Buying a wireless router... advice?

Amnesiac_ie

Hey guys,

After a long and drawn out connection process the housemates and I now have our Chorus broadband connection. Five of us want to chip in for a wireless router to allow us all to use the broadband connection. Medium sized house; any advice about good routers? Priorities:

1) Easy to install (bunch of technophobes)
2) Fast
3) Allow up to five computers to share the connection
4) Big name retailers that could be visited later today preferred

Many thanks!

Mic

Amnesiac_ie

Or alternatively, does anyone know if it's possible to route the Chorus connection through a leftover eircom Netopia 3347WG Router/Modem???

Trevord

I've been researching same thing over last few days.

If you have Cable broadband as opposed to ADSL "down the phone line" broadband, the eircom router is no good as far as I know.

I know that for €129 in PC world (think there is now one in Mahon Point) you can get a 108MB Netgear Wireless router with MIMO technology. If you can wait a few days you'd get it cheaper on komplett.ie but if there are a few people chipping in for it then that's a non issue

Above all be careful that you buy a router compatible with your service.

I'm sure the experts will be along shortly if I'm wrong about any of the above

DaSilva

The Netopia 3347WG should do the trick, depending if it can be setup the right way.

Im just looking around for the specs of the firmware on the router at the moment too see what can and cant be changed.

The idea is to use the Netopia router as a switch rather than a modem/router.

You wont use the "uplink" port on the back. You will connect the Corus router, to the Netopia router with standard Ethernet cable.

DaSilva

Ok, you can use the Netopia 3347WG and heres how..

Connect one of the pc's directly too the Netopia router too change some of the settings, using a Ethernet cable.

Go to http://192.168.1.254

Changing Wan
Click on Expert mode > Configure > WAN
change "Interface type" too "Default Gateway", and then enter the IP of the Chorus router, which is probably 192.168.1.254 or 192.168.1.1, Im not sure exactly someone here might be able to tell you whats the default IP for it.

next, Turning off NAT

Go to, Expert mode > configure > advanced > Default Server
Change too "Off"

next, Set up DHCP

Go to, Home > Configure > Advanced > DHCP Server
Change too "Relay-Agent"
And put the IP of the Chorus router in, again I dont know what this is by default.

next, Change Netopias IP Just to be on the safe side, incase Chorus router likes the same address

Go to, Home > Configure > LAN
Change the Ip address, to, 192.168.1.253
Hit submit.

now save changes
Click the yellow warning sign at the top right of the page,
hit "save and restart".



If all has gone well, when it reboots you wont be able to do anything

Now you need to connect the Chorus router, to the Netopia router by ethernet cable, and then connect your PC's either wirelessly too the Netopia, or by cable to the Netopia. And it should work from then on.

dak

I have a 108Mbps netgear DG834PN which came with a free range max USB adapter. It has 4 ports at the back so it my not suit your needs. It has Mimo_G technology and claims to deliver the longest range on the market. It has set up wizard so once you plug the router in and ensure the correct green light are on you just have to run the wizard and enter basically just your user name and password . Took me 5 mins to get mine up and running!

Amnesiac_ie

DaSilva wrote:

Go to http://192.168.1.254

Changing Wan
Click on Expert mode > Configure > WAN
change "Interface type" too "Default Gateway", and then enter the IP of the Chorus router, which is probably 192.168.1.254 or 192.168.1.1, Im not sure exactly someone here might be able to tell you whats the default IP for it.

Cheers for the advice DaSilva! Expert mode > Configure gives me Connection, Wireless, and Advanced options but no WAN. Anyone have any idea why?

DaSilva

Amnesiac_ie wrote:

Cheers for the advice DaSilva! Expert mode > Configure gives me Connection, Wireless, and Advanced options but no WAN. Anyone have any idea why?

I just made a guess at where it was as the manual on the netopia site doesnt specify exactly, try under,

Expert mode, see if there is a Wan option here, or just search around the menus see if you can find it.

I havent included any information on setting up encryption / security. So if its not enabled I suggest you do enable it, or anybody close to your home can use your internet connection

Amnesiac_ie

Hey, one more quick question... anyone know for sure if the NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless Router, 108 Mbps 802.11g MIMO will work with Chorus broadband?

irlrobins

Should do. But you won't get 108Mbps unless you have a RangeMAx wireless card to connect to it. So you might find it cheaper for get a 54Mbps one. Like this

Cabaal

moved to wireless..