Can I use a Linksys BEFSR81 to connect a small network to BT Broadband?

Hello -

I have a small office network which I want to connect to BT Broadband.
I am slightly puzzled by the kit I need. I ordered this product:

Etherfast ADSL Router 8pt 10/100 Ethernet
Linksys BEFSR81

Which as far as I understand is a modem as well as router. However
the diagram on the box indicates that I need a separate DSL router.
Is this true? Is there another piece of kit that I should buy? (It's
a simple network - 3 work stations on one side and broadband on the
other.)

Thanks,
Chris

On 2 Mar 2004 09:49:07 -0800, in uk.telecom.broadband
(E-Mail Removed) (Chris MacNeil) strung together this:

>Hello -
>
>I have a small office network which I want to connect to BT Broadband.
> I am slightly puzzled by the kit I need. I ordered this product:
>
>Etherfast ADSL Router 8pt 10/100 Ethernet
>Linksys BEFSR81
>
>Which as far as I understand is a modem as well as router. However
>the diagram on the box indicates that I need a separate DSL router.
>Is this true? Is there another piece of kit that I should buy? (It's
>a simple network - 3 work stations on one side and broadband on the
>other.)
>
You need a DSL modem, you have a router.
I would like to explain what all the differences are but I'm a little
sketchy myself. There's plenty of info around though.
...

SJW
A.C.S. Ltd.

Lazy manufacturers again. What you have bought is a broadband router, known
in the States as a cable/DSL router.

Now across the Pond, all broadband modems have ethernet ports - just like
cable modems do in the UK. However, for technical reasons - and not just
sheer bloodymindedness - our ADSL modems do not have ethernet outputs, but
USB.

This means that whereas in the States you can *add* a broadband router to a
broadband modem with a simple ethernet cable, you can't do the same with
ADSL in the UK. And to add insult to injury, the manufacturers don't bother
rebadging their 'cable/DSL' routers for the UK, even though they don't work
on (A)DSL.

There are two possible solutions to this problem:

1) Keep the Linksys router, and add a special ethernet ADSL modem to it. We
sell ones by 3COM and Dlink:
www.itchest.co.uk/3com.aspx
www.itchest.co.uk/dsl300g+.aspx

They're a pain to set up, but people on this group seem to find this setup
reliable enough.

2) Send back the router and buy an all-in-one ADSL router. You can find some
decent ones here:
www.itchest.co.uk/routers.aspx

Feel free to give me a bell about this if you need help - the number's
below.

Benedict from ITchest.
--
Add the 'co' to reply
www.itchest.co.uk
Tel: 0870 162 0840

"Chris MacNeil" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> Hello -
>
> I have a small office network which I want to connect to BT Broadband.
> I am slightly puzzled by the kit I need. I ordered this product:
>
> Etherfast ADSL Router 8pt 10/100 Ethernet
> Linksys BEFSR81
>
> Which as far as I understand is a modem as well as router. However
> the diagram on the box indicates that I need a separate DSL router.
> Is this true? Is there another piece of kit that I should buy? (It's
> a simple network - 3 work stations on one side and broadband on the
> other.)
>
> Thanks,
> Chris

> Now across the Pond, all broadband modems have ethernet ports - just like
> cable modems do in the UK. However, for technical reasons - and not just
> sheer bloodymindedness - our ADSL modems do not have ethernet outputs, but
> USB.

The Binatone ADSL 2000 has both and is available from argos.

Dave