The Refurbished Laptops Guide » Networking

Router USB interfaces

Brent — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:15:55 +0000

Router USB interfacing has become one of the more popular methods of connecting your router to your computers or peripherals. What does this mean exactly? Okay, let’s keep it simple: Allowing your router to connect via USB to your peripherals is going to reduce the amount of network load you currently have, which has the side effect of increasing your network speed. Let’s use a common example: Let’s say that you have a very expensive printer that handles a large amount of data. Normally you use this as a network printer in a business environment, which means that everyone on the network can print from it at any time. Large amounts of data are sent through the network cables (or worse, over the air) just to get the information to the printer. Since the printer is connected to the router via a standard ethernet cable, the speed at which this data is transferred is painfully slow. It can slow down productivity in your office to the point where you need to actually do something.

That’s where a router with USB comes into play. A USB-equipped router will allow you to plug that printer straight in, removing the need to use a standard ethernet cord to transmit the data. USB has a much faster transfer rate (particularly USB 2.0), making that data transfer quite easy. Instead of waiting minutes for a network printer to start its work, it might only take seconds. That’s a lot of time saved in a busy corporate environment, isn’t it?

Now, there is still a little bit of a down side when using a router like this: You still do have to send your data over standard ethernet cables (or wirelessly) in order to get the data to the printer. The printer in our example is not standalone; you still have to send that data first to the router before it’ll get sent via USB to the peripheral itself. This won’t cut down on lag completely, but it’ll do a great job on cutting down on lag time.

In case you were wondering, a wired USB router is much better than wireless router USB systems. Wireless is great for use at home, not in large business environments like we we talked about in our example above. If you’re having significant lag problems with your system and you use wireless, no router with a USB port is going to save you. You’ll need to switch to wired instead.

Shopping:

D-Link DCM-202 DOCSIS 2.0 USB/Ethernet Cable Modem

1 Ethernet port and 1 USB port ADSL2+ router with bridge and NAT router, Trendchip chipset, ADSL/ADSL2/ADSL2+, Annex A, with ADSL splitter

Netgear Rangemax WNDR3700 Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router (Black)

Buffalo Technology Nfiniti Wireless-N Ultra Compact Client USB 2.0 Adapter WLI-UC-GN

Airlink101 AR660W3G Wireless N 3G/3.5G Mobile Router

Want simplicity? Get a cable modem router

Brent — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:37:57 +0000

A cable modem router is one of the newest additions to the world of networking that will make your life, well, easy. Are you sick of having wires and cords running everywhere? Are you sick of having to figure out which cord goes to which component, just hoping and praying that you get it right? Yeah, me too. That’s why you should look into one of these. Let me tell you: A cable modem router will make your life easy. You won’t have to deal with any of the things that I previously mentioned when using one.

So, what is it? Is it just a fancy way of saying “router”? Well, no. Cable modem routers are actually hybrid creations. They comprise both the functionality of a cable modem and the abilities you have when you set up a router. That is, it will work as the access point to the internet for your network, and also allow you to set up firewalls, connection sharing (i.e. allowing more than one computer onto the network), and all of the other functions you’d normally find with a router. Best yet, this is just one box. You don’t need to set up two of these. Gone are the days when you had to set up both a cable modem and router in parallel. These will just do it all for you. Cool, huh?

Depending on what type of network you have, you may opt for either a wired system, or you may opt for the more flexible cable modem wireless router. The wired system is a little bit faster than the wireless, and if security is an issue, it will be a little bit more secure than the wireless.

Why’s that? There’s nobody to intercept your radio waves if you use a wired router. If you have a business that doesn’t require the need to move around the office to use the internet, this is probably your best bet. Wireless routers, however, are a bit better for the home. This will allow you to bring your laptop to a different room. If you want to watch TV and surf the web, you can do it. If you want to simply lie in bed and check your email, you can do that too. No sweat either way.

So, a cable modem router combo is probably the best thing you can get if you’re looking for simplicity, security, and speed from your network. Check one out at any store that sells routers.

Shopping:

50ft WHITE Category 5e Cat5e Molded Snagless Ethernet Network Patch Cable Cord for Internet Router Switch Hub and Gaming - Gold Plated Male to Male RJ45 Connectors for Base-T Networks - Works best for your desktop laptop router modem switch hub DSL xBox PS2 or PS3

Remstream REM-8200 DOCSIS 2.0 Cable Modem Internet Router w/Ethernet, USB & 2 VoIP Phone Jacks (Red)

1 meter 3.28 foot BLACK Category 6 Cat6 Shielded Hospital Grade Ethernet Network Patch Cable Cord for Internet Router Switch Hub and Gaming - Gold Plated Male to Male RJ45 Connectors for Base-T Networks - Works best for your desktop laptop router modem switch hub DSL xBox PS2 or PS3 - HIGHEST QUALITY

TRENDnet ADSL Fast Ethernet/USB Combination Modem Router TDM-C400 (Blue)

Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Cable Gateway (WCG200)

Computer routers will better your network

Brent — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:11:49 +0000

So, how many of you use computer routers to help build a network? No, I’m not talking about the normal stuff like an ADSL router, I’m talking about using something a little bit more robust: That is, actually using a computer as a router. This isn’t usually done when building a small at-home network; this is something that’s usually done when creating large enterprise networks for large companies. You certainly can use a computer as a router on a smaller network (nobody is going to stop you!), but you usually don’t need that type of functionality and security on networks at home. If you choose to use it though, there’s nothing wrong with that.

So, why is a computer router a little bit more robust than the standard stuff you see at the store? That’s simple: You have the ability to actually use more robust software on a computer, unlike a typical cheaper router that may come with a configuration utility and basic firewall. No, with a computer you can install and use some really good packet filtering software, and configure it exactly how you like it. These are mostly Unix or Linux computers; Windows is not good for this sort of application, so I wouldn’t even try it.

Now, you really don’t need to go all-out here. Computer network routers are typically created with cheaper computers that don’t cost much to acquire and operate. You don’t need something with a dual core, here. Heck, many of these routers are run on simple 300 MHz machines, which can easily be bought for $50 on the used market. Don’t even worry about buying refurbished laptops or computers; the warranty doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that it can turn on and actually run a stable operating system. Typically loading up Linux or Unix will take care of the stability issue; as long as the computer will actually run for a period of time, you’re all set.

The best computer routers don’t have much to them. No USB interface, no real peripherals, and most of the time, not even a monitor. You really don’t need one. You can simply telnet or ssh into the router to do any configuration that you need. This is preferable; you don’t want this router to be bogged down with unnecessary stuff. All you need it to do is filter packets and that’s it. You can do that easily with something low-powered.

I don’t want to go into the rest of the technical information here; I just wanted to give you the basics before you start your project. Good luck!

Shopping:

Cisco-Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router (Compatible with Linux)

Cisco-Linksys E3000 High-Performance Wireless-N Router

D-Link DIR-615 Wireless N Router, 4-Port

Cisco-Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch

Do you have the right ethernet cord?

Brent — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:50:23 +0000

An ethernet cord is not exactly the hardest thing in the world to find. You can go to just about any computer component store (or even stores like Wal-Mart) and find an ethernet cord to suit your needs. It’s not difficult. However, it is important that you actually buy the correct cord. There are a few different types, and getting the wrong one can make your network absolutely useless. Today we’re going to talk about the types of ethernet cords that are on the market, and which ones will work for whichever type of job you’re using them for.

Okay, so does anyone know the two basic types of cords? If you said “standard” and “crossover,” you’re correct. While there are some subtypes of ethernet cords, those are the types that we’re going to be talking about. Standard ethernet cords connect computers and their components to the network; that is, into either an external modem or a switch. These are the most common, and are the easiest to find at the store. Just go in and ask for a standard cable and you’ll be all set (you could also say “Cat6″; they’ll know what you’re talking about). Crossover ethernet cords are a little different: They connect machines together. Instead of connecting your computer to the network itself, these are used for communication between two computers, servers, peripherals, whatever.

It’s important to note that crossover cables are not able to be used to connect your laptop to the modem. It won’t work no matter how hard you try, so make sure you get the right cord. This is also true of a standard ethernet cord; it won’t do a thing when you try to connect two computers with one. You need to make sure you have the right ethernet cord before you start your project.

Some people also may find an ethernet cord splitter to be a good tool when creating an at-home or business network. These will reduce the amount of cable you’ll have to run; these splitters will allow you to use one cord to connect multiple machines together. This is a great tool to use if you’re on a bit of a budget. Also, an ethernet extension cord can be a great tool to use on both standard and crossover cords. If you find yourself a bit short on cable when setting your network up, this will save your bacon. Just the same, a retractable ethernet cord will help keep your network setup looking neat and out of the way when using your computer. Nobody likes a messy work area!

Shopping:

RJ11/45 Ethernet Cable, Retractable

Belkin 8 Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector with Phone/Coaxial Protection and Extended Cord

Belkin 12-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector with Phone/Ethernet/Coaxial Protection and Extended Cord

HP PA225Y03U Retractable Phone/Ethernet Cord

If you want to fax with ease, try an external modem

Brent — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:21:51 +0000

How many times have you tried to fax something, but didn’t have access to a fax machine? Your answer may lie in purchasing an external modem. External modems have become extremely popular these days with the advent of faster and faster broadband; in fact, just about every cable modem produced is considered an “external” modem. Most computers don’t have internal broadband modems because of the fact that these modems are usually provided by the ISP; they’re proprietary and usually connect to that one ISP. Normal laptops have network interface cards (NICs), either wired or wireless, that interface with the external cable modem. It’s a system that’s worked quite well for years.

But, let’s say that you need to fax off your newest project straight from your computer at 2am. Kinko’s is closed, your office is closed, and so you don’t have access to an actual fax machine. Are you out of luck? No, absolutely not. You can still pick up an external dial up modem with fax capability to do this job. Yes, dial up is still alive and kicking! Luckily for you if you just want to send a fax, you don’t actually need to have a dial up internet connection; all you really need is a phone line.

So how does this all work? If you have a phone line at your house (some don’t with cell phones being so prevalent), you can simply connect your phone line straight into your fax modem and there you have it. At the software level you’ll find options that will allow you to fax your documents straight to a real fax machine. You don’t actually need a fax machine of your own; your laptop in this case actually becomes one. Pretty neat, huh? This could really save your bacon for that important presentation.

So how much is a USB external modem such as this? They are very cheap, so don’t worry. Depending on the robustness of the application (home vs. large business), you can find these for between $20-$80 USD. That’s really not much considering how much an actual fax machine can cost (a few hundred or more). You can find these just about anywhere, as well. Check out the usual stores such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart for these. If you need to find a specific type, check out Tiger Direct or any number of the online stores for exactly what you need. You can’t go wrong here to be honest.

Anyway, check it out. Don’t be bothered than a 56k external modem is 56k; you’ll get used to it again.

Shopping:

TRENDnet 56K External Data/Fax/TAM Modem TFM-560X (Blue)

TRENDnet 56K USB Data/Fax/TAM Modem TFM-560U (Blue)

GSI High-Powered Ultra-Secure 500mW 150Mbps USB Wireless WIFI Long Range Network Adapter with Detachable External 5dBi Antenna - IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Interface - For PC/Laptop/Notebook/Computer Hot-Spot Internet Connection - For Travel and Home Use

Small Compact Lightweight Modem Ideal for Users Who Need To Connect To A Dial Up

US Robotics V.92 External 56K Faxmodem USR5686E

Cheap wireless routers aren’t always bad!

Brent — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:16:16 +0000

When you read the phrase “cheap wireless routers,” you’re probably focusing on the word “cheap,” aren’t you? Well don’t. In this case, I’m simply referring to the cost of the router, not necessarily the build quality. Certainly there are routers out there that are both cheap cost-wise and build-wise, but with a little bit of knowledge you can readily avoid those pitfalls and find great deals on these solid routers. It doesn’t take much effort either; a little research and a little know-how go a long way to finding something that’ll work for your home and office.

Alright, so let’s get started. The first thing you want to do is keep in mind is that you really should stick with major brand names that are well-trusted in the industry if you want to keep away from the bad ones. Names like Cisco, Linksys (one in the same these days), and Belkin are just three of the major names that you’ll see when you wander around the store or do any shopping online. While you may not consider any of these a cheap wireless router (some of the Linksys/Cisco models can really get up there in price depending on how robust it is), you can still find good deals on them. For example, a common household Belkin can go for as little as $50, and that’s for the solid Wi-Fi versions. If you choose to go with a wired router (not really useful for household applications anymore), you could even save $20 off of that price. That is, if you can still find wired routers! They’re becoming less and less prevalent unless you use it for a large business that requires the security of a private wired system.

So what’s the best cheap wireless router? That’s tough to say, really. I’ve always been fond of Cisco/Linksys, but I’ve also used the Belkin brands and those are just great as well. I’ve also used Netgear, though I personally had less than a good experience with that one.

Connectivity issues galore. Keep in mind that none of these routers are exactly foolproof; you’ll have issues here and there that you didn’t expect. Even my nice cheap Linksys wireless router (bought for $40) has had the tendency to kick the internet offline if two computers are on it at the same time. It doesn’t do it often at all, but it happens rarely. But hey, for $40, it does its job 99.9% of the time. That’s about what we can expect unless you move up to something that costs in the hundreds or thousands.

** Self serving section of my post: Check out my new site, Hardwood Floor Vacuum Central. Yeah, it’s a little bit different than what I’m posting here but I’m hoping it takes off.

Shopping:

Belkin Wireless G Plus Router

D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Gigabit Wireless Router

Cisco-Linksys Refurbished WRT54G2-RM Wireless-G Router

NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router with USB WNR3500L

Cisco-Linksys E3000 High-Performance Wireless-N Router

Finding a great used router

Brent — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:39:11 +0000

Finding and buying a used router isn’t as tough as everybody thinks. Trust me, just about anyone can go out and find a good pre-owned router for a ridiculously low price if they know where to properly look for one. There are some great places to look online (along with some not-so-great places you really want to avoid) that will really give you excellent prices on used routers, both wired and wireless.

Okay, so if you were to go out and buy a router today, would you get a wireless one or not? I definitely recommend the former, as it really allows you a heck of a lot more mobility in your house or office than if you got a wired one. Wired routers are fine, don’t get me wrong; for certain applications they’re exactly what you need. If, for example, you needed to set up a secure internal LAN, you wouldn’t use a wireless router. That radio waves over the airways would be open to interception and decryption. Wired is the only way to go in that case. However, for your home or office, I can’t see any reason not to use a good used wireless router and simply securing it with a passcode. As long as you set a good passcode you won’t have any problems.

Now, here’s where you need to be careful: Buying used stuff online isn’t always the safest thing to do. If you buy your router from an authorized refurbishing company you’ll be just great, but off of craigslist? Maybe not. Of course craiglist can offer you some great deals, but electronics are one of those things that you may want to think twice about when it comes time to cut a check to a perfect stranger. There are no guarantees or warranties in the world of online classifieds, so just be aware.

Many of the “big name” stores often carry some good deals. For instance, a used Linksys router can go for less than half the cost of a new one, assuming you don’t mind stepping down a little bit to a lesser model. If you don’t mind doing that, you can really find some good cheap prices. You don’t always have to keep up with the Joneses! Older used routers often work just as good as the new ones; you just won’t have as many features. Then again, who needs them? The internet hasn’t exactly changed much in the way it operates in the past decade or so…

Shopping:

Cisco-Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router

Cisco Syst. 1721 Modular Access Router ( CISCO1721-ADSL )

Cisco-Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Cable/DSL Router

Cisco 1601 - Router - Ethernet, serial - Cisco IOS - external

Cisco-Linksys WRT160N-RM Refurbished Wireless-N Router

How to use a modem router with your laptop

Brent — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:47:44 +0000

Using a modem router with your laptop isn’t as hard or technical as you might have originally thought. Honestly, the setup and the configuration isn’t bad once you’ve done it a couple times. Trust me, you don’t have to have a degree in computer science or have professional credentials to set up a home network with a modem router. It’s a simple process that just requires a little bit of time and just an ounce of patience.

So, let’s get started. First of all, do you have a wired modem router or a wireless modem router? The configuration here is going to be considerably different depending on what you have. If you have a wired system things tend to be a little bit easier, but if you have that type of setup you’re not going to have the benefits or flexibility of a wireless system. With a wireless system you can go sit on the couch and watch TV with your laptop with you. You can’t do that with a wired system without running a ton of wires around. I definitely recommend the wireless version for this very reason. It offers you the ability to move around your house while using your laptop.

It’s also important to note that the configuration options on a cable modem router are almost exactly the same as what you’d see with an ADSL modem router. While these are two different types of broadband connections, the system should be almost seamless to you on the LAN side of the network. So, the first thing you need to do is read the manual. Pick it up and read it cover to cover. I know you don’t want to, but it’ll save you many questions you might have down the road. Have it all read? Good. Let’s keep going.

You need to hook your modem router up properly. For a cable system you’ll be hooking it up via a coaxial cable right into the wall, whereas an ADSL system will have a special type of phone jack. The concept is the same. That’s what’s connecting you to the internet. From there, you want to plug in the router’s power and let it boot up. This can take a couple minutes, so make sure you give it enough time to go through its sequences. You should be able to tell when it’s done by watching the lights; watch for lights to stop blinking, and watch for lights to come on. Your manual will tell you what they all mean.

From there, you can plug your laptop into the modem router itself. This is appropriate for both wireless and wired systems as this will allow you to gain access to your admin interface on a wireless modem. A default administrative username and password should be made known by your modem manufacturer and will be included in your manuals. Once you’ve accessed that section you can set up a new admin password and set up your wireless security (highly recommended!). This is typically done in a very user-friendly interface, so don’t worry about that. Just make sure to write down your password.

And folks, that’s really about all there is to setting up modem routers. Not as tough as you’d originally thought, I bet!

Shopping:

TRENDnet ADSL Fast Ethernet/USB Combination Modem Router TDM-C400 (Blue)

Cisco-Linksys Refurbished WRT54G2-RM Wireless-G Router

D-Link DSL-2540B ADSL2/2+ Modem with 4-Port Ethernet Router TR067/069

TRENDnet 150Mbps Wireless N ADSL 2/2+ Modem Router TEW-657BRM (Black)

NETGEAR DGND3300 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router with Built-in DSL Modem

How do I find a good ADSL router?

Brent — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:22:07 +0000

ADSL is still alive and kicking around the world, so the question continually begs: What is a good ADSL router? Are there routers that are better than others that offer better services and features? Am I paying the right price for my ADSL router or did I get ripped off? Well, that’s what we want to answer: We want to talk about some of the best ADSL routers we’ve found through reviews online. We’ll also tell you what we think you’ll pay for them, and where you can find great deals on these ADSL routers. Stick around and you’ll find some good information from this post!

Cisco has been a major brand name in routers for years, and for good reason. The quality of products they put out are second to none; even major names like Netgear can’t always keep up, even though both are solid manufacturers. Cisco has been known to deal with industrial-type routers meant for large businesses, so you can really guarantee that the routers they put out for the general public are usually pretty good. So, the first solid ADSL modem router I want to talk about is the Cisco 837 ADSL Broadband Router. This can be used for large and small applications, not just small household networks like its competitors. This includes a heavy-duty security firewall system that’s easily configurable by the user, but not so oppressive that it blocks you out of everything. It still allows you to watch videos, and even has a secure voice feature that can be used through the security system. That’s excellent for corporate applications where you might have to do teleconferencing on a regular basis. How much does the Cisco 837 cost? You can usually pick this ADSL router up for pretty cheap; it generally goes for $60-$70 depending on the store, and can be found at sites such as Tiger Direct, Newegg, etc.

Now that Cisco and Linksys have teamed up, you can find a great deal with a great ADSL wireless router. The Wireless-G ADSL2 Modem Router is one of their newest offerings, and has a slew of great features that make this a good fit for small office and home office applications (SOHO). The wireless nature of this modem makes it easy to set up and configure. Just plug it into your modem, set a password key, and connect using your laptop’s wireless card. It’s pretty easy. It also comes with an industry-standard security configuration tool to make your network secure. Check it out!

Shopping:

Netopia 2247-62 - Wireless router + 4-port switch - DSL - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, 802.11b, 802.11g - external

TRENDnet 300Mbps Wireless N ADSL2/2+ Modem Router TEW-635BRM (Black)

2wire 1000SW ADSL Modem Wireless DSL Router

Alfa Indoor 400mW 802.11g High-power AP Router, Client, WISP, Bridge, Repeater

Netgear DGN2200 N300 Wireless ADSL +2 Modem Router (DGN2200-100NAS)