Virgin Cable to modem to.........Switch?

gazjam · 2 Oct 2008 at 21:15

Can I just use ANY switch to "pump" Internet to various wired PC's in my network, or does it have to be a particular kind, like having to use a cable router with a cable modem?

Thanks.

Daegan · 2 Oct 2008 at 21:36

It has to be a cable router.

mrgubby · 2 Oct 2008 at 23:16

Daegan said:
It has to be a cable router.

If he already has a modem shouldn't he be able to use any router / switch ?

modo77 · 2 Oct 2008 at 23:42

Yes he can use any router/switch to connect to the modem.

Beansprout · 3 Oct 2008 at 00:02

You need a router, not a switch...

tolien · 3 Oct 2008 at 00:03

You can't just connect a switch directly to the modem though, which I think was the point Daegan was driving at. As far as the switch is concerned, it's irrelevant what the internet connection is.

gazjam · 3 Oct 2008 at 00:15

All i need is basic connectivity for, say, two things getting online.

A PC and a Squeezebox media server.

Wouldn't a "smart" swirch (as opposed to a "dumn" Hub) manage this?

Really not looking for advanced routing function, just basic connectivity.

Ta.

Werewolf · 3 Oct 2008 at 00:47

Nope, you'd need a router, a switch is smarter than a hub but still can't do what you want (it's got no way of routing the connection as the cable modem is set to only supply one IP address).

You need a router to bridge the connection from the Cable modem (ISP) network, to your home network's multiple devices (the router basically takes the single IP address allowed by Virgin, and reroutes it to however many devices are on the local network).

Without that the first device connected to the switch would be the only one to get online (If Virgin allowed multiple IP's a switch would do the job, but they don't)..

Avalon · 3 Oct 2008 at 09:53

Warewolf's right. The only exception to this is if you subscribe to the gaming pack where they do provide you with a seccond IP. You could use a switch and make use of your seccond IP that way, however a) the charge for the gaming kit is more than a decent router anyway and b) the £5 a month subscription for the service makes it cheaper to buy three cable routers over 12 months

*edit* Link to Press release. It wasn't a popular option, it wasn't marketed at all and basically the only people who remember it were those who worked for them at the time or read the press release at the time.

bledd · 3 Oct 2008 at 10:00

just buy a WRT54GL, and put Tomato firmware on it.

you need a router

gazjam · 3 Oct 2008 at 16:25

Werewolf said:
Nope, you'd need a router, a switch is smarter than a hub but still can't do what you want (it's got no way of routing the connection as the cable modem is set to only supply one IP address).

You need a router to bridge the connection from the Cable modem (ISP) network, to your home network's multiple devices (the router basically takes the single IP address allowed by Virgin, and reroutes it to however many devices are on the local network).

Without that the first device connected to the switch would be the only one to get online (If Virgin allowed multiple IP's a switch would do the job, but they don't)..

Thanks Werewolf, just the info I ws looking for.

Bledd,
I HAVE a WRT54GL router actually, its what I'm using.
Problem is, the wireless reception I'm getting is really dreadful, and I think the wireless gizmo in it must be faulty somehow.

SEE HERE FOR EARLIER POST
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17925371&highlight=username_gazjam

I cant believe I can only get 77% through 1 wall, so its going RMA.

Are the new Netgear "Rangemax" routers a better solution for low reception areas (like I'm suspecting my flat is... :rolleyes:

) do you think?

Is it just marketing BS or is this product offering something better?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...WPN824 108Mbps RangeMax Wireless Cable Router

Thanks

Avalon · 3 Oct 2008 at 18:37

You want to RMA a product (that you claim isn't fit for purpose) because it won't transmit at greater than 77% signal strength through a 5" solid stone wall (as you describe it in the other thread) and you think that's a product defect ? You need to understand the technology you are using, randomly hitting the buy button on a website is not a solution.

WiFi signal strength drops depending on the number and density of objects it has to pass through from point A to point B. 5" stone walls are pretty dense. Can you see the problem has nothing to do with the router and everything to do with where you have installed it ?

Thebug · 3 Oct 2008 at 19:00

gazjam said:
Are the new Netgear "Rangemax" routers a better solution for low reception areas (like I'm suspecting my flat is...) do you think?

Is it just marketing BS or is this product offering something better?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showp...WPN824 108Mbps RangeMax Wireless Cable Router

Thanks

Yes go for that netgear - i had problems getting a signal using that linksys even when using the tomato firmware, so i ditched that and went for the WPN824 now i get a very good signal were with the linksys it was allways low (this is through 2 solid walls)

Lights are annoying but can be turned off with a switch on the back

dbmzk1 · 3 Oct 2008 at 19:58

What's wrong with 77%? Am I missing something here? That's a pretty good signal!

With custom firmware you can even increase the power of the signal, but you wouldn't need to as 77% is pretty damn good.

gazjam · 3 Oct 2008 at 21:06

Avalon said:
You want to RMA a product (that you claim isn't fit for purpose) because it won't transmit at greater than 77% signal strength through a 5" solid stone wall (as you describe it in the other thread) and you think that's a product defect ? You need to understand the technology you are using, randomly hitting the buy button on a website is not a solution.

WiFi signal strength drops depending on the number and density of objects it has to pass through from point A to point B. 5" stone walls are pretty dense. Can you see the problem has nothing to do with the router and everything to do with where you have installed it ?

I have taken the router to a friends house using diferent PC equipment, and the wireless coverage is much less than his Netgear router, much less.

This is in a new build house with plasterboard walls.

My "claim" as you put it is indeed that.

I understand the limitations of wireless thankyou.
Trust me, I have de-bugged this problem to death.

oh, and I researched this router a lot before I bought it, ya cheeky monkey!

gazjam · 3 Oct 2008 at 21:08

Thebug said:
Yes go for that netgear - i had problems getting a signal using that linksys even when using the tomato firmware, so i ditched that and went for the WPN824 now i get a very good signal were with the linksys it was allways low (this is through 2 solid walls)

Lights are annoying but can be turned off with a switch on the back

Thanks mate.