new to wireless - need some information and advice

[kirel123]

Currently, I do not use a router of any kind. Cable goes to the modem. Modem goes to my computer. My computer is used primarily as a gaming station, secondarily as a media station (movies, music, tv, etc). And when I work from home, I use it as a dumb terminal to SVC into my workstation at my office.

Yesterday I purchased a new cell phone ( service is t-mobile) that will connect to WIFI and while connected to WIFI - all calls made are free.

Since I work from home quite a bit and when working, I tend to need to talk to people all the time, I can see a definate long term cost savings, if I were to purchase a cheapish wi-fi router, who'se sole purpose would be to connect upto my new cell.

My cable modem is the Motorolla SB5120

Question #1 Since my wireless connectivity need is strictly limited to my cell phone activity around the house, is there any need to get an expensive wireless router?

Question #2 My presumption is that I can still connect (wired), from the wireless router to my computer. E.G. the wired path to my computer would be wall -> modem -> router -> computer. Is this presumption correct?

Question #3 Any recomendations as to the type of router to use?

 

[imported_hopeless]

I'm new to wireless but I've been doing some reading here and there, here's my thoughts.

Q1: I wouldn't think so, but you might want one with a quailty of service so you can rate you phone as having a higer priority than your pc. I've heard some VoIP calls can cut in and out.

Q2: That is correct. Modem to WAN plug on the router, it will only have 1 marked with WAN. PC to a LAN plug on the router, you will have 4 marked as LAN.

Q3: I just started looking around recently into wireless and what I'm wanting to do is different. So I can't really help with this one.

 

[Madwand1]

Interesting...

T-Mobile offers a couple of inexpensive wireless routers themselves. When you don't have any special needs, are price-sensitive, and could benefit from more informed support from the service provider, one of these could be the best choice.

1. Probably not.

2. Yes. This also gives you the benefit of the firewall in the router.

3. If you have a large house, yard, or otherwise problematic areas to reach, you might benefit from a stronger wireless router.

In some cases, when you have a lot of concurrent Internet access, you might in theory benefit from a router which does auto QoS and prioritizes VoIP traffic, such as a D-Link DIR-625, a ZyXEL X-550, or a D-Link DIR-655.

Your best best might be to go with a cheap router from T-Mobile, and consider upgrading only if that doesn't work well.