Anyone know of a router capable of "dialing up"

[RockOn123]

I'm a newbie. So please no flames. I don't have the fancy cable/dsl connection right now, but I may get it in the future. I'm in the market to set up a network with 5-6 computers to share internet. I use a dial-up service currently, but would like to buy a router now so when I do upgrade to dsl I don't have to rebuy equipment.

After all that, I'm looking for a router that can be used with a typical dial-up internet connection. Any help would be appreciated.

thanks

 

[Tallgeese]

SMC's SOHO routers have a serial connection for analog dial-up support. It would also support boradband options later down the road (hope you get an option in your area soon).

The 4 port models (either SM7004BR or SMC7004ABR) are much cheaper than higher port count models. You could always boost your available ports by using an inexpensive hub or switch.

HTH

 

[CSoup]

some Asante, SMC, and 3Com routers have support for dial-up.

 

[Workin']

I have an SMC 7004BR, I like it a lot. I used it with dial-up for quite a while. Now I have cable and use it with that. It was easy to set up, too.

I also have a Linksys 8-port switch connected to it so I have 10 ports available for PCs on the local network.

 

[Santa]

I second a vote for Asante

 

[cipher00]

...and SMC again. If you have the extra $, you could even consider a Wi-Fi router if you're ever going to add a laptop to the LAN.

 

[steell]

I use an old Pentium 120 computer that someone gave me, along with Freebsd, and set up router, bridging, and ppp services. I have a total of 7$ in it (I bought a used nic). When I got cable, I just stuck in another nic, and reconfigured FreeBSD. When the hard drive died, I removed it, and went to a floppy based firewall/router, FreeSCO. So $14 for two nics, $30 for a used switch, and then the cables and nics for the rest of the computers. Pretty cheap and works really well. And just for the record, I knew zero about networking or FreeBSD when I started my network, so I figure anyone can do it

 

[Hoober]

I used the SMC 7004AWBR with an external modem before I got DSL. It worked fine for the four months I used it.

 

[sirfergy]

The advantage of getting a hardware router is that it is small and silent. It is also plug and play. There is very little you have to do to set it up.

 

[calpha]

I've used two solutions and both worked great.

#1:
Pentium Box w/ 32 MEgs Ram, 1 Floppy 1 NIC 1 Modem No HD
Freesco (setup is a cinch as long as you don't have a winmodem---but i'd recommend an external modem)
Freesco

Freesco is a linux floppy distribution and don't worry. You don't have to know jack about Linux. Just be able to follow directions:

#2:
Off of EGAY, I bought a Netopia 2121R series router. It has two built in 56k modems. I dial up both lines at the same time for that extra unimpressive umph. Your ISP has to support dual dial in though to use both lines. Howver, if it doesn't, you can still use the 2121 for 1 dial in. I will say comparitively, that the 2121 was a LOT harder to setup properly than the FREESCO box, although dialing on two lines did compound the problem. It has an 8 port hub, but it's 10BaseT only. That solution cost me $100 from EGAY.

 

[Abzstrak]

dlinks also have a serial port for a modem

 

[drquest]

I've not tried this one myself but was impressed with some of its' features. Multitech router

It has RAS built in so you can dial into your network wherever you are and get on your network.

mrpeabody

 

[drquest]

Also... if you're interested in wireless, the Orinoco RG1000, which I have and the Apple Airport, which is PC compatible by using this Freebase both have 56K modems built into them and will do NAT.

mrpeabody

 

[RockOn123]

Thanks for the feedback guys/gals. This multitech router mrpeabody mentioned, anyone ever used it? Sounded like it could really do a bunch of cool things.

Any more feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks again

 

[RanDum72]

The Asante, SMC, D-link, 3COM routers with a serial port back-up are basically manufactured by the same OEM and just rebadged. You can even interchange firmware. Check out practicallynetworked.com for reviews on routers.

 

[dnoyeb]

SMC continues with their lie that they can use ISDN for dialup. Forget it. It cant. I talked with the head guy over there and he NEVER was able to get this thing to work. I dont know WTF they were doing over there. I have 3 different ISDN modems NONE of which the SMC can use to dial up. One of them it a Hayes too!

so I think it works with regular modems, but I know it does not with ISDN modems.

Speaking of the SMC Barricade, first edition, but I dont expect the recent additions to be any different.

 

[vi edit]

Another vote for freesco. I used it in my business for about a year sharing out a 56k line to about 5 people for close to a year. Works great. The box itself never crashed on me. Every now and then I'd have to reset the modem and once I powered it back up the FREESCO box would automatically make the modem dial back up and reconnect.

Very cool. And did it completely with parts laying around the office.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Yet another vote for Freesco. Stupid-easy to setup, runs reliably, free or low cost (depending on how much hardware you have laying around), does DHCP and HTTP service making configuration of the client computers cake.

 

[dboy]

what are the odds... I was just coming here to ask this very question!

Here's my situation - my fiancee and I each have a computer. When we get married this summer and move in together, I'll probably network them. I've got my computer on a home lan now, sharing cable access (not my router, but I set it up). We'll probably start out at least with dialup to save money. Is there much benefit from getting a router with dialup capability over using one of the computers to dialup? Mine runs win2000, hers is ME (unfortunately...) I've set up the lan I'm on now, but I've never tried sharing dialup.

 

[Tallgeese]

<< Is there much benefit from getting a router with dialup capability over using one of the computers to dialup? >>

The faster the connection being shared, the more resources are used on the "router" station. So, the main benefits of having a "hardware" router are 1.) no extra drain on either machine right now, and 2) when you DO move to broadband, you'll already have the router.

Congrats on your upcoming nuptials!

 

[drquest]

I'd look at how much of the time will both computers be in use at the same time... ICS being a free and included function in 98se+ might be the easiest and cheapest route since you're wanting to cut costs by only having a dial up connection rather than broadband.

Personally I'd be more apt to keep the broadband, dump the phone line and use a mobile phone for my home phone.

mrpeabody

 

[pinhead]

What are the odds, I just made a post looking for the same info, never thought I'd see a thread for it. Sorry. I keep hearing about the freesco and freebsd thing, are they really that easy? I have about 5 486/p133 laying around, that enough horsepower for 2-3 modems?

 

[Workin']

<< Is there much benefit from getting a router with dialup capability over using one of the computers to dialup? >>

If you use the router to dialup then you won't have to leave the computer with the shared modem on all the time. And you'll have a router when you get broadband.

 

[BlitzRommel]

D-link DI-704 support external modems. I use it as a backup for my crappy-ass cable.