Couple quick and easy questions on routers...

[DilLy]

I was wondering if these things can cause slowdowns on a DSL connection, not because they dont' support the speed, but becasue of thier basic presence in the network connection. I know of quite a few that are stated as fast enough for my conection speed, but I know that, for example a long phone cable from your modem to the wall jack can slow you down a little and I just wanted to confirm if a router can carry the same effect on the connection. Or maybe it can speed things up? I am going to use it in conjunction with ZAPro.

Also are they very easy to setup? Are there any that don't require software, and work for incoming as well as outgoing connections?

Are routers known for screwing up IC settings to the point of needing to reinstall windows as a fix? I want something simple, safe, and very configurable, but don' want it to screw anything up even though I hook everything up right. Arre there some more reliable than others?

I was looking at D-Link, I hear they are some of the best, not as easyto use as say a Linksys, but you have more control (that sounds attractive)

Thanks :)

[HAL9000]

Well, anytime you share a connection, you share bandwidth, so ya, you will slow down a bit, but also lets thing realistically, you probably wouldn't notice it unless you had more than a couple machines on all at the same time doing large downloads.

I had the Linksys and it was a great little unit. I recently switched to a SMC Barricade (same price) to get the built in print server.

[Xayd]

Easy enough to set up if you read the manual, they're not rocket science.

There's no software required.

The router doesn't "do" anything to your computer, just routes packets to it, so no your OS won't be affected at all.

I've heard the least complaints from the Netgear routers, the most from gamers coupled with Linksys routers.

[DilLy]

well, just so you know, I am only doing this for added security (probably not totally necessary, but I got the dough so I might as well, right?) and I won;t be using more than one computer on it.

Should I still bet one, considering that? Or is there a better solution for one system only?

thanks again.

[HAL9000]

The router is the way to go and isn't going to slow you down with only one machine. Yes, you will have hardware firewall protection. It's a cheap investment really for a little more added security.

[SARGE]

I run 3 pc's on DSL behind a Linksy's router and it blows my mind that speed stays around 1300 for all of 'em, even running at same time on the Net.

[glc]

If you are running a single machine on PPPoE behind a router, it might even be a bit faster than standalone because you won't have the overhead of the Enternet or Winpoet software to slow the link down.

[DilLy]

Will the routers instructions tell me all about this stuff, or can you guys go into it a little more.

For instance is there anything I can turn off in WindowsXP that will not be needed now, with the router, for my IC? Does that Enternet and Winpoet software automatically go away? I have no idea what it does or where its at...

[glc]

If you used the WinXP PPPoE client instead of the ISP's software to set it up, you don't have Enternet or Winpoet to worry about. All you have to do (and I don't have XP, I'm just going on logic here) is remove the PPPoE connection, connect the modem to the router, and connect the router to the PC's NIC - and set up your local area connection for straight TCP/IP, obtain IP address automatically. Then you use your browser to connect to the router's internal IP address and do the PPPoE setup.

[DilLy]

excellent.

i didn't use the ISP's software, I just hook up the modem and *boom*, internet. So I shouldn't have to do much it looks like, to get this router thingy working. (I am already setup for automatically acquiring IP's)

Any other tips? I am going to copy this page for reference later, so any additions would be appreciated, if you can think of any.
:)

[Xayd]

Sounds like you may be one of the lucky ones that got a DHCP to begin with.

If that's the case, the router will be a cinch to set up. Hook the router up behind your modem, look through the manual and find the couple of settings you need to specify for a DHCP connection, reboot the router, and you should be ready to go.

[DilLy]

thanks Xayd, for the confidence. :)

I feel this will be a no brainer now.