Wireless Router

[LostSoul]

I'm looking to buy a Wireless Router. Until now I thought all I had to do was to purchase the router and plug it direct to my main socket of my property. That is until I went to purchase one on Ebay. They all seem to say you have to plug it into your dsl modem. Are there any which you can plug direct into without the modem? Also why do you have to plug the router into your adsl modem? is it because the router would not have the UK ADSL settings and details on? i.e. username and password. Any feed back will be appreciated.

[Catso]

A router and a modem are two completely different things.

If you just want the router functionality, IE no connection to the internet, then yes, you just plug it all in, as you surmised.

If you do want the inet, then you either need to buy a combined router/ADSL modem, or you plug a modem into the router. How do you think you router would communicate with the inet without being connected to it in some way?

[lonzuk]

i wouldn;t bother getting one of e-bay either. they are cheap enough on the web.

Here's a Zyxel from ebuyer for under �50, Zyxel are a solid brand.

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/109521/rb/208 99840830

[fo3nix]

A modem is always needed, because this translates the internet signal from your phone socket.

A router just splits this signal up for different computers to use. Wireless routers do the same as well as broadcasting the signal like a radio, for other computers to pick up.

So the line goes: phone line -- modem -- router -- computer

Many ISPs send out modems that connect via USB into your computer (I have no idea why). Most routers have ethernet inputs (ethernet is the standard network topology. ethernet cables look similar to phone line cables). so the problem here is that your modem is outputting the signal with USB, and the router is expecting it from an ethernet cable. the two aren't compatible.

solution: buy a modem+router in one. these are just one box, look just like a router, but have the modem built-in too, so you don't have the above problem.

there are two main types of broadband in the UK: ADSL broadband (down your regular phone line), and cable broadband (via a specialist fibre-optic line). Make sure you buy a router with the right modem in it.

Here's an example of an ADSL modem+router in one:
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/97601/rb/2090 1461963

Finally, to receive a wireless signal (wireless internet on your laptop for example), you'll need a wireless receiver. Some laptops come with it built-in (many new ones now). If yours doesn't have one, you'll need to buy one. The above linked example has one packaged too.

[LostSoul]

Thanks for your constructive answer to the guys who posted the last two comments.