Should I get wireless networking from my cable provider for an extra $5 a month?

[ViRaLRuSh]

Is it worth it? I kind of want to hook up multiple computers in the house, and have 1 line running upstairs to my bros room, but I would like to maybe try their wireless connection. Is it worth it?

Also, I connect my ps2 to my router, would that be another obsticle?

 

[minendo]

Why have a monthly cost? Just buy the hardware necessary.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

no, do it yourself.

all they are gonna do is put in a crappy wireless router and charge you extra. pick up a cheap wireless router yourself. they come with your regular plugs too so you can still plug in teh ps2. if you already have a router, just get an access point to broadcast the wireless signal.

 

[Kelemvor]

What kind of scam is that? The cable company doesn't give you wireless, the wireless router you go buy does. Wow, that's such a huge scam.

Go buy a wireless router at Office Max (head to HotDeals for good ones) and a couple wireless cards. No monthly fee at all.

Unless the ISP is going to give you the hardware for FREE and then charge you $5/mo. Then you'd have to calculate how much it actually costs and how long you'll keep it. But I'd still just go buy them since they are cheap.

 

[phreakah]

like the others said, it's easy to do on your own

 

[MadPeriot]

Paying for wireless for your home is pure scam. Whose your ISP?

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: MadPeriot
Paying for wireless for your home is pure scam. Whose your ISP?

Most ISP's charge extra if you want 'home networking' as it's not the equipment that causes problems but the support they have to fulfill. You can always install your own but they will not support it. This often means connecting the modem direct to the computer if you need help.

I had a ton of headaches because I had to have a wireless network running from the start....hoops and hoops later, including me running all cat 5 out to the NID resulted in a short on their pair and also a bad card in the miniram (they say isn't even there).

www.dslreports.com has many faqs on getting wireless working with popular modems, routers, and providers.

 

[z0mb13]

wireless router is around $30-$50...

is VERY easy to do on ur own

 

[ViRaLRuSh]

Originally posted by: MadPeriot
Paying for wireless for your home is pure scam. Whose your ISP?

Time warner

 

[ViRaLRuSh]

Well, I'm sure I could do it, since I know networking in general, but is it worth it for performance? I hear it goes out or doesnt work at times cause of signal strength and such. And walls giving problems...

 

[PatboyX]

its like 40 bucks for a good wireless router. so...if you plan to use it for more than 8 months, do it yourself.
i guess the only good point of them doing it is that they officially "support" it.
ive noticed in setting up peoples networks that they get nervous when it says "we do not support routers." not that it matters.
cable companies arnt notorious for awesome customer service.

 

[ViRaLRuSh]

any recommendations? 2 cards I'd need.

 

[btz0013]

my isp is time warner and they gave me a similar line, only they claimed the extra 5 bucks was for a second ip for the second computer on the wireless network.

i just took my dad's old 802.11b router when he upgraded to the g standard, hooked it up to my cable modem, did like 15 minutes of setting up the network and all was fine. and generally i'm not the quickest dude when it comes to installing anything as i read instructions real slowly, get distracted by shiny objects, stop to drink a pre-installation beer and such. never paid the five bucks extra a month and have no problems running multiple machines on the network.

do it on your own.

 

[So]

Don't get raped for the $5 / mo , like everyone else has said, muy the $20 router in a hor deal and save a lot of $$

 

[ViRaLRuSh]

where is this $20 router?

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: ViRaLRuSh
where is this $20 router?

someone has a .11b wireless router in the FS/T forum for $20, not a bad way to get started considering you could resell it later for nearly the same $ if you upgrade to .11g

you'll have to pay a little more for a .11g with WAP router, i got one from MicroCenter for ~$50 after mail in rebate, the hot deal guys could probably shave $10-$20 off that somehow

 

[3chordcharlie]

Everytime I've ever needed support for cable or dsl, I call them up, tell them it's on a router and offer to disconnect it so they can service it connected straight to the machine. With no exceptions, they have always said something like 'if you know enough to be able to do that, I doubt you've messed up the router connection' and they just do the support as is.

Basically there's no reason to pay for extra networking monthly when the hardware is so cheap.

 

[Shawn]

I paid $30 after rebates for a Dlink .11g router on newegg a while back.

 

[maziwanka]

again, like everyone else has said - go buy the wireless router and cards yourself. paying 5 bucks a month for "wireless service" is a freaking scam. i'd be pissed if my ISP was trying to offer me that BS.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Everytime I've ever needed support for cable or dsl, I call them up, tell them it's on a router and offer to disconnect it so they can service it connected straight to the machine. With no exceptions, they have always said something like 'if you know enough to be able to do that, I doubt you've messed up the router connection' and they just do the support as is.

Basically there's no reason to pay for extra networking monthly when the hardware is so cheap.

Not with Bellsouth...I dealt professionally as a Cisco reseller / analyst. They had me break my network down each time even after the truck rolled 10 times to my house.

In the end I was right, but they weren't going to refund my time, the cable I ran, the phones I bought, the loss on a couple items I had to resell to replace, etc.

Disconnecting a router to run a usb straight to the modem is probably something alot can do and still have problems that they cause.

 

[Kadarin]

Damn, that's like leasing your phone...