Equipment Recommendation for BB

I posted this to uk.comp.homebuilt and uk.comp.adverts without response
and wonder if this is a more appropriate group.

I am preparing for broadband which should be available here next
January.

I want a combined WAP / ADSL Modem / Router with a couple of USB2 (plus
FireWire would be even better) ports so that I can attach my printer
and a backup drive. I hope I am using the right terminology. I want to
plug one end of this thing into my (new ADSL) phone socket, plug a
couple of PC's into it and use my laptop via a wireless connection. I
also would like to plug my printer and an external backup drive into it.

Computer Shopper did a 'review' (just a list of specifications really)
and the Ovislink WMU 9000 VPN seems to fit the bill, although it's
expensive. I have since found a further review in PC Pro that said
that the Ovislink will only recognise FAT/FAT32 drives attached to the
USB ports which would be a pain (at a guess I would say it must
be running a version of Linux).

Does anybody have any experience of this kit? (Tom's h/w did a review
which was quite good)

Any alternatives with similar capabilities worth looking at? I
particularly like the idea of attaching a drive for backup and the
printer.


--
Jeff Gaines - Damerham Hampshire UK
Posted with XanaNews 1.16.4.6
http://www.wilsonc.demon.co.uk/d7xananews.htm

Some versions of the Draytek Vigor 2600G range come with print server
function and USB printer port.
It's very good quality kit and hence not cheap.
See http://www.seg.co.uk/ for details, but buy from one of the online shops
e.g. broadbandbuyer.co.uk
I don't know of any router which will connect a backup drive via USB, but
surely you can just plug it to whichever computer needs it.
Regards,
Martin

On 20/10/2004 Martin² wrote:

> Some versions of the Draytek Vigor 2600G range come with print server
> function and USB printer port.
> It's very good quality kit and hence not cheap.
> See http://www.seg.co.uk/ for details, but buy from one of the online
> shops e.g. broadbandbuyer.co.uk
> I don't know of any router which will connect a backup drive via USB,
> but surely you can just plug it to whichever computer needs it.
> Regards,
> Martin

Thanks for that, Martin, I found some good reviews as well :-)

I guess waiting as long as possible is sensible with prices gradually
dropping. There seems to be quite a premium for these additional USB
ports. I'm more interested in connecting a backup drive that I can use
for any PC on the net, rather than a printer that I rarely use.

Thanks again.

--
Jeff Gaines - Damerham Hampshire UK
Posted with XanaNews 1.16.4.6
http://www.wilsonc.demon.co.uk/d7xananews.htm

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Jeff Gaines <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I'm more interested in connecting a backup drive that I can use
> for any PC on the net, rather than a printer that I rarely use.
>

I don't recall ever seeing a router to which you connect a network disk
drive.

If you don't want to move the drive around between PCs, as required, do you
have an 'always on' PC to which you could connect it, and then share it -
giving your other PCs write access to it?
--
Cheers,
Tim
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is invalid.

On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 20:50:37 +0100, "Tiscali Tim" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I don't recall ever seeing a router to which you connect a network disk
>drive.

wireless media router like
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGT634U.php

Phil
--
spamcop.net address commissioned 18/06/04
Come on down !

On 20/10/2004 Tiscali Tim wrote:

> In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
> Jeff Gaines <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > I'm more interested in connecting a backup drive that I can use
> > for any PC on the net, rather than a printer that I rarely use.
> >
>
> I don't recall ever seeing a router to which you connect a network
> disk drive.
>
> If you don't want to move the drive around between PCs, as required,
> do you have an 'always on' PC to which you could connect it, and then
> share it - giving your other PCs write access to it?

The Ovislink I mentioned in my original post has 4 x USB2 ports which
will take printers/USB drives - but only FAT/FAT32 formatted drives.

I am trying to move away from having to turn a 'server' on to backup, I
live on my own with a small dog and there are 5 working PC's here, and
the dog doesn't use any of them :-)

--
Jeff Gaines - Damerham Hampshire UK
Posted with XanaNews 1.16.4.6
http://www.wilsonc.demon.co.uk/d7xananews.htm

On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 20:50:37 +0100, "Tiscali Tim" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
>Jeff Gaines <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> I'm more interested in connecting a backup drive that I can use
>> for any PC on the net, rather than a printer that I rarely use.
>>
>
>I don't recall ever seeing a router to which you connect a network disk
>drive.

Actually, quite a few manufacturers now sell SAN/NAS kit that can be
connected directly to ethernet. Some isn't too pricey either - this
one will cost you around 200 quid apparently.

http://www.buffalotech.com/wireless/...HDH120LAN.html

Mind you, HP's terabyte solutions cost around 4K.

Hmm, terabytes of diskspace.... :-)

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Phil Thompson <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 20:50:37 +0100, "Tiscali Tim" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>> I don't recall ever seeing a router to which you connect a network
>> disk drive.
>
> wireless media router like
> http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGT634U.php
>
> Phil


Well, you live and learn!
--
Cheers,
Tim
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is invalid.

On 20/10/2004 Mark McIntyre wrote:

[snipped]

> Actually, quite a few manufacturers now sell SAN/NAS kit that can be
> connected directly to ethernet. Some isn't too pricey either - this
> one will cost you around 200 quid apparently.
>
> http://www.buffalotech.com/wireless/...ucts/HDH120LAN
> .html
>
> Mind you, HP's terabyte solutions cost around 4K.
>
> Hmm, terabytes of diskspace.... :-)

Martin/Phil/Mark

Many thanks for the links :-)

The UK supplier of the OvisLink kit sells it under the brand name
'Airlive' - have you come across them?

Otherwise the Draytek looks good, a bit pricey but I get the impression
it's pro/semi-pro kit rather than specifically for home use so quality
would be good?

--
Jeff Gaines - Damerham Hampshire UK
Posted with XanaNews 1.16.4.6
http://www.wilsonc.demon.co.uk/d7xananews.htm