Router recommendations

[ohheckyeah]

I think I might need a new router. I don't need to hook up an external drive to it, I just want it to be reliable and quick.

Any recommendations?

[TrogL]

1. How in hell do you hook a hard drive up to a router?

A router is a network device. I've had good luck with d-link.

[ohheckyeah]

2. I don't know.

I did a search and found out that they have routers with a hookup for an external hard drive. ????? I don't know how that works.

It was described as USB external hard-drive sharing. http://www.consumersearch.com/wireless-routers

Am I misunderstanding what that is saying?

This D-Link says something similar:

Using the SharePort Network USB Utility, you can connect an external hard drive or multifunction printer to the router's USB port to share disk space, printing or scanning functions among family members or a group of users.

[hobbit709]

3. Do you have or are you setting up a home network?

Or are you just wanting internet access around the house?

[ohheckyeah]

4. I'm setting up internet access throughout the house

and a network. I'm going to try plugging the modem directly to my desktop to make sure it's not the cable instead of the router.

[struggle4progress]

5. Do you need a router or a network switch?

I'm not an expert, but I think routers are used to connect into WWW-land while network switches are used to handle the local network

IIRC some routers have built-in network switches

I have a network drive connected by ethernet cable to my network switch; I suppose if one has a router with a built-in switch, one might connect a network drive to the router, and there might be some combined router-switch products that go an extra mile and allow one to connect a usb drive directly into the product

I expect more info will be required. What exactly are doing trying to do? And describe your current setup: how you access the internet, how your local network is arranged, and so on. For example, are you accessing the internet from one machine or are you sharing a connection between several? Is your printer connected to a machine by a serial or parallel cable or by a usb cable or is it connected to something else by an ethernet cable? Is there one box that connects you out to WWW-land with all your devices plugged into that one box, or does the box that connects you out into WWW-land connect to another box connected to everything else? Is everything wired or are we dealing with some wireless access devices?

[ohheckyeah]

6. Currently I have a Belkin N Wireless Router

and Comcast cable Internet (which is all I can get where I live unless I settle for dialup.) I was having times when my Internet would just slow down to less than a crawl. I called Comcast and they swear it isn't on their end and they think my router is going bad. All I'm looking for is a replacement for my Belkin N Wireless Router.

I have my Desktop, Printer and External set up so it can be accessed from my laptop and my laptop can be accessed from my desktop. I'm assuming that is a home network.

The router would be setup through my desktop which runs Windows XP. My laptop uses Windows 7.

I don't know what other information you need.

[lazarus]

7. have you tested your speed without the router?

I narrowed it down to the router by directly hooking up to the modem a few months ago.

I went to Fry's and bought a cheap g/n router that had decent reviews. I don't even know what brand it is. But I went name brand for a few years, and had to go through routers every year, and this one has lasted pretty nicely. No resets or anything, and I get a good speed. Not as good as direct wired, but good.

[ohheckyeah]

9. I'm going to do that tonight.

I just haven't felt like crawling around in the floor to get behind the CPU to change the hookup. I will definitely do it before buying a new router.

Thanks!

[hobbit709]

8. Comcast lies.

I know several people on Comcast. On a good day they'll get HALF the rated speed.

[ohheckyeah]

10. I'm betting that he wasn't telling the truth.

Ever since we started getting the cable for television over the same cable it has interfered with the Internet. I'll try hooking the modem up to my desktop without the router and see what happens.

[ohheckyeah]

11. It hurts to admit

it but Comcast may have been telling the truth. I disconnected the router and ran the modem straight to the desktop computer and I haven't experienced a slowdown since. I'll know more by tomorrow.

[RoyGBiv]

12. This ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=240x1879

[ohheckyeah]

13. Thanks! n/t

[pnorman]

14. Belkin N1 Wireless Vision?

http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Vision-Wireless-Router-F5D8232-4/dp/B000U78XOS/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1284350216&sr=1-1

It's not the cheapest choice, but that graphic display is a lot more than eye candy!


It's usual in the upper left window, so I can tell at a glance if everything is okay with the network connection(s)