Modem updgrade advice needed

green rizla · 5 Apr 2006 at 10:19

As i wish to upgrade my 2mb line to 8mb, Zen have advised me that my old ADSL USB modem wont cut it anymore and that i need a router

Currently i have 2 pc's networked together via a cross over cable to share the internet connection mainly for gaming. Both PC's have network ports and are stationary in the same room. Wireless might be a good option although i have no idea how this fairs sharing a connection with games like BF2

Could some kind soul please recommend a suitable replacement for this? I am completely clueless on the function of router / ethernet type thing.
thanks for any assistance

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 10:25

1 straight cat5 cable from each PC into a router will suffice I would imagine, and give you the same setup as you currently have, with the exception that both pc's can access the net independantly. Doesn't sound like you need wireless, and would involve the purchase of seperate wireless cards for each pc too.

I've a Thompson Speedtouch 510 which has been rock solid for me, but hard to come by these days. I'd reccomend one though

You can get the Speedtouch 580 for about £55 though, which is essentially the same thing, with a wireless access point built in.

green rizla · 5 Apr 2006 at 10:43

Thanks for the advice there Scottland

anything here at overclockers that would be suitable?

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 10:59

I'd personally have either the Linksys WAG354G or the ZyXel 660HW. Both sub £60, and wireless. But they still have a 4 port wired switch so you can use cabled.

green rizla · 5 Apr 2006 at 11:02

Scottland said:
I'd personally have either the Linksys WAG354G or the ZyXel 660HW. Both sub £60, and wireless. But they still have a 4 port wired switch so you can use cabled.

With either of these would i be able to dispose of my adsl modem completely? Some of the routers etc.. i've read about still require a modem attached to them?

thanks again for the help

Scottland · 5 Apr 2006 at 11:03

Both of those, and the Thompsons I mentiond have the ADSL modem built in, so you could completely dispose of your USB modem.

green rizla · 5 Apr 2006 at 11:06

Scottland said:
Both of those, and the Thompsons I mentiond have the ADSL modem built in, so you could completely dispose of your USB modem.

excellent, thanks for your help

tolien · 5 Apr 2006 at 11:10

Neither of them need a modem - they're both ADSL routers.
The 660H is crap though...

Skilldibop · 5 Apr 2006 at 13:52

I've a Thompson Speedtouch 510 which has been rock solid for me, but hard to come by these days. I'd reccomend one though

Damn straight!! had a 510v4 for 4 years, astoundingly solid, and doesn't blink at VPN passthrough which suprised me as so many newer routers have a spaz attack as soon as IPSEC is mentioned. Although not many features in the web browser but telnet in and there is loads

But yeah, hard to come by these days.

The newer and more available option would be the Linksys WAG54G or GX if you got bit more spondoolix floating about and wanna play with VPN and remote access.

3dcandy · 5 Apr 2006 at 14:30

I would have a router - quite like Linksys, but US Robotics are my favourite.
You could always have mates round with their pc's and just plug them in for gaming...and with wireless, you could always have a lappy