Router?

Quick Easy question...OK...I got a PC that I want to stay wired to the internet (PC running WinXP..internet is Verizon DSL..Modem is Westell 6100)..My wife has a laptop that we wanna connect wireless to the internet (laptop has Win7)..I bought a Netgear WNDR3400 router that I want to use. Will this work and Can someone explain the steps I need to take next?

Thanks in advance...

 

The router manual should have instructions for this. If yours did not come with printed instructions, check the disk that came with it. If no disk, download the manual from Netgear - but basically, the router sits between the device serving as your "gateway" device to the Internet (your modem) and your network - everything on your side of the router.

When setting up a network, I generally like to start with everything shutdown and unplugged - power and network. Plug in the modem and wait for the lights to stabilize. On the back of virtually every router there is a port designated as the "uplink" port to connect the router to another network, in this case, the Internet. They are often labeled as "Uplink", "WAN", "Internet", or some combination - yours, as seen on page 5 of your manual, is the yellow port labeled as the "Internet WAN" port. Connect the router to the modem, then power on the router, wait for lights to stabilize. Then connect your wired PC to one of the Ethernet ports of the integrated 4-Port switch. Make sure you fully setup your router with your wired computer before worrying about wireless. Change all the the router default passwords and network names (to nothing a nosy neighbor could guess or connect to you), learn the router menu. See "attached devices" to see your PCs IP. See if you can connect to the Internet. Setup any Ethernet connected NAS or network printers. Then wireless printers. Make sure your PC can access all devices, then add the wireless computers.

Once you have setup the wireless side of your network I recommend you turn off SSID broadcasting. That won't slow down a determined hacker, but it will stop the nosy neighborhood kid from discovering your network, guessing your passphrase, then use your network for who knows what.

 

Ummm sorry, but that is not true at all. All a router does is connect and isolate two networks. You can have dozens of routers all daisy chained or spread out like tree branches if you wanted too. Many people, including myself, have two routers on the house network, one for my home network, the 2nd creates and isolates my business network from the home side. Many businesses use multiple routers to isolate departments and manage access.

Sorry, but that is not always true either. Those that do are called residential gateways, (or DSL routers) and those that don't are called DSL modems - at least until marketing and PR people get involved. But I should not have assumed one way or the other.

It changes nothing, however. Because it is perfectly fine to use multiple routers, you still connect your Netgear to the Westell and the rest of your network as I described earlier. Your Westell manual should explain more.

Right. But note home routers, such as his Netgear WNDR3400 which I was commenting about, typically have 4 or 8-port Ethernet switches integrated in the same box. Some may even also include a WAP, wireless access point - as with the OP's. But in any event, they are 3 separate devices (switch, router, wap) that just happen to share a circuit board, case, and power supply.

So, no, I did not forget, but I did make an assumption with checking Westall specs. Sorry for any confusion.

In retrospect, all you would have needed is a 4-Port Ethernet switch (or hub, but switch is better) then you could connect your PC to it, and the WAP to it as well. But I am afraid a separate switch and WAP will cost you more than a wireless router (another marketing term) with a 4-port switch.

 

Huh? Are you saying all DSL modems are combo (modem/router) devices? I don't believe so. I believe some are and some are not.

Ah, I just saw Digerati's second post, which confirms my thoughts.

 

Thanks..I will call Verizon about the "bridge" as soon as I get a chance...Would this be any different if I replace the wireless router with a modem/wireless router combo??