Technology Modem & Wireless Router in One?

[Monkey12]

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Hey all,

Since I'm likely to need internet at my apt for med school, does anyone know if a modem & wireless router combo exists and if so, any recommendations for a good one?


Thanks!

 

[DrMidlife]

You don't want them to be the same device, because the modem isn't the same for different service providers. A cable modem isn't the same device as a DSL modem which isn't the same as a phone modem. And if you have competing cable or phone companies, they won't each use the same modem either.

Usually when you sign up for internet service, it includes the lease or purchase of a modem. Find a geek in your building (the ones that download a lot of porn are reliable) and get what he/she has.

Get a router if you want to be wireless, or if you'll have more than one computer at your apt. Otherwise save your money and plug in to the modem.

If you're still doing dialup, you shouldn't be thinking about a router. Putting ANYTHING between dialup and your machine is ridiculous. Dialup is ridiculous.

 

[MadameLULU]

moving....You may get more responses in Technology.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

moving....You may get more responses in Technology.

Probably get less response. 🙄

 

[16846]

Linksys typically makes the best combo devices.

 

[CBG23]

Linksys typically makes the best combo devices.

Wow, that's a gory avatar

 

[stbxTechie]

Get a router if you want to be wireless, or if you'll have more than one computer at your apt. Otherwise save your money and plug in to the modem.

Even with a single machine on a wired connection, a router (especially one with a firewall; all but the cheapest have some firewall functionality) gives a bit of protection against worms and DoS attacks. A wireless one - even if you only have a desktop, and they're hardly any more expensive - also means that if your study-buddies come over with a laptop or two, they'll be able to get online.

Wireless routers aren't substantially more expensive than non-wireless; in general, if the OP really shops around, they should be able to get a decent one for $40-50 (sometimes cheaper than that; frys.com and similar places often have ones from TrendNet/Hawking/AirLink+ for $20 or so - although Netgear or Linksys are both safer choices)

One other option is to get combined Modem/Router from the phone company or cable company. From what I've seen of the "2Wire" combo ones that SBC/AT&T sells out here, they're crap, but other models might be better.

With cable, in theory you can use any DOCSIS model with your connection and there are some combined cable-modem/router models from Linksys and other decent companies.

If you're still doing dialup, you shouldn't be thinking about a router. Putting ANYTHING between dialup and your machine is ridiculous. Dialup is ridiculous.

Agreed. Budgeting for some kind of broadband (whether DSL or Cable) should be considered a mandatory educational expense.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

Some of the very first 802.11b Cable/DSL routers had an RS-232 port that you could connect a MODEM to to be used as a "backup" if the cable/DSL connection went down. I used one back when I lived in the boonies and couldn't get anything faster than ISDN. If you didn't hook anything to the cable/DSL connection, it would effectively share the dialup connection with wireless clients. To my knowledge, this feature hasn't been included for at least 5 years on most/all routers.

You can probably find one cheap on eBay. If you only have dialup, you don't need anything more than 802.11b anyway.

 

[TMP-SMX]

Here's what you want:

Go to Newegg and buy the
LINKSYS WRT54GL IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11b/g Wireless-G Broadband Router and the LINKSYS BEFCMU10 Cable Modem with USB and Ethernet Connections

Do that and you'll be in business. You get a 20 dollar rebate on the modem and 10 on the router. Doesn't get much better than that.