Modem/router or modem + router? where do I find a modem?... confused.

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Modem/router or modem + router? where do I find a modem?... confused.

swirl

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 86637 10-Jul-2011 23:02

Okay, so i stuffed up.

My home modem/router died.
So I bought the linksys e4200 router thinking that it was a modem/router

Found here:

http://www.linksysbycisco.com/ANZ/en/products/E4200

Now, I"ve spent the last few hours on pricespy trying to work out what to get and am completely lost.

My goal would be to get a modem I can plug the router into but can't seem to find something that simple...?
I really don't want to waste the money I spent on the router.

I was looking at the d-link modem found below trying to work out if it's what I need. My concern with it is that the specs for it say 24Mbps downstream and 2Mbps upstream while the router says it will reach 450Mbps (I know it's theoretical), will the modem cripple the router?
http://www.dlink.co.nz/products/?pid=803
http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=622847

Other options/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
As you can tell, I'm quite lost.

Thanks in advance for any help!

dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 11

Reply # 491812 10-Jul-2011 23:19

lol... classic mistake there.
I've actually seen a couple of retailers advertise routers (ONLY wireless/router, no modem) as "All-in-ones", which would thoroughly confuse anyone.

In any case, all you need is a simple ADSL2+ modem/router.

This
http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=361956

or even this
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Networking-modems/Routers-firewalls/auction-389853013.htm

would do just fine.

I'm sure all you would need to do is to hook an ethernet cable from the modem to the WAN/INTERNET port on the wireless router, and all should work fine.

I use the modem from trademe and it works great.

kyhwana2

2437 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 144

Reply # 491814 10-Jul-2011 23:21

The router you bought is a wifi AP/router. THe "450Mbps" is the maximum theoretical of the wifi (802.11n)

The dlink modem you linked is "24mbps" max for the DSL speed.

You could use the router you bought earlier just as a switch/wifi AP by just plugging the Dlink into one of the LAN ports (Not the internet port) after disabling DHCP/NAT on it.
(Otherwise you'll end up being "double NATed", unless the dlink does PPPoE bridging, which gets complicated)

swirl

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 491817 10-Jul-2011 23:31

Thanks for the help.
So, is there any actual advantage in plugging the router i bought into a modem/router?
Is it not just better to use the modem/router and have one less link in the chain?

dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 11

Reply # 491820 10-Jul-2011 23:40

swirl: Thanks for the help.
So, is there any actual advantage in plugging the router i bought into a modem/router?
Is it not just better to use the modem/router and have one less link in the chain?

It depends if you want Wifi as well.

swirl

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 491823 10-Jul-2011 23:48

Sure do. But a modem/router combo unit would deliver a wifi network right?

swirl

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 491825 11-Jul-2011 00:23

This might be what I need?

http://www.netgear.com/home/products/wired-routers-and-modems/wired-modems/DM111P.aspx

The question I have now is, would it work? (sitting here not wanting to waste any more money).

dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 11

Reply # 491830 11-Jul-2011 02:01

Yes, that would work.
However, the DM111P would cost around $95, compared to $68 for the TP-Link. Or better yet, $40 for the trademe option, which would work just as well. Although it is pertinent to note that the Dynalink RTA1320 modems (trademe option) do run hot. You would need plenty of ventilation. Which is why the TP-Link would probably be the better option.

Essentially it doesn't matter what ADSL modem you get.
Basically, any ADSL2+ modem you buy will probably have a router function built-in. All you would need to do it disable the DHCP server on the modem, and then let the E4200 hand out IP addresses.

The router you have purchased is ONLY Wifi and router... no ADSL modem, which you already know.
The modems that have been suggested are ONLY ADSL modem plus router... no WiFi, this is why you would need to hook up your newly purchased E4200 router to an ADSL modem in order to get WiFi.

PANiCnz

613 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 39

Reply # 491839 11-Jul-2011 07:33

You need to look into half-bridging, unfortunately you can't just plug the new modem into the WAN port and expect everything to be ok.

swirl

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 491841 11-Jul-2011 07:35

ok, thanks for al your help. I'll get back here if have any more problems.

Cheers.

wreck90

780 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

Reply # 491853 11-Jul-2011 08:23

PANiCnz: You need to look into half-bridging, unfortunately you can't just plug the new modem into the WAN port and expect everything to be ok.

Yes, exactly.

Someone mentioned you just plug the modem into the e4200 wan port and away you go.

I have the E4200. I also have a 2wire adsl modem.

I plugged the 2wire into the e4200 wan port and it was anything but 'away you go'.

In fact, even with the help of GZ , no one knew how to get this setup working via the recommended wan port.

However, you can use the e4200 as an Access point only, by plugging the modem into a normal lan port.

But, this is not ideal as you cannot use the E4200 functions such as ddsn / port forwarding etc.

From what I have investigated , the only really suitable modem for the e4200 is the draytek vigor 120. The basic dlink modems are apparently OK too but not perfect. You have to get the modem to pass the wan (internet) IP address to the router.

The problem is this PPPOA authentication system that telecom uses. PPPOE would have been a lot easier choice for this type of setup.

The e4200 is actually a fantastic wireless router -very quick and good range. The only problem is PPPOA and the lack of modems supporting PPPOA 'passthrough'.....not a network geek, this is just what I have found, could be wrong.

Ragnor

8025 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 387

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 491939 11-Jul-2011 11:09

swirl:

My goal would be to get a modem I can plug the router into but can't seem to find something that simple...?

A TP Link TD 8840 is ~$60 and can be set up in half bridge to the Linksys E4200.

Draytek Vigor 120 is ~$120 and does PPPoA to PPPoE bridging.

While it's not simple plug and play it's not hard to setup either one, basically involving changing some settings in the admin ui of both devices.

wreck90

780 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

Reply # 491952 11-Jul-2011 11:25

Ragnor:
swirl:

My goal would be to get a modem I can plug the router into but can't seem to find something that simple...?

A TP Link TD 8840 is ~$60 and can be set up in half bridge to the Linksys E4200.

Draytek Vigor 120 is ~$120 and does PPPoA to PPPoE bridging.

While it's not simple plug and play it's not hard to setup either one, basically involving changing some settings in the admin ui of both devices.

I read somewhere that half bridging is not ideal and causes double natting (he he, new word) to occur and maybe some protocols would not work.

But, I don't know , there's so much misinformation around, who knows? From what I see so far, the Draytek Vigor is the best solution.

Ragnor

8025 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 387

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 491953 11-Jul-2011 11:29

That's backwards, half bridging is a work around to avoid the problem of double NAT when connecting a modem/router with PPPoA ADSL connection to a router/switch/wireless device.

The Draytek Vigor's bridging is better than half bridging but the Vigor is more expensive.