Question: Switching Wireless Routers

Newbie asking: Does changing routers alter Windows network setup?

My Netgear wireless G router is working fine. But range is short
(rated at about 50 feet).

Recently I picked up at a yard sale an Actiontec router that is
distributed to customers of the Verizon phone company and others. It's
a big box (about triple the size of the Netgear) with a huge antenna.
I'd like to see if it could deliver the signal to my workshop in a
barn on the property.

My question: Does a router have any influence on IP address settings
in the manner of a modem - or can the Actiontec be tested safely with
the Netgear being replaced if the signal does not carry as desired?

My current setup is Motorola modem out to WAN on a VOIP adaptor and
then ethernet out to Netgear router.
For example: http://www.lingo.com/resources/jsp/how_it_works.jsp
(PS - Just signed up with Lingo after Sunrocket VOIP went backrupt.)

Thanks for any input.

"(E-Mail Removed)" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Newbie asking: Does changing routers alter Windows network setup?

Yes. The router basically runs the network. It assigns IP addresses
via DHCP and controls access to the internet from the network. Change
the router and these will change.

>My Netgear wireless G router is working fine. But range is short
>(rated at about 50 feet).

Does your Netgear wireless G router have a model number and hardware
revision number, or are you simply assuming that this is
inconsequential?

>Recently I picked up at a yard sale an Actiontec router

Any particular model number?

>that is
>distributed to customers of the Verizon phone company and others. It's
>a big box (about triple the size of the Netgear) with a huge antenna.
>I'd like to see if it could deliver the signal to my workshop in a
>barn on the property.

Well, that's easy. You don't have to connect to the internet to see
if it works. Just plug it in and turn it on. You should pickup the
SSID of the router with a laptop or portable computah. Once you have
that, take a walk and see how far you get. If you wanna see if
there's some hope of reliable communications, just ping the router
continuously. You should also try this with your Netgear turned off
so there's no mutual interference. No need to connect either router
to the internet for this test.

>My question: Does a router have any influence on IP address settings
>in the manner of a modem - or can the Actiontec be tested safely with
>the Netgear being replaced if the signal does not carry as desired?

The settings in the router have a huge effect on your unspecified DSL,
satellite, or cable internet connection. The type of connection and
often a login/password must be specified to satisfy the ISP. Lacking
a clue who that might be or how you connect, I cannot offer any
specific advice. Punch the reset button on the Actiontec, and just
plug it in. Who know, you might be lucky and it just works.

>My current setup is Motorola modem out to WAN on a VOIP adaptor and
>then ethernet out to Netgear router.

Ok, it's a clue. Motorola only makes cable modems so you must have a
cable ISP. Damn, I'm good at this detective work. Chances are good
that you can just set the WAN(internet) connection in the Actiontec to
DHCP and it will just work.

Since the Lingo modem goes BEFORE the router, it is unlikely to be
affected by anything you do in the router (unless you do something
disgusting like assign the router the same IP address as the Lingo
modem).

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558