My home system has 5 computers off a switch off an ADSL router connected to Telecom. Only one problem in a year although occasionaly we have to reset the router.
Tastech (local - in Christchurch - www.tastech.co.nz) are very cheap. He has 4 port router/switches (with NAT) for about $320 I think. Robert On Thu, 2003-03-20 at 21:05, Matt Agnew wrote: > Sorry to ramble here, but any feedback would be greatly appreciated... > > I'm shifting to a new (old) house next week, and have been thinking > about how to set up internet access there. I have as existing hardware: > > -Homebuilt 1.6G box dual-booting win2k and Mandrake (thanks Wesley) with > LAN card > -Wife's Dell laptop, win98se (and no, she won't change), PCMCIA 56k > modem and LAN card > -Linksys BEFSR41 router > -Access to many meters of very cheap CAT5 and easy access to drop it > into rooms. > > Currently only the laptop is online and the computers aren't networked. > I would like to get both boxes online, and have been deciding whether > to go dialup or DSL. I would like to solicit opinions on DSL providers > - I'm leaning toward Paradise as they have provided flawless dialup for > six months. I like, but don't really need, high bandwidth. I download > a lot of music from Usenet, but with a dedicated dialup these can be > queued overnight. I like to listen to streaming music (SomaFM, Monkey > Radio), but the couple of times I've tried it here in NZ (at the e-caf > etc) there have been too many dropouts to make it worth listening. DSL > traffic limits may make this financially impossible as well. > > I went looking for a DSL modem today, and could only find a USB modem, > which wouldn't allow the use of the Linksys router. Another option was > a "DSL router" for $320 at PCU. The salesclerk said it had one in and > one out - this doesn't make it a router does it? Or is this another > language quirk us Yanks have to learn? (Birds have wings, cars have > FENDERS!) Any other suggestions on cheap DSL modems? > > I've given some thought to a dedicated linux gateway on a cheap old box, > but it's A: more hardware to buy and maintain B: more electricity than > the Linksys and C: not wife friendly. A dedicated machine might work > for sharing dialup, but including the second phone line, ISP charges, > and equipment purchase DSL may only be a little bit more expensive. > > Last question (as if): Where I come from (the country that coined the > term "collateral damage" and is currently inflicting it) phone cable is > four colo(u)rs. I was up in the attic of the house today looking at the > mess of phone cable and the colours were different. Sure nuff, the > Dicky Smith catalog lists the unfamiliar-looking stuff as > "telepermitted". Can anyone explain this term? And what colours go to > what terminals on a phone jack? The DS catalog has much handy info in > it but not this. > > Thanks so much for any help. When Renovation Madness settles down I > swear I'll make it to more meetings! > > Matt > The former Imp-driving Yank > www.enginemusic.com >
