I have ended up using all 4 ports of my DSL router. I have the Actiontec 1000 that Qwest sells, rents whatever… it is wireless as well. One port is my computer, one is my wife’s , one is connected to the DVR for the Direct TV and the other is for the Weatherlink IP.
On the wireless side, the basement computer that sends the weather data to the net ( it is 130mbps. more like 72mbps) , two wireless injet printers. My granddaughters laptop and her Ipod…
Anyway, I think I need a couple extra ports and would not be wanting wireless … I would want the faster speed… so should I get a wired router or a wired switch? What think is that I want to wire in my security cameras as well as the basement computer, take that off the wireless and run ethernet upstairs.
You need a wired switch, I suggest getting at least an 8 port. You would only need a router if you wanted to set up the extra devices on a separate segment of your network, in which case they could connect to the internet through the existing router, but would not be visible from the existing network.
A router passes out IP addresses to your computer. I most cases you only want one router on a network. A switch just passes the signal on. Switch is like those things you put in an electrical outlet. It takes up one hole but creates several more. A lot of modems have modem - router - switch built in. This sounds like what you have. Short answer. You want a switch. But like all things. There are several differences in switches.
You may have managed switches at work, those need some configuring, but for home something like this will do the job and it’s smart enough to manage itself, no configuring required, just plug it in and it works.
An 8 port switch will yield 6 extra connections, you lose 2 connections for the connection between the router and the switch.
Sorry aardvark, I meant that one for dwesley because he had linked a gigabit switch which is overkill at home where it is most unlikely to have gigabit ethernet. Unless you have something special installed you will have 10/100 ethernet - like the switches that Bob and I linked.
This refers to the network wiring in the house, nothing to do with the speed of the internet connection.
Not to mention keep your eye out and may find a deal I got this one for about $20 IIRC and bought a second as a backup as I have had them fried from electrical storms…
This may be useful for anyone wishing to buy network equipment for use at home.
Hub=Connects computer together onto the same piece of wire. You can get collisions between packets of info which slows everything down. Old technology.
Switch=Connects computers together making each one seem as if it has its own wire so there are a lot fewer collisions. Not much more expensive than a hub and worth the extra money IMHO.
Router=Device that routes packets of information from one ‘sub-net’ to another, e.g. between your home network and the Internet.
Modem=Device that converts digital signals to another signalling format for long range transmission down a low bandwidth wire, and vice versa.
DHCP server=A server that gives out IP addresses to PCs.
Some devices sold as routers (for home use) are actually a combination of modem, router and DHCP server (and in some cases a firewall too).
There’s also ebay to get off lease switches or “obsolete” hardware. I bought a 24 port HP Procurve managed switch for 50 including shipping. I have a 1g copper and 100FX fiber transceiver in it. I also have mrtg setup on my weather/web server to read data off the switch to monitor bandwidth usage. For the cost of a used and/or “old” unit, this level of hardware is unmatched by the typical home/small office hardware.
