Help: Broadband router & BT ADSL

Hey All,

I've been reading the past few weeks' posts in the hope of saving me asking
what would appear to be a FAQ, I'm not having much luck.

I'm on the BT Broadband package and have a small home network running
(ethernet via a hub) I'd like to share that with the other PC in the N/work
and perhaps to be able to connect up my Imac. When I had my machine
constructed (about 18 mos ago) I also ordered an internet router for this
specific purpose (SMC barricade 4-port 10/100 Mbps broadband router) however
I could never get it to marry with the froggie because of the USB/rj45
interface, It's now so long ago that I can't remember if this was the sole
reason for it not happening, but the router has sat in the box pretty much
since the day I bought it. I saw recently that BT have a new system
available for home networking, that and my son's move to secondary school
have sparked my inter-networking appetite again.

Basically I'm in need now of having the shared net connection and wondering
if I can work with what I have or whether I need a new modem/router or
whether I should just save myself all the trouble and go for the BT £159
offer.

There has been lots of chat on the list on related subjects, some of which
could be entirely relevant, but to be honest I'm coming away more confused
than enlightened. I'd have preferred not to have bothered the group but I
can't seem to work this out on my own with any degree of confidence at all
and I'd rather avoid an(other) expensive mistake.

I'm running Win2000 on my main PC and 98 on the secondary PC, the iMac is on
9.06. There are ethernet cards in all the machines.

If I do need to get additional hardware (non-BT) I'd greatly appreciate any
recommendations of where to start shopping and what for.

Regards and thank you for your assistance.

Virtual pints all around

Paul
----------------------
Paul Marshall
Portfolio Sound Artist
http://www.powerhaus.net
http://www.drumdojo.com
http://www.differentdrums.co.uk
NI Facilitator for the Da Capo Foundation
www.dacapo.co.uk

"Paul Marshall" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bm0khm$qb3$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hey All,
>
> I've been reading the past few weeks' posts in the hope of saving me
asking
> what would appear to be a FAQ, I'm not having much luck.
>
> I'm on the BT Broadband package and have a small home network running
> (ethernet via a hub) I'd like to share that with the other PC in the
N/work
> and perhaps to be able to connect up my Imac. When I had my machine
> constructed (about 18 mos ago) I also ordered an internet router for this
> specific purpose (SMC barricade 4-port 10/100 Mbps broadband router)
however
> I could never get it to marry with the froggie because of the USB/rj45
> interface, It's now so long ago that I can't remember if this was the sole
> reason for it not happening, but the router has sat in the box pretty much
> since the day I bought it. I saw recently that BT have a new system
> available for home networking, that and my son's move to secondary school
> have sparked my inter-networking appetite again.
>
> Basically I'm in need now of having the shared net connection and
wondering
> if I can work with what I have or whether I need a new modem/router or
> whether I should just save myself all the trouble and go for the BT £159
> offer.
>
> There has been lots of chat on the list on related subjects, some of which
> could be entirely relevant, but to be honest I'm coming away more confused
> than enlightened. I'd have preferred not to have bothered the group but I
> can't seem to work this out on my own with any degree of confidence at all
> and I'd rather avoid an(other) expensive mistake.
>
> I'm running Win2000 on my main PC and 98 on the secondary PC, the iMac is
on
> 9.06. There are ethernet cards in all the machines.
>
> If I do need to get additional hardware (non-BT) I'd greatly appreciate
any
> recommendations of where to start shopping and what for.
>

I presume your BT Broadband package is ADSL... if so, it sounds like you
need an ADSL Modem/Router. This will solve all your problems. I use a
Draytek Vigor 2600 (try http://www.adslguide.org.uk/hardware/reviews/ for
more info), which plugs directly into the phone socket. The ADSL connection
is managed by the modem/router, and then the connection is shared via a 4
port Ethernet 10/100 Switch to my two machines.

I have a laptop running Win XP and an IMac running MAC OS 10 plugged into it
and all works swimmingly well - both can surf the internet at the same time
or when the the other machine is off...

Others with more knowledge might be able to suggest how to incorporate the
existing router with the frog, but I'm not sure it's possible.

regards,

James

"James Hurrell" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<bm0n85$h7df3$(E-Mail Removed)>...
> "Paul Marshall" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:bm0khm$qb3$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Hey All,
> >
> > I've been reading the past few weeks' posts in the hope of saving me
> asking
> > what would appear to be a FAQ, I'm not having much luck.
> >
> > I'm on the BT Broadband package and have a small home network running
> > (ethernet via a hub) I'd like to share that with the other PC in the
> N/work
> > and perhaps to be able to connect up my Imac. When I had my machine
> > constructed (about 18 mos ago) I also ordered an internet router for this
> > specific purpose (SMC barricade 4-port 10/100 Mbps broadband router)
> however
> > I could never get it to marry with the froggie because of the USB/rj45
> > interface, <SNIP>

Hi
It seems you are trying to make life a little to hard for your self.
As long as the router is n ADSL one unplug the frog. connec the router
to the socket and to your network. check the manual for the router on
how to configure it an off you go. what you will need to check is that
the Pcs and mac get their Ip address by DHCP.Good Luck

Ian