re: Part II: General speed questions, and please recommend a router

Thanks, I'll give it a shot when I get home this evening.

23.81 down
8.17 up

With my crappy laptop connected directly to the modem. And the modem is a Zoom, model 5241. It's probably 6-7 years old.

I tried again with my iPad after using the computer and got speeds similar to what I posted in page 1. I guess that narrows it down to the router.

I assume the modem is fine, so I should just get a new router. I'll start looking on amazon. I also saw that hogfan posted a couple but I'm unsure if I need something like that.

8.94
1.07

From my phone.


New router it is.


Thanks again fellers.

quote:

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It's a plain old Netgear router that's about 5-6 years old. I'm kind of impressed that there are 4 replies and they're all semi-serious.

Thanks again guys, ill start looking for a new one.

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I'll give you some advice contrary to what most of the dipshits here will tell you. Most people will probably tell you to go to BestBuy and pickup whatever they're peddling.

There is no decent router at any store nearby, so don't bother.

Ubiquiti continues to impress me, even with their consumer/inexpensive stuff.

Something like this: LINK

That's if you actually need a router. Most people don't know what a router is or does, though, and I'm not sure if you do.

The main purpose of a home router is NATing. (NAT for network address translation). It takes one address either given by a bridged modem or statically assigned by your ISP, and passes traffic from that public IP to private IP addresses on your LAN. NAT is what allows multiple devices on your network to use the one internet connection.

That would be the case if you had something like a Motorola Surfboard modem...at least the older ones like I have that are simple bridges..I don't know if the new ones do routing / NAT built in.

If your "modem" has multiple LAN ports then it most likely also a router itself. If that's the case, then you don't need a router. You just need a switch or a wireless access point.

You're probably thinking, "What the frick is this dork talking about". I'll try to dumb it down.

Your cable modem has a coaxial cable coming into it.

Besides that port, how many RJ45 ports (looks like telephone plug, but slightly larger) are there?

If only 1, then it's just a modem/bridge, and you need to buy a router.

If multiple (normally about 4) then the modem is also a router itself and you don't need a router. In fact, adding a router to an already routed network is stupid, and will most likely cause strange problems especially if you ever need to do anything with port forwarding.

So, if you don't need a router, I would suggest just using an access point like this: LINK which is an enterprise class, scalable AP system at a good price. Or if you want to take advantage of 5 Ghz spectrum (more speed wirelessly) you can go with: LINK


InB4 too long can't read.

My modem only has one plug on the back so I always assumed I needed the router. You are correct in assuming I don't know jack shite about this stuff because I don't. Per my esteemed colleague, Cocomo, you're the man to listen to (not discrediting Jeff or the other folks, bc y'all helped as well).

I'll buy the router you suggested when I get back to my office a little later today. Thanks for the help.