What does a router do to enhance an internet users experience?

[happita]

I have 2 computers in my house, 1 that I use and 1 that my brother uses. My computer is the only system that has access to internet which is on the 1st floor. My brother's PC is in the basement with no internet. It is really annoying whenever I come home from work and I want to do a few things on my computer only to see my brother doing his thing on my PC. I just wanted to know what a router is able to achieve with a single user's setup and a 2 user setup.

Scenario 1: I buy a router for the sole purpose of my own rig. Is there any benefit at all to using it exclusively for myself? All I have is a SURFboard modem hooked up to a coaxial cable with an ISP that gives me 15MB down and 3MB up.

Scenario 2: I buy the router for both computers. Where do I hook this thing up at? Better to hook it up in my room or his room? If I play a game and latency/ping is critical to the game at hand, will splitting the connection between 2 computers somehow slow me down while he is surfing/downloading; will my ping/latency be affected whether it be intermittently, once in a while spikes, etc..?

I'm juggling these things around in my head because I want to know whether it is worth investing ~$50 for a router to help curb my brother from constantly coming to my computer for internet access.

 

[ChristTheGreat]

if the modem is next to you, Put the router next to your computer, with a RJ45 cable.

if you can't get a cable to your brother computer, buy a Wireless router (like WRT160N I know this one is a good one), and buy a Wireless card (or USB) for your brother's computer.

if not, routeur will give: like a bigger protection to computers, since you are not 100% opened to the Web. Means when someone is trying to access your Internet IP, it will hit the Router (Which is like a small firewall, not a pro one). I can't say much about Windows 7 firewall, but it's more risky to use directly the Internet IP on a computer than having a router between. Some Modem are router also, I know here Bell got some, but I always use a router..

it will allow also to let the 2 computer share file between.

 

[happita]

if the modem is next to you, Put the router next to your computer, with a RJ45 cable.

if you can't get a cable to your brother computer, buy a Wireless router (like WRT160N I know this one is a good one), and buy a Wireless card (or USB) for your brother's computer.

if not, routeur will give: like a bigger protection to computers, since you are not 100% opened to the Web. Means when someone is trying to access your Internet IP, it will hit the Router (Which is like a small firewall, not a pro one). I can't say much about Windows 7 firewall, but it's more risky to use directly the Internet IP on a computer than having a router between. Some Modem are router also, I know here Bell got some, but I always use a router..

it will allow also to let the 2 computer share file between.

My computer and my brother's computer are nowhere near each other.

So what your saying is that I have to get 2 routers? 1 next to my computer and another 1 next to my brother's AND a wireless card? That's a lotta money right now for me

 

[ChristTheGreat]

Nah, 1 router, which will be next to your modem..

But what is the distance between? one floor? and what kind of floor? this is something that must be consider...

 

[Jetster]

1) Your nuts to not have a router. It protects you from outside unwanted connections (no software firewalls don't work as well)

2) It will only slow you down if your brother has a porn / torrent addiction

Hard wire it to your comp. Put him on a wireless.


Some routers even do bandwidth shaping so you could limit his connection. Really its a no brainier/ a must have and will not effect ping/latency

 

[freaksavior]

My computer and my brother's computer are nowhere near each other.

So what your saying is that I have to get 2 routers? 1 next to my computer and another 1 next to my brother's AND a wireless card? That's a lotta money right now for me

No.

One router. One wireless card.

Depending how old your brother is, tell him if he wants to keep getting online he needs to help pay for this since he is the only one benefiting from it.

All you need is a router and the network card.

it depends on how big your house/apartment is BUT

D-Link DIR-655 Wireless Broadband Router Xtreme N ... is a great router. If your house isn't very big
Linksys WRT54GL Wireless Broadband Router 802.11b/... and mod it with dd-wrt

 

[ChristTheGreat]

porn / torrent addiction




Yeah, surfing is not slowing the internet

 

[happita]

I'm on the 1st floor and he is in the basement AND both computers are on the opposite side of the house, mine is on 1 corner, his is on the other.
It is a hardwood floor on 1st floor and the basement has a drop ceiling.

1) Your nuts to not have a router. It protects you from outside unwanted connections (no software firewalls don't work as well)

2) It will only slow you down if your brother has a porn / torrent addiction

Hard wire it to your comp. Put him on a wireless.


Some routers even do bandwidth shaping so you could limit his connection. Really its a no brainier/ a must have and will not effect ping/latency

1) Why am I nuts? I have NEVER gotten virus'd to the point of needing a reformat or anything serious. Nothing that a simple spyware/malware scan didn't get rid of.


Bandwidth shaping seems interesting, I am definitely going to look for that feature.

 

[erocker]

All I have is a SURFboard modem

The Motorola Surfboard modem I have also works as a router. It would be useless adding another. The Surfboard has all the options a normal router does. To access it, the username is: admin and the password is: motorola.

About security.. meh. I've run machines in DMZ mode for years without a problem. Of course many will believe the hype about security through marketing.

 

[happita]

About security.. meh. I've run machines in DMZ mode for years without a problem. Of course many will believe the hype about security through marketing.

Yep, that's how I feel. I have Malware bytes, SUPERAntiSpyware, and Microsoft Security Essentials. So far, nothing catastrophic has happened and I hope it stays that way.

 

[Jetster]

If your not concerned about security then why 3 programs? Why not free up the system?

Really then it just if you want both hooked up and one will be wireless then you need a Wireless router

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

security can be sorted entirely by being a wise clicker

 

[happita]

If your not concerned about security then why 3 programs? Why not free up the system?

Really then it just if you want both hooked up and one will be wireless then you need a router

I do not need EXTRA security measures to make me feel more at ease is what I'm saying. I am comfortable at the level I am at and have had no problems thus far using what I have.

I am going to try erocker's suggestion and try to get my Surfboard to work as a router. I am pretty sure that my motherboard came with an integrated 10/100 network card. I have to see, if that's the case, do I even need to purchase anything at all? Or do I need to purchase a NIC card and put it into my brother's machine?

 

[erocker]

I am going to try erocker's suggestion and try to get my Surfboard to work as a router. I am pretty sure that my motherboard came with an integrated 10/100 network card. I have to see, if that's the case, do I even need to purchase anything at all?

One thing I do for security reasons is not use wireless. I have four outputs on my Surfboard and all of my machines are hooked up with cables. Though I mentioned it earlier you don't need to use DMZ mode, I suppose it can be a bit excessive of not thinking about security, but to each their own. All the port forwarding options are there if you need them anyways. Of course it is also good practice to change your password from "motorola" to something else. Both of your motherboards have a network connector that I'm pretty positive on.

 

[newtekie1]

I am going to try erocker's suggestion and try to get my Surfboard to work as a router.

Not all SURFboard modems can act as a router, in fact most of the ones given away by the cable companies can't. The SB5101 us probably the most common modem given away by cable companies, at least it is in my area, and it is just a straight modem. The SB6120, SBG6580, and SBG901 can be used as a router.

 

[ChristTheGreat]

One thing I do for security reasons is not use wireless. I have four outputs on my Surfboard and all of my machines are hooked up with cables. Though I mentioned it earlier you don't need to use DMZ mode, I suppose it can be a bit excessive of not thinking about security, but to each their own. All the port forwarding options are there if you need them anyways. Of course it is also good practice to change your password from "motorola" to something else. Both of your motherboards have a network connector that I'm pretty positive on.

For security reason? I use to have my WRT160N configured with WPA2 encryption, No issue here.. also at my job we also have a wireless connection for the shop computer, which is fine since if we are moving computer, you don't need to pass other cable. WPA2 with hidden wireless..

In a house, or appartment, somtimes you can't pass cable, so that's why wireless is a good way. I'm using my computer in wireless with an Asus-N13 (USB).

I way prefer being behind a router, and open the port I need than be accessible from my Internet IP..

Anyway, for him, I think the best solution is wireless...


Also, some people runs DMZ, fine. That is not the point. Being accessible from your Internet IP directly, it's less secure... that's is the only point, it's not marketing. I'm 10)% if you ask a real hacker, hacking or send a virus to a computer, one that has WIndows + Anti-virus with his Internet IP vs behing a router, it will be much more easy... if you could only see how many port are opened without a firewall...

http://www.whatsmyip.org/ports/

and it's not just about port, Windows has security Issue you know.. it's not safe at 100%, there is nothing perfectly safe. Someone accessing your IP will hit rotuer instead of your computer..

 

[erocker]

Not just security reasons, performance reasons and the fact I don't need to install wireless cards into my systems.

 

[Crap Daddy]

If this can help, I'm having 2 machines, one modem, one router and one wireless card. The router, D-Link Dir-600 is connected to the modem, the first machine is hooked directly to the router through cable. The second machine is aprox 8 meters away, has the card installed and a little antenna in another room and has two 70cm thick walls between its position and the router. Everything is going great, I can play in one room and my son in the other with no ping or lag problems. I have 20Mb down and 2.5Mb. up.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I have my router as close to the center of the house as possible then then have everything that isn't next to it either run off an unmanaged switch and a long cable run (~55 feet) or run off the router's wireless antenna.

 

[ChristTheGreat]

Not just security reasons, performance reasons and the fact I don't need to install wireless cards into my systems.

LAN sharing, yeah wireless will be crap vs wired, but on the internet, with my 150mbps, I still have full download, low ping...

I would do the same, havign wired all computer, but sometimes you just can't... I wouldn't like to have my wired on the ground or tape to the ceiling... Anyway, if he can, he should go with wired, instead, wireless is the solution

 

[THRiLL KiLL]

About security.. meh. I've run machines in DMZ mode for years without a problem

i really hope that you have some sort of software firewall for the machines on the dmz. If not, all a person would need is an ip address, and welcome to the botnet, enjoy your stay

 

[erocker]

i really hope that you have some sort of software firewall for the machines on the dmz. If not, all a person would need is an ip address, and welcome to the botnet, enjoy your stay

3+ years of living on the edge. Don't feel bad for me. Of course there's a software firewall on all of my Windows machines, plus one or two other measures.

 

[happita]

So the router will only be beneficial to me for both computers I see. And from what I read, the only way getting a router will be beneficial for a single system is that it lets me have that extra layer of security before a hacker gets into my computer vs. getting into the router first then the computer.
So, no speed increase with the use of a good quality wireless router? Like for example, my ISP enables me to get a max of 15MB down, but it never even scratches the surface of that. The best DL speed I have ever gotten is a steady 1.6MB.
The concensus seems like so then:
Scenario 1 = out
Scenario 2 = in

 

[erocker]

So the router will only be beneficial to me for both computers I see. And from what I read, the only way getting a router will be beneficial for a single system is that it lets me have that extra layer of security before a hacker gets into my computer vs. getting into the router first then the computer.
So, no speed increase with the use of a good quality wireless router? Like for example, my ISP enables me to get a max of 15MB down, but it never even scratches the surface of that. The best DL speed I have ever gotten is a steady 1.6MB.
The concensus seems like so then:
Scenario 1 = out
Scenario 2 = in

Does your cable modem have more than one network cable out? You don't need a router for a single computer. No you won't get any speed increase. 15MB down actually means 15 mega bits and you're pulling 1.6 megabytes so you're getting what you paid for.

 

[happita]

Does your cable modem have more than one network cable out? You don't need a router for a single computer. No you won't get any speed increase. 15MB down actually means 15 mega bits and you're pulling 1.6 megabytes so you're getting what you paid for.

Nope, only 1 ethernet jack on the modem itself.