Jake Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 I have 20meg cable broadband from Virgin Media and the standard cable modem it came with. I want to add a wireless router so that I can connect 3 wired (ethernet) PCs, an XBox 360 (again via ethernet) and a wireless connection for a laptop. So, do I just need a new router and just connect the existing cable modem to it? Or should I be looking for a router with built in cable modem to replace the existing one? Anybody suggest a suitable one that's known to work well with Virgin cable? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 You can't replace the virgin modem, as it is theirs, so all you need is a mini router which has an ethernet up link port. There are plenty of them out there, any particular brand choice? I had good success with Linksys WRT54G stuff to be honest. I'd assume your laptop is standard 802.11b/g, so I wouldn't bother with this pre-n crap that they are flogging, get a nice reliable 802.11g unit. PABS was selling one I seem to remember, didn't want a lot of pennies for it either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted June 29, 2008 Author Share Posted June 29, 2008 Thanks Gav. So Instead of the ethernet from the modem to my PC like it is now, I just connect the modem to the router and everything else to the router too - right? And just about any wireless router will do? I'm looking for a good reliable one. Netgear/Linksys something like that I guess. If it was something from http://www.novatech.co.uk that would be a bonus as they're local. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Iam with virgin media and have done exactly as you say. New router (i am using a linksys wrt54g with firware upgrade) cable modem plugged in to router > then set up via the routers interface. i went with fixed ip's for mine - xbox, downstairs pc, upstairs pc + a free slot for a wireless laptop, job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Thanks Gav. So Instead of the ethernet from the modem to my PC like it is now, I just connect the modem to the router and everything else to the router too - right? And just about any wireless router will do? I'm looking for a good reliable one. Netgear/Linksys something like that I guess. If it was something from http://www.novatech.co.uk that would be a bonus as they're local. Yup, that is exactly it. It is fairly straight forward. I'll have a look at novatech's site for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted June 29, 2008 Author Share Posted June 29, 2008 Iam with virgin media and have done exactly as you say. New router (i am using a linksys wrt54g with firware upgrade) cable modem plugged in to router > then set up via the routers interface. i went with fixed ip's for mine - xbox, downstairs pc, upstairs pc + a free slot for a wireless laptop, job done. Thanks Col. What do you mean about a free slot for wireless laptop? What slot is that? Does the wrt54g have enough ethernet ports for wired 3 PCs and a Xbox? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Consider this as well.... http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2100vg.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Thanks Col. What do you mean about a free slot for wireless laptop? What slot is that? Does the wrt54g have enough ethernet ports for wired 3 PCs and a Xbox? It has one connection for your cable modem then 4 slots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Thanks Col. What do you mean about a free slot for wireless laptop? What slot is that? Does the wrt54g have enough ethernet ports for wired 3 PCs and a Xbox? As col hinted at, the wrt54g has the ability to get a 'modified' firmware, which if nothing else is very handy at boosting up the signal strength. Col, which firmware did you got for in the end? Jake, had a quick look at novatech and they don't REALLY seem to have anything other than the BFR unit.. (Most of the linksys/netgear stuff has 4 ports for computers) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 As col hinted at, the wrt54g has the ability to get a 'modified' firmware, which if nothing else is very handy at boosting up the signal strength. Col, which firmware did you got for in the end? Jake, had a quick look at novatech and they don't REALLY seem to have anything other than the BFR unit.. (Most of the linksys/netgear stuff has 4 ports for computers) I went with the only one that seemed to be compatible with my version of the linksys router: DD WRT V23 sp1 (micro) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Is the new wireless 5Ghz technology been released yet? Because as soon as thats down to a reasonable cost I will be getting that, so my wireless network has no interference from devices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Is the new wireless 5Ghz technology been released yet? Because as soon as thats down to a reasonable cost I will be getting that, so my wireless network has no interference from devices. 802.11n is still in draft spec, there was however some kit in the US that did both 802.11n-pre 2.4ghz and 5ghz, but these aren't available over here. The other choice is 802.11a which isn't really in the price range of the home user. I personally wouldn't touch the pre-n stuff yet, wait until it is a formalized spec otherwise you run the risk of being bound to a supplier's type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Don't forget you'll need a router that can spoof the MAC address of your PC to fool the modem into thinking you're still connected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Don't forget you'll need a router that can spoof the MAC address of your PC to fool the modem into thinking you're still connected. Why? I've never needed to do that, simply reboot the modem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 I'm going back about 8 years Gav, but when I first had my (512k) NTL modem set up it would only work with one MAC address. That address had to be registered with the NTL network - if you as much as swapped PCs it just wouldn't work. Maybe things are different now that Virgin have taken over? I'm still using the same modem though so can't tell. I know it's still the same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Linksys wrt54GL FTW, excellent routers. Then you can flash the firmware when you get bored Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Another vote for the WRT54G's here. I went for the WRT54G-S which is the speedbooster version. I set up the rangebooster version in a friends house the other day with no issues also. Had a look on novatech and they sell the speedbooster & rangebooster versions. Just go with whichever one is the most appropriate. As for the MAC spoofing, its not required anymore as virgin don't check but they did previously. It is handy though if you want to change your ip for whatever reason. If you change the MAC address using the spoofer then reboot your modem you will be given a different IP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhGod Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Seems from previous posters the WRT54G is a good way to go. If you choose to go another brand just make sure it's a 'cable router' and not a standard 'ADSL router'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordy07 Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 How much is the WRT54G roughly ive got virgin too,i might be interested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 As for the MAC spoofing, its not required anymore as virgin don't check but they did previously. It is handy though if you want to change your ip for whatever reason. If you change the MAC address using the spoofer then reboot your modem you will be given a different IP.Ooh, thanks. That's nice to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 How much is the WRT54G roughly ive got virgin too,i might be interested Usually around £40. You can get them from the site Jake mentioned. Ooh, thanks. That's nice to know. No worries Handy for rapidshare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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