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24.209.115.26
Hi Guys, you have helped me on my PC music journey, I now need a bit advice on cable router/modem.
My internet company Time Warner Road Runner, just jacked up my price, again. The guy recommended that I buy my own router. As monthly fee is going from $8 to $13 a month. I am using one of their's a Ubee.
Can you guys recommend a good router/modem, that is reasonably priced. Something from Amazon, I can put it on my Amazon card.
I need Wi-Fi, and at least two Ethernet ports, beyond that not sure of specs. A desktop, a laptop, a tablet, and a wireless printer, is what I have.. I checked my download speed and it is in the mid 30Mbps [37Mbps/6Mbps] using Speakeasy.
So what should I buy, or what specs do I need to look for?
Thank you,
Jeff
Follow Ups:
I would cancel the service.
can you just get by using another provider?
I'm pretty fortunate, I can get Verizon, Time Warner or Satellite internet here where I live.
I wouldn't put up with constant rate hikes.
I use Ting Mobile phone service, so if worse comes to worse I can just make my phone a wifi hotspot with the android phone and just use the 4g network.
I've cut back just about everything trying to save money instead of throwing it at everyone else.
Probably, we have AT&T, but the money I'll save on the phone, [and until I get a bill, I won't know exactly what promo package I ended up with, but I had Turbo which was 20Mbps], and now speed test shows me around 37Mbps. I figured it out, and by combining the phone, I'll be ahead, in 5 months, having paid off the modem/router.
If the ATT is called U-verse then I would say go with them, a fantastic service IMHO.
I would say see how it goes, ironically Verizon jacked up my price this month $11 , I am out of contract so I rather pay them that than get an agreement, especially if Google Fiber comes here I don't want to get stuck in a contract.
I forgot to mention, I don't have a smart phone, and I don't want one.I have nice Samsung flip phone from Virgin Mobile, that I put $20 into every 3 months. It is 20 cents a minute, but I seldom use it. Just for the rare times I am out, and need to call someone. Or for the occasional long distance call. I used to pay $20 every month, when I worked part time. Had it set up to add a 200 minute package every 30 days. They would roll over the minutes. Well they discontinued the auto pay when they updated their website. I caught it the first month, then called customer service, and was told my next payment was due on a specific date. So I made the payment, and then found out they had wiped out my 3500+ rollover minutes, saying it was past the due date. I had used the date given to me by their customer service. Multiple calls and then emails, where I finally called them incompetent idiots. They would not restore my stolen minutes, so there was no reason to buy minutes I wasn't using, I seldom use more then 50 minutes every 3 months, and the money in the account does rollover. I couldn't get that through to them. Give me back my minutes and get $240 a year from me, or not, and I will pay you $80 a year. They did me a favor.
I had a Lifeline discount on my landline, and it was still $24.39. My friend pays around $35 for his AT&T, and like mine was, no long distance. So now I think I may qualify for a free Lifeline cell phone. Saving me another $80 a year.
Edits: 12/12/15
I had Onstar in my car do that to me as well, I was going to renew but they pulled that crap erasing the minutes, and I paid that day, so not only did I not renew the car phone onstar minutes, I cancelled onstar completely.
we are going to have to vote with the dollar when it comes to these scumbags, they got a lot of balls.
worse comes to worse, don't need it. really.
If you gave up your cigarettes, drugs, booze, and hookers you could probably afford to keep your premium internet service. No? ;-)
Only reason I am hurting is I lost a lot on over 100 ounces of gold contracts, soon to be a millionaire laughing in the Chinese restaurant after the dollar collapses.
Your right except the hooker part, that's not legal here in NY, yet. I am a law abiding citizen my friend.
Ouch! I -assume- you are talking about a highly leveraged futures contract long on gold. I don't have the stomach for anything leveraged. ;-) Hope you recover OK.
ya got porn!
As far as the cable modem, a Cisco DPC3010 is cheap ($20), is what Cox supplies and it works. Almost all WiFi routers will have four 10/00 Mbps ports. More expensive ones will also support 5 Ghz. Mine does, an Asus AC1900. I think it was about $160 nearly a year ago. The 5 Mhz channels seem a little faster, but don't seem to be as strong as the signal doesn't go as far. At the standard frequency, it works all around the house and out into the yard 50 feet or more depending on where you are.
We use a separate router with gigabit ports from the cable modem because the cable connection is in the basement and we have CAT-5 cable to all our rooms, so WiFi is on a different sub-net and only used for phones and iPads and guests. The WiFi router also works a lot better if it's high and doesn't go through too many walls and floors. Gigabit ethernet is only good on wired connections for backing up to another PC or using one as a file server of whatever, but we're all wired, so it's good here.
Personally, I'd stay away from an all in one because of the extra cost and if it breaks, it's more expensive to fix or upgrade.
-Rod
I realize I should have wired the whole place with whatever Ethernet 'Cat' cable was available at the time.
Looks like they did four rooms with Cat 5 but it's terminated in phone jacks. If I ever do a deal with Comcast perhaps I can figure out some way to use it for data.
Agree that the only practical use for WiFi is phones and tablets while audio and serious computing is best with Ethernet.
Living with Netgear Powerline 500 pictured above (model without WiFi transmitter/receiver) to get Ethernet up to the third level listening room. Lucky to have two differing phased electrical outlets on the wall behind all of my gear so that I can put Audio on one phase and electric wall wart powered crap on the other.
Works surprisingly well.
Looks like they did four rooms with Cat 5 but it's terminated in phone jacks. If I ever do a deal with Comcast perhaps I can figure out some way to use it for data.If it is in fact CAT5 cable into an RJ11 style phone jack, you can swap out the existing cover plate to accommodate a RJ45 jack and wire it for networking. You just won't be able to use that jack for telephone, but most people have cordless phones these days. It's not uncommon for a home builder to use CAT5 or CAT6 cabling for telephone using only one twisted pair per phone line, or for networking using all of the twisted pairs in the cable.
You can buy color coded RJ45 jacks that don't require special tools for wiring and some actually come with a little plastic punch down tool. These are made for the DIYer who isn't going to do hundreds of jacks. I wired a couple of these in our previous home.
Of course the cabling at the other end of those RJ45 jacks will have to converge into a metal media box down in the basement, or not. They just need to get to your cable modem or switch where ever that might reside.
You can buy this stuff at HomeDepot but if you don't want to DIY, you can hire a "Low Voltage Guy". These guys wire homes for phone, cable TV/Satellite coax, alarms, doorbells, AV speakers, and even home networking.
I guess they call 'em "Low Voltage Guys" because they don't do your home AC electrical. At least that's what they called them here when we were having our home built. I had our "Low Voltage Guy" pull extra HDMI cables, optical cables, and speaker cables through the walls and up behind where the flat panel TVs would be. Also had him wire a doorbell down to the unfinished basement. He did our CAT6 network cabling throughout the house as well.
Something like this RJ45 jack that snaps in place behind the RJ45 cover plate
Edits: 12/11/15 12/11/15 12/11/15 12/11/15 12/11/15 12/11/15
Even if the cable is just a 4 pair phone cable rather than the blue CAT-5 cable, it will still work for ethernet, but won't work above 100 Mbps if you have gigabit switches or routers.
In fact, ethernet only uses green and orange pairs, so you could use one 4 pair cable for both ethernet and two phone lines.
-Rod
In fact, ethernet only uses green and orange pairs, so you could use one 4 pair cable for both ethernet and two phone lines.
Does this assume you'll be running at 100Mbs vs Gigabit?
In our case, all pairs are wired for Ethernet assuming they did this for Gigabit speeds. I also wired all pairs in our previous home since we didn't need any pairs for telephone.
You always punch down all 4 pairs even though you just use the 2 pairs. If people have older cable and want new wire or additional cabling just use the old stuff to pull new wires, makes the job much easier. Pull plenum not PVC if you are going through air returns. You can get wall jacks that take different type of inserts to make a neater installation.
Edits: 12/11/15
No, gigabit just requires a CAT5e or CAT6 cable. The ethernet spec only uses 2 pairs, but it's easier to connect all 4 pairs when you're making up the RJ45 plugs and cables. I ran separate CAT6 and phone cabling in our house, but ran out of CAT6 and used phone cable for one connection which is why I know that it will work fine at 100 Mbps, but the computer will ratchet down from gigabit to 100 Mbps when it first connects to the network.
I wouldn't bother splitting one cable for phone and ethernet, but for Ivan, he could if he needed the land line.
-Rod
The only thing i needed clarification on is the number of pairs required for Gigabit Ethernet 1000Mbs . My understanding is that it requires all four pairs, and all 8 pins wired in the RJ45 jack.
If 100Mbs Ethernet is sufficient, only 2 pairs are needed. In this case, you could separate out the remaining 2 pairs from the CAT cable and use them for phone lines.
This is not my scenario but just wanted to understand the requirements. My RJ45 has all 4 pairs wired and I have 1 Gigabit link connections throughout my network from my laptops, Mac Mini, Cisco switches, to the 4 ports in my cable modem.
2 pairs. Ethernet wiring is Ethernet wiring.
2 pairs. Ethernet wiring is Ethernet wiring.
Not really when you consider the history of Ethernet on various media types - RG8 coaxial cable (10Base5), RG58 coaxial cable "thin net" (10Base2), and more recently CAT5/6/7 twisted pair (100Base-T), (1000Base-T), (10GBaseT), SFP+ Twinax , multimode optical fiber , single mode optical fiber, etc.
I was trying to understand and clear up the ambiguity in some of the responses for my own understanding. The devil is in the details.
So as I understand it now the required cabling is:
- All 4 pairs out of the CAT5/6 cable for 1Gbs Ethernet capability (which is what I run)
but
- Only 2 pairs for 100Mbs Ethernet capability
So, if only 100Mbs is required only 2 of the 4 pairs are needed for Ethernet while the remaining pairs can be left unterminated and used elsewhere, for the telephone line(s) as an example.
Speaking of twisted pair... All the same. Different wire = higher speeds. or better connections. Why are you bring up coax etc???
Yes you can use a spare pair and long as you do not get any noise or interference. If it is already punched into a keystone Jack just punch one twisted pair of wires to the existing jack and extend it to a new phone jack.
Why are you bring up coax etc???
I assume he proffered a potted history of the relevant cabling technologies to stress the point that 100BaseT uses two pairs (1&2, 3&6 though factory-assembled cables typically terminated all four pairs) while 1000BaseT simply won't work with less than four pairs. Wiki's probably your pal here.
D
I do not believe he was looking to run 1000BaseT.
All I was asking was for clarification on the number of pairs required for:
100Mbs Ethernet vs 1Gbs Ethernet.
I brought up some historical references along with others in response your comment that Ethernet wiring is Ethernet wiring. .
I'm running 1Gbs Ethernet, all four pairs in use. I got what I need thanks.
"Ethernet wiring is Ethernet wiring"
I think it was rather obvious what I was saying. but fine. lol
"Ethernet wiring is Ethernet wiring""I think it was rather obvious what I was saying. but fine. lol "
No, it wasn't obvious. That says nothing about how many pairs are needed for 100Mbs vs 1Gbs Ethernet. As I mentioned earlier, I was trying to cut through the ambiguity in the responses like... "Ethernet wiring is Ethernet wiring".
Edits: 12/14/15
But Gigibit does require all 4 pairs and better cable. Two pairs work up to 100Mbps. I was wrong thinking that the ethernet standard applied to gigabit standard that use the other pairs.
-Rod
You know I actually never though about it because everyone always connects all 8 wires. I never bothered to check either, but yes gig does use all the pairs. Let's hope we did not just blow up Abe's house. Ethernet cables can be explosive if not connected correctly.
Check with them what brands and models they will support. They have to be able to provision it on their network.
I would purchase a separate modem and router, not an all in one. Mre flexible IMO. Something like a Motorola SB6121 and a router depending how much you want to spend and features, do you want gigabit ports on the router etc.
If you were happy with what you were using check Ebay, you might find the same model pretty cheap.
The Motorola SB6121 works well for 50MB transmissions on TW and can be had inexpensively ($60-$70) even at OfficeMax/Office Depot. Pretty easy to set up just make sure you print their instructions before you start.
At $13 a month, it pays for itself quickly. If you have to upgrade every two years, you save a ton in the long run unless you aren't comfortable with the setup.
PeterZ
O and you need a separate WiFi Router with the sb6121 though with not putting it all into one box, you can put the router in a location that gives you the best wifi coverage vs having to use range extenders. Also you get to select your preference for routers, speed, and power.
PeterZ
I have a Motorola BitSurfer modem, Cisco router and a pair of Cisco WAP300N access points.
One access point is connected to the router in the office via ethernet while the other is a "movable" repeater to extend coverage to further reaches of my home/yard. The access points are also configurable as a wireless bridge for devices requiring an ethernet connection.
I on the other hand choose to pay Comcast their $10/mo fee for my multi-purpose combo setup that they replace or upgrade as needed. Mine is a......battery backed cable modem, wifi 2.4GHz / 5GHz router, 4-port GigE switch, and 2-port phone jack in one tidy no-clutter box. ;-)
They upgrde my gear whenever there's an upgrade in service that warrants it. My last free upgrade was about 8 months ago along with free upgrade to ~180 Mbps internet.
The cable modem built-in battery backup also keeps the phone service alive during a power outage but I have it on a UPS anyway. Last time I tested (by pulling the plug), I get about 5 hours of internet uptime and 8 hours of phone service uptime... and then I have to switch to my iPhone 5S which I can use as a wifi hotspot via Verizon's 4G LTE data service.
I work from home so my laptop, internet, and phone uptime are important as I need to work even through power outages.
Edits: 12/09/15
I've maintained a home network for about fifteen years and find it less expensive to buy rather than lease. Network standards just don't change that often.
Similarly, I own my home and vehicles, too.
"If it appreciates, buy it. If it depreciates, lease it."
If it depreciates, lease it.
Do you lease your audio gear?
but I'm NOT J. Paul Getty.
That said, I paid about $750 for the 300B tube amp kits about 12-15 years ago and thought the WE 300B's in them are well used they are likely holding their value well.
Custom Cocobolo wood veneer Edgarhorns might be close to what I paid for them(used). Most of my stuff is kits and the rest vintage or used, so who knows? What I'd guess is that the stash of tubes I have in storage has likely gone up in value, but everything else I own, probably not. :-(
Beachfront home in San Francisco might make up for it though.
I'm NOT J. Paul Getty.
you don't buy his advice either.
How many of these folks lease their vehicles? :)
to do me much good.
But I did lease vehicles over the years, but mostly for tax purposes.
Now retired, I pay cash for a car and hope it outlives me. :-(
I like Warren Buffett's take:
"Buy a business, don't rent stocks."
But I did lease vehicles over the years, but mostly for tax purposes.
Being able to expense lease payments for business use is a different story!
In general I don't lease but $10/mo isn't going hurt me.Network standards don't change that often but in my case over a 5 year period, Comcast changed out our wifi router (free) 3 times and each time it was for handling higher speed service and most recently, new features that I subscribed to. It used to be something like $6/mo and even at $10/mo it's worth it to me to always have their latest. For example, my previous Comcast cable modem would not handle 180Mbs downloads, the new one does.
Besides, with all the built-in features of my current cable modem combo box it would probably cost a couple hundred dollars to replace with all the functionality, but I haven't really shopped it around.
I've had networking in our homes for about the same period of time as you. I was an early adopter of DSL - which sucked in the early days - barely better than dial-up in some cases on bad days. Similarly here, 3 vehicles paid for in full, no credit debt, and ~80% home equity with < 8 years to payoff at the current rate of paydown. Come to think of it, the only thing we lease are the cable modem & DVR ;-)
Edits: 12/10/15
I gave up on purchasing DSL modems and routers from my ISP because they were failing too often, usually related to lightening strikes.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
Mine have proven to be reliable over long spans of time. The last time I replaced one was simply to get a DOCSIS 3.0 capable unit.
Perhaps it is because I keep spares of certain electronic gear and Murphy finds someone else to spite. :)
I'm with you. I've got Netgear switches that are probably over 15 years old and work fine that I only replaced to upgrade to gigabit ones. WiFi routers get outdated before they ever break and I've got 3 or 4 or those that work fine, but don't support current capabilities.
I did have one switch that lost a port and that was the only one to ever fail at all over 20 years and probably 20 different switches. We've got 7 or 8 around the house for connecting TVs, Blu-Ray players, PCs, printers, etc.
-Rod
to handle all those collisions?
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
I recently switched to Time Warner and I bought a Netgear N300 WiFi Cable Modem Router. I think it has everything you need. I bought mine at Staples, but you can also buy it through Amazon.
I just ordered the Netgear N300 WiFi Cable Modem Router.
Funny thing with Time Warner is that I will still have the ubee at no charge for phone use.
What a scam, charging for a modem for internet, but giving you the same modem for phone use.
Yeah, I thought it was somewhat cheap of Time Warner not to simply provide the modem/router free of charge, but their price for internet service is $27 a month less than DSL from the phone company so I decided to switch. I was paying $67 a month for a lower bit-rate from the phone company and now I'm paying $40 a month through Time Warner. The savings paid for the Netgear N300 in less than four months.
Best regards,
John Elison
Its the other way around here, sort of.
Our phone company, CenturyLink, is cheaper for internet but in general they can't compete on speed compared to Comcast.
The phone company advertises "Gigabit" speed internet on TV but it's only available in a very select small area. Pretty much no one can get this service. I checked and the best they can do for me is 20Mbs while I'm getting nearly 200Mbs from Comcast cable. We don't know anyone who actually has "Gigabit" service from the phone company.
I had only 10Mbs from the phone company for $67 a month and I now have 15Mbs from Time Warner for $40 a month. It seems fast enough. I stream Netflix every day and I never notice problems watching Netflix streaming while my wife is on the internet with her computer. I'm satisfied.
Thanks,
John Elison
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