I have an always-on PC that is used used for nothing other than sharing
periferals amongst three other PCs on an Ethernet Hub. When broadband
appears at the end of the year at my exchange, are there any benefits in
putting this always-on PC between the adsl modem and a wireless router?

Cheers

Gareth Smith

"Gareth Smith" <gareth@garethsmith.com> wrote in message
news:bl4bcn$9va$1@titan.btinternet.com...
There might be if youre wanting to run some sort of web-server, but unless
its at least a P2 and has plenty of ram it might slow things down

"Gareth Smith" <gareth@garethsmith.com> wrote in message
news:bl4bcn$9va$1@titan.btinternet.com...
There are many advantages in putting a modem/router between the ADSL line
and your Ethernet Hub.
Also in your case you should be able to get a modem/router/wireless AP for
not much more than a wireless AP.
This would give you a router (with NAT to give you additional security),
Ethernet to the existing LAN, and a new WiFi LAN.

If you use your 'print server' as a router and firewall you will have to be
very careful with your setup and maintenance of the network, routing and
firewall software.
You will always be potentially vulnerable to mis-configuration.
Assuming the PC runs Windows you will also be vulnerable to any new exploit.

If you need P2P applications you may have to pay a little extra for a P2P
enabled router.

In general, go 'wires only' and get a modem/router; it is better than
letting your ISP saddle you with an ADSL modem.

HTH
Dave R

"David W.E. Roberts" <nospam@talk21.com> wrote in message
news:bl4cqb$817tb$1@ID-122774.news.uni-berlin.de...
Many thanks for the guidance. I have been tempted by 11g modem/wireless
routers, but I wasn't certain that I could use the modem element on one PC
and the wireless router on the working networked PCs. Is this possible?

Cheers

Gareth Smith

"Gareth Smith" <gareth@garethsmith.com> wrote in message
news:bl4p81$bie$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
<snip>
Not 100% sure what you are asking:

More on modem/router/Ethernet/Wifi all in one box:
------------------------------------------------------------

If you get a modem/router/WiFi combination all in one box, then you should
have:

ADSL port to connect to your phone socket

one (perhaps four) Ethernet sockets to provide a wired LAN - you can plug in
individual PCs or plug in hubs or switches to make a larger wired LAN.

WiFi Access Point which provides a wireless LAN.

So, you have two LANS (wired and wireless) which talk to each other via your
'box'. So wireless enabled PCs can use your print server, for example.

Both the wired and wireless LANs have access to the Internet via the router,
which maintains an 'always on' connection through the built in ADSL modem.

In effect, all your PCs are connected via WiFi or Ethernet, and you never
see the ADSL modem - just an Internet connection.

----------------------------------------------------------------

If you wre already happy with that, but wanted to know if you could buy a
WiFi modem/router which could also be used as an ADSL modem by a PC:

Firstly, why would you want to do this?

Secondly, I think there are some devices with USB connections so you can
connect via USB to configure the router, and also use this USB connection as
a network connection (which AFAIK would let the USB-connected PC talk to the
WiFi connected PCs and also to the Internet). I haven't really looked into
these because I see no advantage in these over a router with an Ethernet
port, and consider Ethernet to be faster and more flexible and reliable than
USB.

HTH
Dave R

"David W.E. Roberts" <nospam@talk21.com> wrote in message
news:bl90o0$9g4i9$1@ID-122774.news.uni-berlin.de...

Cheers

Gareth Smith