Questions about sharing NTL broadband on a network.

Digital Punk · 16 Jan 2007 at 12:05

Hi all.

I'm considering moving from my crappy 512k adsl to NTL broadband but have a few questions to ask.

Is NTL broadband reliable?
Is it easy to share the connection with other PC's?
I have a small wired network of four PC's joined by a switch to an adsl router atm. It all works well.
If I go NTL, can I still use the switch to connect the PC's to the NTL modem?
Is the modem standalone, and does it act as a firewall or will I need to use software firewalls?

I have no idea about NTL's equipment so any info would be appreciated.

Muchos gracias.

Werewolf · 16 Jan 2007 at 13:55

1: Yes
2: Yes
3: no, you will need a router of some kind between the modem and the PC's (either replacig the switch, or between the switch and modem - ntl only supply 1 ip per modem).
4: The modem does not have a firewall, but any router you use (as 3) should act as a basic firewall (although something like Zone Alarm is recommended on the PC's).

Digital Punk · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:47

Thanks.

So it looks like I'd need to buy a specific cable router then.

Something like THIS perhaps?

Werewolf · 16 Jan 2007 at 15:59

That would certainly do it, although it's a very old router model (I think a version of that one was around when I first got 500k ntl 6 years ago), so may have some problems with higher speed ntl connections.

The WRT54xx series Linksys routers seem to be preferred for cable at the moment (I can't remember what model is best at the moment - it used to be the wrt54gs, but i think that it's the gl model now?)

tolien · 16 Jan 2007 at 17:25

Werewolf said:
i think that it's the gl model now?)

Yup.