USB Modem, or router?

[garyevs]

I'll be phoning AOL over the weekend to get my MAC code, and then I'll migrate to you guys.

My line will support about 4mb, and I currently use a Speedtouch USB modem, which has been fine, and can handle the speed of my line without any problems.

I see elsewhere in this forum that you recommend a router, but what advantage would that give over the USB modem in my situation? Would I actually get any more speed?

Cheers

[Patr100]

Routers are generally more secure as they act as an additional buffer between the internet and your PC. It shouldn't make any significant difference in speed, though switching between the two can help to dagnose problems .

[mirage]

As stated, any router is better than a modem provided you have a network interface on your PC, nearly all routers these days have built in firewalls, which will protect you from the nasties out there, they are also usually more reliable at keeping the connection up.

[dojidave]

also, if you use more than one pc / laptop, with a router it's very easy to share your internet connection amongst all your computers simultaneously.

[WitchHouse]

I have myself noticed an increase in speed with a router over a modem, However I always have a modem at hand, Just in case the **** hits the fan... And you dont have to keep Dialing up, always on :-)

in my case:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::
with the speedtouch 330 syn is usualy between 7.1 to 7.8 meg
with my netgear DG834g sync is always 8.1 meg
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Belua multorum es capitum - The people are a many-headed beast

[Patr100]

Yes you do have to log in but strangely enough I usually find my USB modem to be less sluggish and more consistently reliable than my Router plus it needs no power source for an already overcrowded socket surge protector extension.

[cliff]

I'll be phoning AOL over the weekend to get my MAC code, and then I'll migrate to you guys.

My line will support about 4mb, and I currently use a Speedtouch USB modem, which has been fine, and can handle the speed of my line without any problems.

I see elsewhere in this forum that you recommend a router, but what advantage would that give over the USB modem in my situation? Would I actually get any more speed?

Cheers

Has your computer got an ethernet connection at the back...If not you will have to put a card in the pc. The USB does not have the same bandwith as an ethernet connection. below is a brief description.

USB supports three data rates:
A Low Speed rate of up to 1.5 Mbit/s (187.5 kB/s) that is mostly used for Human Interface Devices (HID) such as keyboards, mice, and joysticks.

A Full Speed rate of up to 12 Mbit/s (1.5 MB/s). Full Speed was the fastest rate before the USB 2.0 specification and many devices fall back to Full Speed. Full Speed devices divide the USB bandwidth between them in a first-come first-served basis and it is not uncommon to run out of bandwidth with several isochronous devices. All USB Hubs support Full Speed.

A Hi-Speed rate of up to 480 Mbit/s (60 MB/s).

Hubs, even Hi-Speed hubs, serving a number of non-hi-speed devices, are likely to divide up a total bandwidth of 12 Mbit/s for such devices, which will slow them down unless the hub has transaction translator for each port. [3]

Hope this little bit of info helps

Cliff:)