Do I really need a router

[Calli]

We have three pc's in the house. All have been connected via a router over the past two years. The first on was a US Robotics, died after 14 months, no known cause, no surges, no tx problems, etc. We replaced that with a Zoom X5 last July, Now it has died. Over the past two weeks, I have attempted to contact Zoom via email, and no response whatsoever. Lond distance rates make TX calls too expensive. We are using just one pc now with the original Westel modem. Do I really need a router since they are so undependable. I'm thinking of just buying separate modems for each pc.

[Calli]

Unimportant detail: Spouse says the first router was a Linksys

[jlreich]

Yes you need a router if you want all three computers to connect to the net.

Linksys is a good brand. I have one that has worked just fine for over five years. Only reason I replaced it was because there was some compatibility issue with Steam multiplayer games and certain old Linksys routers. My oldest daughter started getting very upset after Steam was updated and kept getting dropped from MP games. :p

D-Link and Netgear are also pretty decent brands. I now have a D-Link wireless router and Netgear Gbit switch and have been happy with both for some time. I was having problem with the D-Link needing to be reset often but the problem was solved after a firmware update was finally released.

[Calli]

Does a router add a significant amount of security, acting as a hardware firewall?

[bassman]

If the router you buy has a hardware firewall and you configure it properly, YES.

[Variable]

If you buy another router and it dies within a short time, I would reconsider the "no power surges" comment; assuming they are not getting overheated. For home use, a linksys is as good as any and better than most. It should last years but you can always get a sub par device, you are probably not going to buy many sub par devices though, so if it happens again it is probably not the routers that are the issue.

[Rick]

I have to agree with the Linksys

But like any other device.
Keep it cool, clean and surge free
it should last for years

[mjc]

Also, what exactly was the 'problem' that required the router to be replaced?

[Calli]

Our original Linksys just quit working. It would not connect to the internet and at the time I should have pursued more troubleshooting. Linksys had me resetting, updating firmware, etc but nothing helped so I gave up. T he Zoom X5 says it is connected but no matter where you attempt to go, you get "server not found" All appropriate lights are on. I switched over to the original Westell 6100 modem which is only good for one pc. It works so the dsl connection is fine. I am still waiting to hear from Zoom tech support but they aren't in a hurry to respond. :confused:

[Erik]

Maybe the problem is with your ISP not supporting the model of router you are using. I know of some ISPs that have a list of "approved routers" and they block anything else from accessing the network. You will still get all indications everything is working, but try to go to any website and get a "Server Not Found".

[Calli]

Prior to my purchase of the Zoom, I contacted our ISP and they do support that router and it had been working fine since July, up to now.

[Rick]

It's the Modem that required ISP support
You should be able to use almost any router you like

I also had a Linksys router go Dead this past few weeks
But it was 4 or 5 years old and suffered from heat damage

The dust and a switch on top of it caused the problem


The key is to get everything together
Then boot each in turn
1. Modem
2.Router
3. Switch or hub ( IF connected )
4.Computer

Remember everything Must be shut OFF
not just in sleep mode.
best way to ensure this is to unplug all of the devices
Then power them each in turn one at a time and let each boot and display the full connected lights before adding the next

[Calli]

The Zoom X5 is a modem router combo, 4 ports with firewall. It worked great while it worked.

[Variable]

Are the routers that keep failing all modem/routers, with a phone line plugged in to them? Power surges on the phone line happen with improper grounds. Some modems are tougher than others when it comes to surges. If you can connect to the X5 and look at the config it is probably ok. I would try setting the westel to bridge and us the wan port of the Zoom if it has one separate from the phone line. If not then your probably looking at another router. I would leave the modem alone, set it to bridge and use a router behind it.

[Calli]

I'd like to try the last suggestion but :confused: have no idea how to go about it. There are 4 ports on the back of the zoom plus the DSL line and power. Would I connect my westell to one of those ports? The message that the software (Zoom) doesn't detect any Zoom modem would indicate to me that the modem is dead. Doubt it was a power surge as we have all equipment plugged into good surge suppressors.

[Variable]

Does the surge protector cover the phone line?

If the zoom doesn't have another WAN port besides the DSL line it won't work most likely. It is possible it may allow you to specify one of the 4 switch ports as a wan port but it is doubtfull. You probably are looing at a new router.

[deddard]

Just to echo some of the above - if you're getting more than one device die on you, it is most likely a surge problem.

Many surge protection outlets now come with co-ax protection (not sure if they support different impedences) and that is certainly something to consider.
The other thing of course, as has been pointed out, is a faulty earth on the modem - anything that causes spurious signals is going to take down equipment attached to it.

edit...
as far as makes go, any of the above should be fine. Linksys is owned by Cisco, and if they can't make decent routers, it's a sad day.

[david eaton]

A word of warning!
Some surge protectors that include phone line filtering work as a bandstop filter for broadband. I had a case a couple of years ago that was only solved after a couple of hours "digital irritation of the cranial epidermis". Eventually, I took the surge arrestor out of the circuit, and it worked!

[tombutcher1990]

question, do you actually need a router?
i.e. do you use wireless?

if not, just buy a network hub and plug the ethernet port from the modem into the network hub, then the other computers into the hub as well.

unless the modem has a usb interface, in which case, new router i'm afraid.

[rond36]

question, do you actually need a router?
i.e. do you use wireless?

if not, just buy a network hub and plug the ethernet port from the modem into the network hub, then the other computers into the hub as well.

unless the modem has a usb interface, in which case, new router i'm afraid.
The answer is; yes Calli needs a router, a hub will not work.

If Calli has more then one PC on that hub he/she will need an IP address for each PC.

If Calli has a static IP address his/her ISP will see three PCs on their network with the same IP address, and none of them will get Internet access until the conflict is resolved by removing two of them or renting two more IP addresses.

My ISP charges $35 a month for an extra IP address.

If his/her IP address is dynamic the ISP's DHCP server will assign the first PC an IP address and the other two will not be assigned one and will not have Internet access.

When you pay your ISP you are more or less paying rent on an IP address.

A router allows more then one PC to use a single IP address. The only other options are: Rent three IP addresses, only connect to the Internet with one PC at a time, or Configure one PC to act as an Internet gateway for the other two.