ever since i have had a computer i have focused on learning how to build them, set them up, use the software, and fix them, but i have never paid much attention to networking kit.
a recent attempt to upgrade my router has brought it to my attention that i need to learn some stuff, and i am not finding any laymans explanations via google.
i currently have a router / modem and this is what i've always used. it makes setup easy.
but you can get better routers if they are standalone routers (no included modem).
so, what is the best setup if i want to have a standalone router (my internal network is wireless apart from my main desktop machine).
do i get a wireless router and an ethernet modem.
do i get a wired router and what i think is called an access point which plugs into the router and allows me to send info from the router wirelessly to the network machines?
and could somebody tell me what an access point is specifically, and this one has really got me - what does a switch do?????
a recent attempt to upgrade my router has brought it to my attention that i need to learn some stuff, and i am not finding any laymans explanations via google.
i currently have a router / modem and this is what i've always used. it makes setup easy.
but you can get better routers if they are standalone routers (no included modem).
so, what is the best setup if i want to have a standalone router (my internal network is wireless apart from my main desktop machine).
do i get a wireless router and an ethernet modem.
do i get a wired router and what i think is called an access point which plugs into the router and allows me to send info from the router wirelessly to the network machines?
and could somebody tell me what an access point is specifically, and this one has really got me - what does a switch do?????
