On Tuesday 31 January 2006 23:14, suse_gasjr4wd@mac.com wrote:
On 1/31/06 11:20 PM, "JB"
wrote: Hi gang,
My girlfriend recently got satellite internet. Her daughter of course needs to use it also (as will I soon). I thought a router would be the thing to use for all 3 of us to hook into to use the 'net, but a friend here said a hub/switch will be just fine. Which is better? Which would allow all 3 of us to be 'online' at the same time the best (meaning, which/what would try to even out the bandwidth we use if all 3 of us were online at one time?)? Is the switch good enough? It seems to be working well enough for the two of them as it is, but I'm just curious if there's something that might be any better.
Thanks,
JB
There is a big difference in a hub, a router, and a switch.
A hub shares the bandwidth with each computer connected. (the more computers connected, the slower each is.)
A switch gives each computer the full 100Bt connection speed. (or what ever your network is.)
A router* does just what the name implies.
*Some routers have a 5 or 8 switch built in...
What you want is a switch. They are very, very cheap nowadays. (think "down the road"...get a gigabit switch) $20 such as: http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=313920&pfp=ca t 3
Now, after all that's said, I don't think you will notice any speed difference in just sharing the satellite connection with not going gigabit. ;) The speed can't be THAT fast... It just makes more sense ($) to get a gigabit if you are going to buy something.
Perfect! I IM'd her to check what it was I got and it's a switch. So looks like we'll be okay. Thanks for the input! It really made my year! Take care and be healthy, JB