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dvwannabe · Nov 11, 2002, 01:35 PM

I want to buy a router for my Cable modem so I can connect to my computer and X-Box simultaneously.

I'm interested in buying the Belkin DSL/Cable Router that they have on the Apple website. The description on the Apple site mentions the "SOHO software" that sets up your network. But on the Belkin site it says The "SOHO software" is Windows only.

If I bought the Belkin router, how would I configue it?

I don't know much about networking, so I hope I don't sound stupid.

John Strung · Nov 11, 2002, 08:29 PM

Don't know the answer to that, but most people use the $60 LinkSys BEFSR41.

ghporter · Nov 12, 2002, 06:27 AM

If there's a "software" configuration program, then you may have a problem. Linksys' routers use a browser-based solution, so you don't have any problems whether you're using a Mac or a PC.

arclight · Nov 13, 2002, 07:41 AM

I would have to say that between the two routers that I have ( a Linksys BEFR41 & an Asante 3004(?)) I would recommend the Linksys. Both use a browser based solution (type in local IP) and are fairly simple to configure. The Linksys appears to be much more consistent and requires almost no maintenance (restarts). The Asante has been having some trouble lately, I don't know if there are data collisions happening or what, but it locks up every few days and requires a restart. It does have a printer port for network access but since it's located in the cellar, I don't ever use it.

The Linksys is also cheaper. That, and the Asante just feels cheap. It's hollow and has an open bottom. This may seem trivial but adds to the frustration when it doesn't work. Matter a fact, I'm gonna go hit it with a hammer right now. Oh wait, it's working again! That was close

Krusty · Nov 14, 2002, 01:13 PM

I use the SMC "Barricade" SMC7004BR. Everything has worked w/o a hitch and it reconfigured it a number of times via my web browser. I remember asking about routers back when I was looking and the SMC seemed to get more consistenly positive responses from people over the Linksys (at the time .. I don't know if one has surpassed the other since then).

ghporter · Nov 14, 2002, 01:27 PM

In this sort of setting, a router that supports AppleTalk, even if that support is undocumented, will get higher ratings than one that's more robust or easier to configure simply because it supports AppleTalk.

In most measures there isn't a lot of hardware difference between any of the consumer level routers. Many are made by one company and sold by many other companies-SMC and Asante sell the same hardware in different packages, and USRobotics' router is an advanced version of that same hardware. The real differences are all in the firmware, and what level of IEEE 802 conformance is met by the firmware.

John Strung · Nov 15, 2002, 08:33 AM

GH, I think this thread is about wired routers, not wireless, and as far as I know, all wired routers support AppleTalk on the LAN side.

ghporter · Nov 15, 2002, 01:33 PM

I'm sorry to say you're wrong-not every, maybe not many, wired router actually formally supports AppleTalk. Some do support it to some extent, while others don't at all.

Most routers are optomized for TCP/IP, NetBIOS, and a few other standard protocols. AppleTalk is a separate protocol that can be transported on ethernet, as can TCP/IP and NetBIOS. But not all routers completely implement ethernet to the point that they can handle AppleTalk packets.

This is a parallel to the wireless problem. In a wireless access point, the device bridges between the wireless medium and the CAT5 medium, and must extract packets from one medium, validate them, and insert them into the other medium. It's that handling of packets that causes the problem-AppleTalk packets aren't like all other protocol packets.

As a side note, you may find that some routers support Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), while they don't support AppleTalk. It's again all in the software being able to understand and handle those packets properly.

John Strung · Nov 16, 2002, 11:49 AM

We may be talking semantics here. I agree that most routers will not support Appletalk through the WAN port. In fact, I know of no inexpensive routers that will. However, as far as I know, all multiport wired routers will share Appletalk on the LAN side, since on the LAN side they simply act as a hub or switch. I know of NO hardwired multiport router which does not support Appletalk on the LAN side.

The problem is that most wireless routers do not support AppleTalk on the LAN side which torpedoes local printer sharing.