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What's the difference between a Hub, a Switch and a Router?

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Hi, I only have a laptop, what do I need to have it wireless? I was thinking of getting boadband or install DSL from Bellsouth, what do I need after that? What kind of router, and what kind of card. Thank you in regard to this matter, I am not very laptop savvy.

Lily LaMonica

Posted by: Lily at March 10, 2005 8:56 AM

A wireless broadband router, and if your laptop doesn't already have a wireless adapter built in (many newer ones do), then an 802.11b or perhaps better, an 802.11g, wireless pccard (aka pcmcia crd). Make sure your laptop has an available pccard slot for the wireless adapter to go into. If not, there are also USB wireless adapters that work as well.

Posted by: Leo at March 10, 2005 9:18 AM

I am looking for a device to connect my enire home network, two computers and an xbox(for xbox live). I was just wondering if I would need a router or if a switch would do. If it matters at all I'm running a 100mps dsl system.

Posted by: travis at March 29, 2005 12:36 AM

I almost always recommend a router.

Posted by: Leo at March 29, 2005 9:17 AM

I am getting ready to purchase a wireless router and laptop card. Question, what is the difference between a "B" and "G" router? Also, which one is better in the long run.

thank you,

Gene

Posted by: Gene Munns at March 31, 2005 2:23 PM

B and G are two different protocols. G can be faster. The good news is that G routers and network cards also support the B protocol. I'd get the G.

Posted by: Leo at March 31, 2005 8:42 PM

hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
HUB:
Hub basically a equipment to connect the hosts on physical layer .And having a no ports 8,16,32 etc and data send to any port can pass to all the remaining ports.
SWITCH:
Switch is small intelligent equipment used on the datalink layer .It used the MAC Address to find the the destination(find out d MAC Address of destination host)
ROUTER:
Ohhhhhhhhhhh WAT a intresting thing is a router .A very intelligent box.It uses d ip addresses to send d data to destination .Uses d routing table to find out ip id.It is used on d networklayer

Posted by: manoj kamboj at April 4, 2005 3:46 AM

Hi I was wondering what I should get a hub, router, or a switch. I have computer up stairs and I was going to run some Cat-5 wire down stairs to my PS2 so I could play online. I was wondering what the best item would be so I could have my computer up stairs hooked in at all times, and my PS2 hooked in at all times. Please help me out.

Posted by: Caleb Pate at April 4, 2005 9:44 PM

I almost always recommend a router.

Posted by: Leo at April 4, 2005 10:17 PM

What type of Router would u recommend for having my PS2 and Computer hooked up at all times?

Posted by: Caleb Pate at April 5, 2005 5:04 PM
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