The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    A quick network question

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by pixelot, Apr 18, 2009.

  1. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

    Reputations:
    3,732
    Messages:
    6,833
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    My friend has a home network that he uses for a wireless music system. Works great. He has added one Macbook and planning to add a wireless connected iMac and ethernet connected network storage and printer. The internet is already slow on the Mac. He wants to speed up the system by replacing the current router with an "N" router and a switch to carry all ethernet connected items.

    Do you have a recommendation on a router, switch. Is one brand better than another?

    TIA,
    -pixelot :cool:
     
    pixelot, Apr 18, 2009
    #1
  2. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,926
    Messages:
    8,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Is your friend sure that the slowness is due to his network configuration and not to something in the Mac itself?
     
    Shyster1, Apr 18, 2009
    #2
  3. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

    Reputations:
    3,732
    Messages:
    6,833
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    I don't know, but surely it can't hurt to set up an 'N' system? He just wants some recommendations on the router.
     
    pixelot, Apr 18, 2009
    #3
  4. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,926
    Messages:
    8,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Well, unless he knows what the source of the slowness is, he may end up with exactly what he's got now, and nothing to show for all the time, effort, and money needed to set up a new network.
     
    Shyster1, Apr 18, 2009
    #4
  5. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

    Reputations:
    3,732
    Messages:
    6,833
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Well, if the problem is on the Mac, and not on whatever else he'll be adding, then he would have a better connection with the rest than the Mac on the configuration he has now, and even better with an 'N' network. And then the problem on the Mac is what would need to be resolved. :p

    Any router suggestions, though?
     
    pixelot, Apr 18, 2009
    #5
  6. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,926
    Messages:
    8,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    I've had good experiences with Netgear routers, so-so with Linksys and DLink, and really stinky with Belkin, so I'd vote in that order; keep in mind, everyone else will disagree (except, perhaps viz. Belkin).
     
    Shyster1, Apr 18, 2009
    #6
  7. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

    Reputations:
    3,732
    Messages:
    6,833
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Thank you for the recommendations. Also, I know pretty much nothing about switches. Thoughts, anyone? :eek:
     
    pixelot, Apr 18, 2009
    #7
  8. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

    Reputations:
    3,732
    Messages:
    6,833
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    bump

    10char
     
    pixelot, Apr 19, 2009
    #8
  9. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,926
    Messages:
    8,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    As far as switches go, I'm in the same boat as you - I've never had occasion to use one - but I'd think that the general rule of networking applies, namely, go with one manufacturer for all the equipment, unless you find a good reason for needing to get another mfr's piece of equipment.
     
    Shyster1, Apr 19, 2009
    #9
  10. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    It's impossible to answer your questions without a clearer understanding of your situation, honestly. We're not being evasive--it is just that your going to get an answer that isn't worth much.

    Like Shyster, I don't think you are going to get what you want out of this with so little information supplied. Thus, your hardware requests are basically going to end up with vague--had good luck with this brand.

    What hardware is going to be involved? There is a switch built into most routers..how many machines do you have that will be wired?

    Without good imput, you don't get good output

    That said, I would buy this wireless router, which is a dual-band wireless N router. It has an integrated 4-port lan switch supporting gigabit ethernet (you will need gigabit ethernet network adapters to benefit from this).

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127243
     
    gerryf19, Apr 19, 2009
    #10
  11. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

    Reputations:
    3,732
    Messages:
    6,833
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Well, I have only that to go on, and pretty clueless about his needs. Thanks.
     
    pixelot, Apr 19, 2009
    #11