Modem or New Gateway?

[Bro John (UK)]

Got to set up a home network soon,

Currently got BT broadband 512 using BT Voyager 100 USB Modem.

I want one PC wired and one wireless, I was thinking about getting the Linksys WAG54g gateway and ditching the USB modem!

or would I better off getting the Linksys WRT54G router and existing modem?

Am I right in thinking BT line would go into modem then into router instead of PC and connect to PC via cat5e cable and wireless card.

Help/Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks folks

[nichomach]

Right; the WRT54G is unsuitable for use with a USB modem, since its external link is Cat5. If you go with Linksys, your best bet is, as you surmised, the WAG54G. The BT line would then go into the ADSL port on the WAG54G. You would then have the connection to the wired and wireless clients you describe from the WAG54G.

edit: Also consider the 3COM alternative

[bsodmike]

As a rule of thumb it is best to keep networks to ethernet as much as you can, then expandability and adapting is easier, specially if you layout decent cabling from the start (say Cat5e or Cat6)...

My only gripe with the Linksys is that i've heared many people busting them during flashing and having trouble replacing them. However, I think the biggest reason for this is because people try to upgrade the firmware via wifi rather than over the wired ethernet.

[nichomach]

...which is a BAD idea .

Actually, I've got a few of the WAP54G access points going at the mo' and they're all good.

I had one of the 3COM boxes I linked to above in recently for a user's home setup, though, and it's a VERY friendly piece of kit, and about the same price (or less) as the Linksys; like the Linksys, comes with a PCMCIA card as well.

[bsodmike]

The 3COM probably wins hands down based on looks (even tho I got 2x Linksys switches). Of course if you are the type of person that has these hidden away, it doesn't matter. They are both good - see which is cheapest and go with that.