Re: Broadband advice please

On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:15:40 GMT, "pmj" <post@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


SNIP
>>
>> I'd like to "de-lurk", please!
>
>Hi!
>Yes, please do!

Ta.
>
>"The more the merrier"!
> :-)
>
>It's always good to hear other peoples experiences & ways of doing
>things & what they have found out...
>
>> I'm using a Telewest Broadband connection, via their (supplied)
>> cable modem,
>
>Ah, right - a *Cable* Modem Broadband Internet Connection is done
>(& works) in a slightly different way to an ADSL Broadband Internet
>Connection, which is what I was trying to explain - cos Troy's Human
>had only been used to using his own (NTL) Cable Modem Connection
>(with a Router?) & is now going to be Setting up an *ADSL* Broadband
>Connection, also with a Router, which BTW happens to be a WiFi one,
>but that makes no real practical difference, to the way the ADSL
>bit works.
>
>>... & the supplied RJ47 connecting cable,
>
>RJ45, (not RJ47) surely?
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RJ-45
>http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci214238,00.html

Just brain damage, you wait until you get old.....
>
>>... feeding into a Belkin Wireless Router (without a modem,
>> 'cos I don't need one).
>
>As it happens, RJ45 Plugs/Connectors are used not only for the
>*Ethernet* Connection between things such as Cable Modems & Routers
>& between Routers & PCs, but *also* for the ADSL Phone Connection
>into an ADSL Modem Router!!!
>
>That can sometimes cause a bit of confuzzlement, when people first
>come across those sort of things.
>
>BTW - An ordinary *voice* (& Dial Up Modem) Phone Line/Connector
>uses an RJ11 Plug (at the Modem end), which is a bit smaller than
>an RJ45 Plug & a BT431A Plug at the Wall Socket end.

Thanks for above, I'm aware of the different types of cables, having
just realised that there is a USB "A" & "B" connector....
>
>> The router is cabled to two adjacent PC's, ( one being a ASUS
>> barebone PC acting as a back-up computer ),
>
>Which sounds like a reasonable way to do things?
>
>>... & via it's antennae, talks to my old P3 desktop in the spare
>> bedroom.
>
>Which also, sounds like a perfectly reasonable & sensible way to do it?
>
>BTW - is the WiFi thing in that PC a PCI Card?
>Or a USB Dongle?
>Or what?

The desk-top has a PCI card & I also have a Belkin USB adaptor, which
was used by the Asus barebone PC when that lived upstairs.
Quite a big difference in signal strength, as one might expect, but
not enough to degrade the connection.
I've also used the dongle to "try" & connect my ancient lap-top to the
net, via it's only USB 1 port. ( Yes I have a powered hub available. )

Said lap-top uses an AMD K6D (?) processor running at 380mHz, & it's
too slow for any serious work.

I don't need a laptop but if I could spare the cash I might be tempted
to buy a WiFi equiped note-book.
I'd only really "need" it on holiday if I was feeling deprived of
internet access, & should really spend the money on a new freezer &
other domestic stuff!.

>> ( My back-up / back-up PC, C/W Win 98SE & XP on two separate
>> drives,,just in case the others die...)
>
>LOL!!!

OK, but... after having to retrrieve lot's of data from a hard-drive
on a PC that had fried after running for 14 hours without any cooling,
( dust in fan bearing = fan not spinning...) I've learnt that backig
up / storing personal data away from a PC is a sensible idea, & having
a spare PC or two can be useful.

Rather than relying on CD/R's for data storage I have 3 portable hard
drives, ( all bought very cheaply from Office World ) to store & move
data around.

I'd always reccomend having at least one portable drive for backup
purposes, kept off-line & away from PC's so that it will not be
affected by power-surges etc.

Loosing pix, music & one's own creations is rather annoying, IMHO.

>That sounds a bit like the way Flying Nun does things!!!
>
>He is a sort of "2 Belts, a pair of Braces & some String" type bloke!
> :-)


Sensible fella!

>> The Cable Modem has a standby button which seems to disconnect
>> everything from the 'net, a useful feature IMHO.
>
>Yep.
>That's what the Standby Button on the Cable Modem does, basically.
>
>Obviously, you can also just UnPlug the power Lead from it as well,
>but then, when yo uPlug the Power Lead back in, it takes a few Seconds
>to Boot up & Connect back up again & get the IP Address from the
>DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) Server on the ISP's Network.

Erm, I've fitted in-line switches into the power leads, so that I
don't have to "find" the approriate sockets....

>
>> What, if anything, have I done that I shouldn't have?
>
>Is that a catch question???
> :-)

Not at all.
>
>Fro mwhat you have said, it seems like you haven't done anything
>wrong at all!!!
>Everything you say you have done, makes eminent sense!
>
>The way you have it all Set up sounds fine & is a perfectly normal
>(& usual) way of doing things with a Cable Modem Whooosher Internet
>Connection & WiFi Router
>
>> Help, etc, TIA, of course, David C.
>
>Well, when (or *if*?) you do have any probs with it, by all means
>Post back with some Qs!
>& if you just want to sort of "Fiddle" around with it, Post back,
>saying what you are intending/expecting to do & you will get plenty
>of comments, suggestions, help & advice!
> :-)

The only problem I have right now is persauding the XP drive on my
desk-top to load Norton Internet Security 2005.

I might re-load 2004 & load 2005 over the top, it's worked on one of
the other machines.

Regards & thanks, David C.
.