> I presently connect to the Internet with a software router > (IPNetrouter) via a dialup connection.... It works fair, but is > a little finicky. Do I leave everything in place and simply
> hook up the router to one of the spare slots on the hub? > Or do I need enough slots in the router to individually > connect to all the computers. Depends on what kind of router you end up deciding on, and it sounds like you have some decisions to make about what possible future configurations on your home network. I have a cable modem hooked up to the "uplink" port on a NetGear RT314 router, which has a 4-port hub built in (4 "downlink" ports). I have one Mac plugged directly into one of those ports (just because it happens to be really close by), an AirPort base station (rev 1) in another (which is set up to only act as a bridge to the Ethernet network, no DHCP or anything), and a really long Ethernet cable that snake into my main computer room in the house where other Macs, PCs, and printers split off via two 10mb hubs (an 8-port and a 4-port). A PowerBook G3/500 w/Airport card is using the base station (from anywhere in the house). My router is configured with the settings provided by my ISP (as though it were my one and only computer - HA!). The router is then also set up to act as a DHCP server and distributes IP addresses to all of the computers on the network (which are all set up to get their IP address using DHCP (in the TCP/IP or Network control panel). The router also acts as a firewall, which makes me feel a bit safer, especially since I'm also running an AppleShareIP server and have turned on File and Printer Sharing on the PCs. I went with a hardware router solution because it's smaller, quieter, consumes less power, and can't crash or freeze (that I know of) the way a software-based solution could. I have plenty of older Macs that I could've used, but considering all that, it didn't seem worth it. > What about using the router for a dialup connection until I bite the > bullet with dsl. I thought somewhere I'd read that some router will > accept modems, true? ( If so I don't suppose they accept Mac modems). > What about an airport base station. I've thought I might someday get > an airport powerbook, can I use the base station as a router to share > either a dialup or dsl connection both before and after I add an > airport Mac to my system. (For what it's worth I do have an airport > capable iMac that doesn't have a airport presently, but that could have > one added, if it's necessary to configure the Airport base station.) There are lots of different kinds of hardware routers. Besides the kind I have with the built-in hub, some come with only one "downlink" port and are a little cheaper. There are also wireless routers that can do exactly what mine does, but would eliminate the need for me to have the Airport base station. Then as you mentioned, there are some that have support for a backup, dial-up modem, but I don't think you can plug an external Mac modem into them. Supposedly the new Airport base station (with 2 Ethernet ports and built-in AOL support) might work the same way, but you can get a third-party wireless router for about half the cost. No, it wouldn't be quite as Mac-friendly, but "you get what you pay for." You'd still have to cough the $99 for the Airport card for the iMac, too, so depending on the proximity of all of the computers you want to hook up, the wireless option might not be worth it. Ethernet cable is a lot cheaper (although possibly less practical, depending on your particular situation). To keep this a little more "on-topic," the only way that I can currently get my Duo 280c on my network in to pop it into its Dock, which has an Ethernet card and is attached to one the Ethernet hubs. This is handy when I want to get some software onto it from my server, or even to open up Netscape (3.04) and jump on the Web to get something directly. I'd need to get a mini-dock w/Ethernet to do it otherwise, and from everything I've learned from lurking o n this list (thanks folks!), there's no way to go wireless with this little guy. Even if there was I'm sure it would be prohibitively expensive. I don't even have any working batteries for it, so it's always "tethered" in one way or another. Hope that helped. Good luck! Mike ---------- Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net! A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables. FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/DuoListFAQ.shtml> Be sure to visit Mac2400! <http://www.sineware.com/mac2400> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Need help from a real person? Try. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------- Dr. Bott | 10/100 Ethernet for your 2400 is finally here! MPC-100 | <http://www.drbott.com/prod/mpc100.html> RoadTools $30 PodiumPad available at Apple retail stores, $20 Traveler CoolPad at Staples. Both in white for iBooks at <http://roadtools.com> Midwest Mac Parts ][ <http://www.midwestmac.com> After-market parts for Macs. ][ 888-356-1104 ][ MacResQ Specials: LaCie SCSI CDR From $99! PowerBook 3400/200 Only $879! Norton AntiVirus 6 Only $19! We Stock PARTS! <http://www.macresq.com>
