Cable or Modem Router

mccannalain

Hi,

I'm trying to set my parents up with a new wireless network, I'm telling them to get a normal router just to plug their broadband into so they can get it around the house. They are sending me details or "Cable" routers and "Modem" routers, which one should I tell them to get?

moonstomp

mccannalain wrote: »

Hi,

I'm trying to set my parents up with a new wireless network, I'm telling them to get a normal router just to plug their broadband into so they can get it around the house. They are sending me details or "Cable" routers and "Modem" routers, which one should I tell them to get?

Do they have internet service to the house already?
If so then they have a Modem already - this will be connected to the phone line or DSL cable depending on who supplies their Broadband. A router connects to the Modem and the Modem connects out to the internet.

http://pc.net/helpcenter/answers/difference_between_router_and_modem

There should (at the back of the Modem) be outlets allowing connection of additional devices.

You can attach a wireless Router by running a cable (Cat 5e or Cat6) from the back of the current Modem to the new Router. I recently added two Wireless Routers to my UPC Cable DSL home network and used these:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/EDIMAX-EW-7228APN-150MBPS-WIRELESS-802-11-B-G-N-ACCESS-POINT-WITH-5-PORT-SWITCH-/330748434642?pt=UK_Computing_Wireless_Access_Points&hash=item4d022498d2

Cheap and cheerful but they do the job. You may need to configure them by attaching a PC / Laptop to get them up and running. It only takes a few minutes.
Hope this helps.

mccannalain

Cheers, that helps a lot. I've set up loads of routers for myself but didn't realised there were different ones so must've got lucky with the ones I bought! Ha, I dread trying to explain to them how to configure it :O might need to get screen shots and step by step instructions

snaps

If they already have a modem (sometimes from UPC) then you need a wireless router (no modem built in). If they have an internet connection but no router or modem then a modem router is what you need.
Your a little vague in what you require?
You can have a home network setup with out a broadband connection but that's pretty pointless.

moonstomp

mccannalain wrote: »

Cheers, that helps a lot. I've set up loads of routers for myself but didn't realised there were different ones so must've got lucky with the ones I bought! Ha, I dread trying to explain to them how to configure it :O might need to get screen shots and step by step instructions

Here's the manual for the Edimax. Though it might scare the hell out of them!
It's actually a lot easier to set up than it looks.

http://www.edimax.com/images/Image/manual/Wireless/EW-7228APn/EW-7228APn_Manual_v1.1.pdf

dub45

Could you clarify who is supplying their broadband?

mccannalain

@moonstomp thanks for that, I'll see if they can understand the manual.

@dub45, I think it's Eircom, would that make a difference?

dub45

If they have Eircom maybe they already have a wireless router with an integrated modem have you checked what actual model they have?