Wired or wireless broadband?

[Impret-Sir]

Just wondering which to go for? How reliable are wireless connections? And what sort of range do wireless routers have?
Are wired connections more stable?, and what kind of cable do you need to connect the router to the phone line (assuming that the phone point is a long way from the PC in question, ie in a different room in the house), can I use conventional telehone extension cable?

[VHG]

All wireless routers (as far as I know) can be used as wired or wireless so you can happily use both if you wish.

Generally a wired connection is "better" and faster and more secure, however if your PC is not too far from the router then you should not have a problem getting a good connection, and you can easily set security on the wireless connection.

I would not try and run a cable from the phone line to the PC if they are a long way from each other.

Just put the router near to the phone line, then connect the PC to the router via wireless.

The cable to connect the phone line to the router will come with the router.

You dont say if you have a laptop or a desktop PC, but while most laptops have wireless built in, a PC probably wont so you will need to buy a wireless card.

[VHG]

few extra things.

It is normally better to set up a router FIRST using a wire, as it is easier to get that working.

Once you have proved that is working then you can remove the wire and try to set it up wirelessly.

If you do put the router next to the phone line you will need a wire to connect the PC to the router and this is called an Ethernet Cable with RJ45 connections on either end.

If there is some distance between the PC and the router you will either need to move the PC near to the router while you set it up (using a short Ethernet cable) or leave the PC where it is and buy a longer Ethernet cable.

I actually have my router downstairs and my PC upstairs in my office and I have a 20 metre Ethernet cable connecting them together (through a hole in the floor).

[fo3nix]

Few more things:

Since you're going to be connecting to a phone like, I assume you have ADSL broadband. Basically, this is any type like BT, AOL, Tiscali, etc. It isn't cable broadband, from the likes of Virgin Media.

If it is ADSL, then make sure you get a router + ADSL modem in one. Most ADSL modems supplied by ISPs won't connect to standard routers.

Range of wireless depends heavily on your surrounding. It will be reduced, due to interference, if you live in an area with lots of wifi signals already. Also, the signal will have a harder time getting through very thick walls (and especially those with metal inside them), than the regular bricks walls most houses today are made of.

Wired is better than wireless in every single respect. The only advantage wireless has is that it's useful with laptops, or places where it's hard to lay down cabling.

If you just have desktop machines then just go for wired, if it's convenient to lay the cables down (perhaps between rooms?). Otherwise, go for wireless.

I'd actually go for a wireless router anyway, and perhaps just switch the wifi off. That way, if a friend comes round with their laptop, you can always turn it on to let them browse the net.

[Impret-Sir]

Thanks very much for those answers folks. I am planning an ADSL set up, not cable. The set up I envisage would be a router in one upstairs room, connected to the phone socket there via the cable supplied with it by my ISP, then if using a wireless router, a wireless dongle on the back of the PC, which is in another room on the same floor. OR a (fairly long)cable from the (wired) router to the PC. Or would the extension cable be better from the phone socket to the router, with the router in the same room as the PC, and connected via a short cable. If I did it this way, could I then use ordinary phone extension cable to connect the phone socket to the router? Ethernet cable looks pretty expensive!
As an aside, why do people refer to "modems" in the context of broadband? Surely as the signal is already digital there is no need for a modem at all?

[fo3nix]

No, the phone lines are still analogue. Also, it's more than just a AtoD conversion. But it's also just the way it's always been done.

The cable from phoneline box to router is just a standard RJ-11 phone cable. I don't know how far they're rated for (i.e., how long you can run them), but ethernet (RJ-45) from router to computer is cheap and is rated for long distances without a repeater.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/20830

30 metres for �9.

[ACtheTROLL]

Ideally the router wants to be connected to the first socket

phone cable is twisted pair ... to carry analog - it can be as long as is practical - twisted pair is used fron the exchange all the way to the phone.

ethernet cat5/6 network is untwisted - for digital signals and device to device is limited to 100M

phone leads ... and the cheap extension leads tend to be flat untwisted which allows crosstalk between wires - and caus problems.

wireless (vhg and fo3 have already explained why wireless should be a last resort) is too reliant on outside influences.

wire is best ... but can be difficult to run

a decent compromise is homeplug
http://www.homeplugshop.co.uk/