Help with basic router config

[binsonk]

I have a Linksys BESFR41 v.2 router that is apparently throttling my hardwire broadband. What is the fastest throughput I can expect from this router? I have read where it will throughput 6 Mps. I looked at the settings by putting the IP address in the browser. The settings look ancient, and I didn't see anything I could tweak. Okay, alternatively, I could use a Linksys WRT54GS or WRT54GS v2.1, or ubee DDW3610 dual stream n. I have a stupid question. I only use a wired connection, and the latter three routers are wireless. Will these routers broadcast a wired connection? How do I make sure they are not broadcasting a wired connection? As long as these wireless routers are powered, are they not broadcasting, and therefore do I need to encrypt the signal, even if I am using only the wired connection?

[stj]

Re: Help with basic router config

you can turn wireless off in the settings - by default it's probably on but encrypted.

i recomend taking the WRT54's and flashing them wih DD-WRT
http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/

[SteveNielsen]

Re: Help with basic router config

It's confusing so I'll try to clarify some. Network speeds are usually measured in Mbps (mega-bits per second), file transfer rates are often given in MBps (mega-bytes per second). The big or little B makes all the difference; B = bytes, b = bits. 1 byte = 8 bits. On a fast ethernet circuit the maximum speed is 100 Mbps. Assuming you mean 6 mega-bytes per second, that would be 48 mega-bits per second, which on a fast ethernet (100Mbps) is about average performance. You will never get a full speed of 100 Mbps due to bandwidth used by the network protocols and timings (also called overhead). You'd be doing pretty good on a home network to get about 2/3 of the max rate, around 66 Mbps (8.25 MBps).

On the Linksys routers you can turn off the radio if you're not using wifi. The Ubee router has 1000 Mbps ports so if your end nodes support that speed your troughput should increase by 10x using that one. I don't know if the Ubee radio can be disabled or not but I imagine so. If not you can probably just leave the wifi unconfigured and it won't talk to anything.

You DO need to at least password protect your router though.

[stj]

Re: Help with basic router config

mind if i ask what your doing?
the BEFSR41 is just a hub,
the WRT54's are ADSL and the Ubee is DOCSIS.

your not using these for getting on the net are you?

[SteveNielsen]

Re: Help with basic router config

mind if i ask what your doing?
the BEFSR41 is just a hub,
the WRT54's are ADSL and the Ubee is DOCSIS.

your not using these for getting on the net are you?

Lynksys says the BESFR41 is a Cable/DSL router with 4 port switch.

[binsonk]

Re: Help with basic router config

I've only set up the Linksys BEFSR41, as a router, for internet. I used it to allow more than one device to use the cable modem. This new modem, which is a downgrade from 15 Mbps to 6 Mbps, has 4 or 5 ports in back, so maybe it doubles as modem and router, which is the way I'm using it now without any problems.

[stj]

Re: Help with basic router config

@Steve:
read the manual - it has 5 10/100 ports and needs an external modem.

[stj]

Re: Help with basic router config

@binsonk:
the Ubee is DOCSIS3.0 compatable.
so it can run over 150mbit on the cable side.

flash the wrt54's with DD.

what is your cable modem model/make?

[binsonk]

Re: Help with basic router config

ubee DDW36C. I'm renting it, can't modify it.

[SteveNielsen]

Re: Help with basic router config

You said:
"the BEFSR41 is just a hub"

It is not a hub. It is a wired router and switch with a WAN port and 4 LAN ports.

@Steve:
read the manual - it has 5 10/100 ports and needs an external modem.

You read it. It is not a modem and it has no wireless. That doesn't make a hub. It is still a router and switch.

http://support.linksys.com/en-us/sup...outers/BEFSR41

[stj]

Re: Help with basic router config

it's a 5 port hub with a shitty firewall.

[SteveNielsen]

Re: Help with basic router config

It's a mistaken opinion with a shitty attitude. A hub is not a switch and I think that you know that.

[budm]

Re: Help with basic router config

"the BEFSR41 is just a hub," Really? I must be using it all wrong then.
http://support.linksys.com/en-us/sup...outers/BEFSR41

http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/ukp.as...a1b_20875.xml&

I have one myself.
From Linksys:
" What is the BEFSR41?

The BEFSR41 is a Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port Switch. The Router lets you access the Internet through its four switched ports. The device also contains security features including, a Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall and NAT technology."

This is reminding me of the Greek.

[stj]

Re: Help with basic router config

sales hype aside,
if it does not have an ADSL/VDSL or DOCSIS port then it's just a relativly intelligent hub.

anyway, getting back to the topic, if binsonic knows his modem settings or has access to them in his modem, then he should just be using the Ubee DDW3610.

if he cant get the settings and must use the isp modem then the wrt54gs with DD installed will be a much better option than shitty linksys firmware.

[binsonk]

Re: Help with basic router config

I'm getting nominal download (6.43 Mbps) and upload (1.09 Mbps) speeds using the modem and its ports, so I don't see why I should bother with a router, except for security reasons perhaps. I am just embarrassed that I allowed that old Linksys router to throttle my internet for so long.

[stj]

Re: Help with basic router config

the problem is some of the older routers have a weak cpu and combined with crappy factory firmware the routing and firewall stuff can reduce the speed between the ports a noticeable amount.

the reason i said to use the newer docsis router is because it's going to have a much faster cpu to handle the faster ports.
also you would only be running one box insead of 2.

the WRT54's are a bit old, but the replacement firmwares - DD being the most common make it a very good piece of kit.

there is also this one.
http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato