New router or add a switch?

divuk83

divuk83

divuk83

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I'm looking at getting either a gigabit switch to supplement my ADSL router or an ADSL router to replace my BE box that supports gigabit networking if such a product exists? Would I be better off getting a separate switch? Has anyone got any recommendations as to what to get. I don't really want to get a cheapo one as I have had several routers die on me over the years. Is it worth getting a "smart one" over an un-managed one?

Cheers

Dave
 
To be honest, unless your doing a lot of Switching, there will be little to no benefit to Gig ports for the average home user. I've only seen a benefit when utilised with servers (file, Citrix etc).

Plus, if you've only got a 8meg ADSL line....

If your looking for good internal coms, pick up good Switch and make sure each port is 100 full.
 
I think the standard Be box is pretty poor as it frequently drops the line and shows as "network cable disconnected" on my computers. I can't imagine it does a very good job of LAN duties either. I'm quite interested in an upgrade as I'm going to try steaming FLAC using upnp to my new hifi, going for gigabit seemed like a sensible option if I'm going to be purchasing a new switch. Any recommendations for a new switch would be welcomed and it would take away the need for the Be box to do any LAN work.

Dave
 
Gig switch is overkill, a 10Mb hub would be able to cope with streaming FLAC.

If you must go Gig, then HP do a decent 8 porter for about £50. Cheaper one's will likely ship with a crappy wallwart PSU that'll blow just outside warranty.
 
the HP is a Procurve 140-8g

I'd recommend it as I shift large HD files (home moveies) from my desktop to htpc and back and it really makes a differance
 
Don't use hubs, your be reliant on CSMA\CD as hubs do not break up the collison domain. Stick with Switches. I can only recommend Cisco stuff but they will be very OVERKILL for your little LAN.

I'd guess any branded gig switch will do the job.
 
got a netgear dg834n and a netgear 5 port Gbit switch = win transfer speeds. My lappy goes at around 11mb/s (can only seem to get it to connect at 130mbit). Gbit is just SOOOOOO much nicer when you need to backup or transfer large amounts of data over a network. When I have mades over to lan, having me ona gbit backbone is useful since i take images of all the games i install, meaning they can copy them and use their keys to install them (if they forget dvd's etc). Them all on 100mbit, me on gbit with raid array = i notice no congestion, and neither do they.
That is with my Gbit switch connected down to my 24port + 2Gbit netgear managed switch though.

Also get very slightly lower pings....its all about the ping times (in game) lol
 
i would go with the switch.

u hardly going to make use of a gigabit connection for WAN.

go for a gigabit switch. very handy when transfering files from your nas server and htpc for streaming.

only reason really to go for a gigabit router. would be to conserve space. rather than having loads of devices plugged in.

in that case just build your self a x86 platform router using intel atom board and stick dd-wrt on it
 
Thanks for all your help. I have ordered a HP Procurve 140-8g to use with my bebox. I'm not overly impressed with Netgear, I had an ADSL router of theirs that died just outside of the warranty a few years ago and like the look of the impressive warranty on the HP switch. Will stick with the bebox for now an try some newer firmware to see if it improves things.

Cheers

Dave
 
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