Hub or router

[TheAngryMutant]

Here's my situation: 2 pc's, cable modem, isp wants more money for additional ip's, lan gaming, file sharing, and printer sharing required. Could someone give me an idea how i could do this for under $100? I've read that routers are in general better for a situation like this, but they create problems for games. a friend of mine has a hub-based network with similar conditions as mine, but it sucks. So, any ideas?

 

[usas]

Well, you could use the For Sale/Trade forums here to look for a 4 port router, it would cost you about $50-$60 here. Or you could get a 1 port router and a cheap hub.

 

[isasir]

I definitely would suggest getting a router over a hub. For me, the main reason for it was cuz, with a hub, I'd have to keep my computer on (it's connected to the cable modem), for any other PC to access the internet. That's not needed with a router. File and printer sharing work perfectly fine. I haven't tried LAN gaming, but I don't expect it to be a problem. I think I'd just need to install the IPX protocol for that, and it should work. I own a Linksys BEFSR41.

 

[bakchoy]

I got my LinkSys BEFSR41 from CompUSA for $80. I have two computers as well, but haven't noticed any problems with gaming. There is also a functionality in the router software which will let the Internet "see" one computer. The only thing I haven't tried yet is playing online on both computers at the same time. That might give you problems, but if the router can't handle it I would guess the only solution would be paying for an additional IP. The LinkSys BEFSR41 also works as a hub and file and printer sharing is no problem.

 

[ojai00]

I'd get the router over the hub. You can do all the things that you want with a router, and it'll be much easier. Routers like the SMC Barricade have a print server, so you can just hook up your printer to the router, install the software, and you'll be sharing printers in a matter of minutes. Here's a link that you can check out for a comparison of routers 8wire Labs Roundup: Broadband Routers. That link was provided by Poontos. Hope it helps.

 

[FiveDoubleO]

for one thing you will have improved bandwidth with the Router since each port would get 100% to each pc... but routers do create latency since they need to make choices and some what think...

as a hub is "sharing" the bandwidth with every pc since it just repeats the signal to every port on the hub

so if you had 3 pcs it would really help with a router.
pc A to talk to pc B with out filling up pc Cs bandwidth some.


you wouldnt notice the routers latency any
the router would give you added security
and not require you to lease the each IP address!

with that info should help ya in your quest