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Msp
wireless or wired? i'm confused! ok-right now, i have wireless internet,
from comcast. the modem or router thing, i rent from them at $7 bucks,
is in my living room, and my pc is in my room, hooked up to my hdtv.
how, ever-i'm tired of paying comcast the extra $7 dollars a month!
so, i'm thinking about buying the "Motorola SB6141 DOCSIS modem".
i want to have a WIRED internet connection, and be able to share
that "wired connection" to my old '2006' pc, apple tv, wireless printer,
and an iphone 5. BTW..the pc will be DEAD soon, until, i can afford
another one! so, i'll only have the apple tv, printer and iphone, to connect.
do i need a wireless or wired modem, or wireless/wired router?
i appreciate your help. thanks.
Answer
Here is how it works,
A router connects two separate networks and manage the traffic between them.
A wireless router enables you to provide wireless (WiFi) Internet access to all of your WiFi enabled devices such as laptops, game consoles, cell phones and tablets, Streaming devices such as Roku boxes and Internet enabled TV and sound devices, etc.
In most home network applications the router connects your local group of computers and devices known as the LAN with the Internet, commonly called the WAN or Wide Area Network.
Two types of Internet devices are commonly sold.
1. Combination modem / routers, often called gateways.
2. Stand alone routers which can be connected to a stand alone modem.
DSL and Cable modems use different technology, for this reason you can't use a cable gateway (DOCSIS) with DSL or use a DSL gateway (ADSL2+) with a cable Internet connection.
A highly rated DOCSIS 3.0 cable gateway is the Motorola SBG6580. It is currently about $120 at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040IUI46/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=excharge-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0040IUI46
You could also buy a standalone cable modem and connect it to a separate wireless router.
If you buy an older DOCSIS 2.0 model and you are paying for a speed tier over 20 Mbps. then you will probably not see the throughput that you should.
Be sure to get a newer compatible DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem such as the Motorola SB6120. It supports bonded channels and will increase your cable Internet performance.
As far as routers go,
A fast wireless router does not make your Internet faster.
Your WAN speed is determined by your ISP and is measured in Mbps (Millions of bits per second).
For example if you pay for a 10 Mbps Internet connection, you will get 10 Mbps.
No router or modem will change your 10 Mbps Internet speed.
This Internet connection bandwidth is shared by your entire LAN via your router.
If you have a 10 Mbps plan and one user is utilizing 5 Mbps of the bandwidth to stream a HD Netflix movie that only leaves 5 Mbps for all of the rest of the users on the LAN.
Fast routers and network devices are designed to stream large files on your LAN quickly. The high speed routers permit fast transfer of files between devices connected to your LAN, however WAN speed is still limited by your ISP.
WIRELESS RANGE:
Wireless signals are affected by many factors including distance, wall density, electrical interference, directional antenna range, etc. All of these factors will affect your actual wireless range.
Many wireless connections also experience interference from microwave ovens and cordless phones which interfere with the 2.4 GHz band.
Dual band routers have multiple wireless radios enabling broadcast on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands simultaneously.
Using the 5 GHz band cuts down on interference from cordless phones and microwave ovens..
Not all devices can use the 5 GHz frequency. Many laptops and other devices only operate at 2.4 GHz. Thus the need for dual band routers.
Just because a particular wireless router works good at one location does not guarantee that it will have similar performance in a different location due to variance in the factors listed above.
You should try to centrally locate your wireless router or gateway up high and away from dense walls and electrical and 2.4 GHz wireless interference such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, baby monitors, etc.
Wireless routers are fairly inexpensive. http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=wireless%20router&url=search-alias%3Daps&sprefix=wireless%20ro%2Caps%2C490&tag=excharge-20
You don't have to buy your modem, router or gateway from your ISP, you can get one from a local retailer such as BestBuy or Fry's or online from places like Amazon.
As far as the brand goes, the brand is not as important as the model. Some manufacturers release a good model but the next is crap. I would look at the Amazon reviews of models that interest you. Even if you don't buy from Amazon the reviews will tell you a lot about which models to avoid. Look for at least 20 or more reviews with at least a 4 star rating. Read a few and see if they sound like the particular model will work for your application.
Most cable Internet providers use the cable modem's MAC address to activate the modem.
Every device that has a network interface has a unique MAC (Media Access Control) address. This is usually expressed in hexadecimal such as 10:25:A4:59:EF:1C
You'll have to call your cable provider with the MAC of the new modem so they can activate it on your account. The MAC address is usually printed on a sticker attached to the modem.
Good Luck...
Here is how it works,
A router connects two separate networks and manage the traffic between them.
A wireless router enables you to provide wireless (WiFi) Internet access to all of your WiFi enabled devices such as laptops, game consoles, cell phones and tablets, Streaming devices such as Roku boxes and Internet enabled TV and sound devices, etc.
In most home network applications the router connects your local group of computers and devices known as the LAN with the Internet, commonly called the WAN or Wide Area Network.
Two types of Internet devices are commonly sold.
1. Combination modem / routers, often called gateways.
2. Stand alone routers which can be connected to a stand alone modem.
DSL and Cable modems use different technology, for this reason you can't use a cable gateway (DOCSIS) with DSL or use a DSL gateway (ADSL2+) with a cable Internet connection.
A highly rated DOCSIS 3.0 cable gateway is the Motorola SBG6580. It is currently about $120 at Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0040IUI46/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=excharge-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0040IUI46
You could also buy a standalone cable modem and connect it to a separate wireless router.
If you buy an older DOCSIS 2.0 model and you are paying for a speed tier over 20 Mbps. then you will probably not see the throughput that you should.
Be sure to get a newer compatible DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem such as the Motorola SB6120. It supports bonded channels and will increase your cable Internet performance.
As far as routers go,
A fast wireless router does not make your Internet faster.
Your WAN speed is determined by your ISP and is measured in Mbps (Millions of bits per second).
For example if you pay for a 10 Mbps Internet connection, you will get 10 Mbps.
No router or modem will change your 10 Mbps Internet speed.
This Internet connection bandwidth is shared by your entire LAN via your router.
If you have a 10 Mbps plan and one user is utilizing 5 Mbps of the bandwidth to stream a HD Netflix movie that only leaves 5 Mbps for all of the rest of the users on the LAN.
Fast routers and network devices are designed to stream large files on your LAN quickly. The high speed routers permit fast transfer of files between devices connected to your LAN, however WAN speed is still limited by your ISP.
WIRELESS RANGE:
Wireless signals are affected by many factors including distance, wall density, electrical interference, directional antenna range, etc. All of these factors will affect your actual wireless range.
Many wireless connections also experience interference from microwave ovens and cordless phones which interfere with the 2.4 GHz band.
Dual band routers have multiple wireless radios enabling broadcast on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands simultaneously.
Using the 5 GHz band cuts down on interference from cordless phones and microwave ovens..
Not all devices can use the 5 GHz frequency. Many laptops and other devices only operate at 2.4 GHz. Thus the need for dual band routers.
Just because a particular wireless router works good at one location does not guarantee that it will have similar performance in a different location due to variance in the factors listed above.
You should try to centrally locate your wireless router or gateway up high and away from dense walls and electrical and 2.4 GHz wireless interference such as microwave ovens, cordless phones, baby monitors, etc.
Wireless routers are fairly inexpensive. http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=wireless%20router&url=search-alias%3Daps&sprefix=wireless%20ro%2Caps%2C490&tag=excharge-20
You don't have to buy your modem, router or gateway from your ISP, you can get one from a local retailer such as BestBuy or Fry's or online from places like Amazon.
As far as the brand goes, the brand is not as important as the model. Some manufacturers release a good model but the next is crap. I would look at the Amazon reviews of models that interest you. Even if you don't buy from Amazon the reviews will tell you a lot about which models to avoid. Look for at least 20 or more reviews with at least a 4 star rating. Read a few and see if they sound like the particular model will work for your application.
Most cable Internet providers use the cable modem's MAC address to activate the modem.
Every device that has a network interface has a unique MAC (Media Access Control) address. This is usually expressed in hexadecimal such as 10:25:A4:59:EF:1C
You'll have to call your cable provider with the MAC of the new modem so they can activate it on your account. The MAC address is usually printed on a sticker attached to the modem.
Good Luck...
Any advice for a new laptop user?
simply_col
Hey,
I just bought my first laptop. It took me a really long time to save for it so I want to make it last as long as possible.
It's an Acer, I love it.
Anyhow, I was wondering if you could offer any advice, most of everyone I know have desktops so I really don't have anyone to ask.
My one friend said she recommends I get a cooling pad because if my labtop is sitting on my lap I could easily block the vents on the bottom and fry the things inside. If thats true, that's the kind of advice I'm looking for!
So anything advice you have would be awesome.
Also it had a nice sleek black pannel on the outside but the only problem is it shows finger prints like no other...Is there anything I should not clean it with?
How often should I clean the keyboard and with what?
Thanks!
Answer
general computer use policies:
1. do not, do not, do not, eat/drink around it if you are clumsy. or if you think you may become clumsy around laptops. you would laugh if i told you how many people come to me with "i spilled mountain dew on my keyboard, what now?" type of situation.
with pc's, that's easy. buy a new keyboard. with laptops, that's usually "buy a new laptop".
2. don't do anything you wouldn't do to a baby. i.e., don't leave it upside down, don't leave it in extreme conditions (e.g. on the floor on front of the heat, or on the window sill), don't let it sit in filth (laptops have holes in the bottom, dust likes holes, laptop hardware doesn't like dust), etc.
3. don't leave it on carpets, speakers, etc. all you need is the smallest spark of static for something to shortcircuit on the motherboard and everything to go to hell.
4. don't power it up and down constantly. that goes for desktops just as much as laptops. if you need it to be on and off (you travel during the day), hibernate or standby it. don't shut down entirely 60 times a day. computers are not built for that.
5. this sounds stupid, i know, but, don't shake it under the pretence of "getting the dust out of the keyboard". just, don't. anything with water is also in this category.
6. don't clean it with *anything* other than special liquid and cloth that you buy in best buy/circuit city. grab one of the working nerds and ask them for monitor cleaning liquid. it's around $10 and it will clean anything that's sensitive. including back panels.
7. always be aware that there is a lot of things working in the background while you're just surfing the net. things get hot. one alternative is getting a cooling pad (watch the sizes, let me know if you find one for 17"), but what you should always be careful about - vent openings. be careful so nothing is obstructing them for a long period of time.
8. don't be internet-stupid. internet-stupid = downloading anything and everything, watching porn on suspicious sites, believing that you *will* win that iphone if you click on the commercial, etc. again, you would not believe how many people go for that.
9. clean the junk regularly, schedule virus/spyware scans (schedule it for 4am, if you don't want it to intrude on your working time), defrag the disc, clean the registry, and do it all on regular basis.
the baby will be thankful and will serve you many years to come :)
just use common sense.
general computer use policies:
1. do not, do not, do not, eat/drink around it if you are clumsy. or if you think you may become clumsy around laptops. you would laugh if i told you how many people come to me with "i spilled mountain dew on my keyboard, what now?" type of situation.
with pc's, that's easy. buy a new keyboard. with laptops, that's usually "buy a new laptop".
2. don't do anything you wouldn't do to a baby. i.e., don't leave it upside down, don't leave it in extreme conditions (e.g. on the floor on front of the heat, or on the window sill), don't let it sit in filth (laptops have holes in the bottom, dust likes holes, laptop hardware doesn't like dust), etc.
3. don't leave it on carpets, speakers, etc. all you need is the smallest spark of static for something to shortcircuit on the motherboard and everything to go to hell.
4. don't power it up and down constantly. that goes for desktops just as much as laptops. if you need it to be on and off (you travel during the day), hibernate or standby it. don't shut down entirely 60 times a day. computers are not built for that.
5. this sounds stupid, i know, but, don't shake it under the pretence of "getting the dust out of the keyboard". just, don't. anything with water is also in this category.
6. don't clean it with *anything* other than special liquid and cloth that you buy in best buy/circuit city. grab one of the working nerds and ask them for monitor cleaning liquid. it's around $10 and it will clean anything that's sensitive. including back panels.
7. always be aware that there is a lot of things working in the background while you're just surfing the net. things get hot. one alternative is getting a cooling pad (watch the sizes, let me know if you find one for 17"), but what you should always be careful about - vent openings. be careful so nothing is obstructing them for a long period of time.
8. don't be internet-stupid. internet-stupid = downloading anything and everything, watching porn on suspicious sites, believing that you *will* win that iphone if you click on the commercial, etc. again, you would not believe how many people go for that.
9. clean the junk regularly, schedule virus/spyware scans (schedule it for 4am, if you don't want it to intrude on your working time), defrag the disc, clean the registry, and do it all on regular basis.
the baby will be thankful and will serve you many years to come :)
just use common sense.
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