Using a Router with Cable or DSL

One of my subscribers wrote recently week to say:

You have convinced me as a user of a stand alone PC with DSL that I should add a router. But when I read the write up on the gadget I was shaken up to read about all the installation problems. If you had to call tech support for help how could a dummy like myself ever get it working correctly?? Isn't there a simpler router I could use??

If you're not going to use wireless (for which I recommend the Linksys WRT54G), you could get the Linksys BESFR-41, which is wired-only. That takes out any possible issues of wireless (although you can just turn wireless OFF in the wireless router).

If you've only got one wireless computer, the new WRT54G (v5) has a "quick security setup button" that's designed to make this painless process.

Strangely, version 5 of the WRT54G is a completely new model with the old name. The main processor is different from the previous generations of the WRT54G. Even more strangely, Linksys released their WRT54GL "Linux model," based on the previous model — despite the name, it is suitable for any brand computer.

Linksys also has a high-speed WRT54GS, which is their proprietary108 Mbps model, which requires their GS wireless cards in the computers. There's not a high-speed standard, yet (if ever), so don't expect inter-operability with other brands at 108 Mbps speed. "G" (802.11g) on the other hand, is a standard and the 55 Mbps speed should reliably work with other brands of equipment, too.

I don't recommend any other brands.

DSL is more of a challenge than Cable, because the ISP may use one of several protocols. Probably they use PPPOE, which you would have to log into the router and tell it to use PPPOE to talk to the ISP.

Linksys makes an EXCELLENT manual for the WRT54G. But, many people don't like to read instructions and then they like to complain and tell horror stories...