Need some advice to set my home network up

Barfo

Lifer
Jan 4, 2005
27,539
212
106
So, I have 4 computers at home and a DSL internet connection, which I'd like to put into a (cheap) network, I'm mostly a n00b for networking and I'm not sure what should I get.

So far I've determined I need one of these 2 routers linksys 1 linksys 2

but I don't know if the $70 model is really worth the extra money, it just seems to have the SpeedBooster thing.

Also, both of them say 1x10/100M WAN; 4x10/100M LAN for ports, does this mean I can only have one wireless device connected at a time? that would be useless for me.

As for the computers, both of them are laptops with integrated wireless cards so there shouldn't be a problem.

Then there's my mom's machine, a Pentium 3 with 128 MB of RAM that barely runs win XP and only a free PCI port (no free USB and it's 1.1 anyway) home and my machine, P4 with 2 gigs, it runs win XP, as well as the laptops (hope this isn't a problem).

So I'm hoping someone will help me decide what router is best and what wireless adapters are better for my desktops (P3 needs a PCI and P4 can use either USB or PCI).

Thanks in advance ;)
 

Slugbait

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,633
3
81
Historically, Linksys routers have never worked well (or don't work at all) with A/V apps like NetMeeting or MSN Messenger. I believe the "speedbooster" thang requires all Linksys adapters, not sure.

WAN = Wide Area Network. Don't worry, you can logon with multiple wireless devices at a time.

Hard to say which PCI adapter is best. Again, Linksys wouldn't be my first choice. Note that the antenna isn't in an ideal spot, so signal may be bad if the rear of the case is up against a wall.

Double your mom's RAM, the machine will love you for it.

Also note that if you wish to use WPA, all machines must be running XP.