than others from what I read, although I have nothing to base that on other than my own experience.

I ended up getting a Lucent Orinoco Silver PCMCIA card, for about $50 on e-bay. You can pay through the nose if you don't purchase carefully. It works very well so far, although it seems to drain the laptop batteries a little more quickly, which I would expect really.

good luck and feel free to e-mail with any questions.
pp@carolina.rr.com

[RussianBlue]

BEFW11S4 is the model number I believe. Check the site below.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=22&prid=173

To tell you the truth, I think I saw it on sale in last week's sunday paper at Circuit City for $169.

Also, before you buy a wireless PCMCIA card for a laptop or PCI card for a desktop, be sure to do a little bit of research. Some of them are MUCH better than others from what I read, although I have nothing to base that on other than my own experience.

I ended up getting a Lucent Orinoco Silver PCMCIA card, for about $50 on e-bay. You can pay through the nose if you don't purchase carefully. It works very well so far, although it seems to drain the laptop batteries a little more quickly, which I would expect really.

good luck and feel free to e-mail with any questions.
pp@carolina.rr.com

[RussianBlue]

BEFW11S4 is the model number I believe. Check the site below.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=22&prid=173

To tell you the truth, I think I saw it on sale in last week's sunday paper at Circuit City for $169.

Also, before you buy a wireless PCMCIA card for a laptop or PCI card for a desktop, be sure to do a little bit of research. Some of them are MUCH better than others from what I read, although I have nothing to base that on other than my own experience.

I ended up getting a Lucent Orinoco Silver PCMCIA card, for about $50 on e-bay. You can pay through the nose if you don't purchase carefully. It works very well so far, although it seems to drain the laptop batteries a little more quickly, which I would expect really.

good luck and feel free to e-mail with any questions.
pp@carolina.rr.com

[Shinta]

lot of the same emssages ;o

thanks ill check around for the best prices on it :)

[Shinta]

just found it at www.peachpc.com for $148 + $9 shipping :)

[Shinta]

wallijohn.. how do you set the pc's to dhcp? i'm not really a computer wizz with these things ;o

[apoth]

i have a netgear rp114 router with the WAN port right next to the LAN port, which happens to be convenient. I connect to the internet at 1.5mbps and my house is routed at 100mbps (3 computers)

also, when setting up lan ip's... you can set your LAN ip to whatever you want as long as its a valid ip... it doesnt have to be 192.168.0.2 etc...

a dynamic ip is just an ip thats assigned and i have no problems connecting to my isp and its dns to locate an ip for my dsl modem

as for the price, it was 89.99 w/o a rebate, and im too lazy to do rebates =)

[xonray]

I have Pacbell DSL/dynamic IP. The router is a 4 port Linksys BEFSR41. The Linksys routers is connected to 3 computers.
What I like about this setup, you don't need Enternet 300. What I don't like is the $49.00 to Pacbell every month.

[Shinta]

no one does.. downstreams are going down.. upstreams are going down and prices are sky rocketing..

i remmeber dsl used to compete with cable at $40 cable service is doing horrible and staying at $40 downloads are amazing but stable connections are another story..

dsl prices are now like $50 depending on what type of service you get and what company you choose..

i think earthlink is the bang for the buck.. but i heard some phone companies aren't allowing earthlink dsl to be used in their areas.. only their service and microsoft

verizon and earthlink are very competitive down/upstreams but earthlink's is almost 2x as fast.. verizon offers a logitech express webcam in order to make up for the down/upstream they are holding back on their customers..

i noticed microsoft offers the worst service at high prices.. verizon dropped their down/upstreams greatly .. it's not really noticeable at 640k down/90k up because the majority of people download from hosts or other users who have a capped upstream...

on cable it's very rare that i actually had downloads going over 1mb.. the highest i've seen it go was 3mb.. most of the dl's were usually about 200-600k.. so i guess dsl is still pretty good if you're not worrying about the $10 difference.. also many of us use diff file sharing programs such as audiogalaxy, kazaa, morpheus, winmx, and so on..

therefore many people who are using dsl/cable also have a capped upstream.. lets just say the majority is 90k to 128k.. now our downstream doesn't really matter.. but..

doesn't the psychological part knowing other companies are much faster for the same price.. but you're being denied of it? and in place of this you're getting a cheesy $25 webcam which was probably used by some other schmuck who probably went to earthlink and returned his items that you're probably using now?

what really pisses me off is how they give the $25 webcam that you must return if you cancel within 1 year.. but they claim that the logi webcam is a $50 value.. we can all go to pw and buy it for $25.. but keep in mind they get discounted mfgr prices.. so they probably getting these for a few pennies on the dollar :o