Single port router

PlusNet offer what they call a single port router.

I assume they mean modem. How good is it?

How easy is it to set up?

Hi there,

It's a BT Voyager 210 and the set-up guide can be seen here.

Rgds,

Product information says;

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Create a wired home network to share your Broadband connection

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Is this possible with a one port router?.

If you connect one computer via USB and another via ethernet, technically yes... though if you want to use ethernet for more than one PC then you'll need a switch too.

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Is this possible with a one port router?.

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Yes, you just need to add one of these, or similar.

Yep as others say I did exactly that with a SAR110 (Voyager 205 clone) and a cheap

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Yes, you just need to add one of these, or similar

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That was my point, that isn't referred to. I find a product description that claims it can do something, which realistically needs another product to do so, misleading.

This of course is not down to Plusnet, but to BT.

er...

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If you connect one computer via USB and another via ethernet, technically yes

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technically yes

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I wonder how many home lans are connected that way.

I can't see what is wrong with the description. Before ADSL was enabled at our exchange I had multiple computers networked via a switch with one computer connecting to the internet via Home Highway and ICS to give access to the internet for the others. A single port router would have been perfect for me.

Edited by jelv (Sat 15-Dec-07 21:12:11)

>> connecting to the internet via Home Highway and ICS to give access to the internet for the others

heh... I also remember the days of ICS and a dial up modem... 3 PCs and a laptop... and emails from BT re exceeding their "Anytime" times. Deep joy

Unfortunately I think there is a lot of confusion in the ADSL modem/router marketplace caused by trying to simplify it for those without a networking background. For example, most 4 port routers are far from being what they say they are.

A four port router is strictly a box with 4 interfaces (typically ethernet ports) which routes packets at the IP level and therefore allows you to configure the interfaces as separate subnets. It would have no other interfaces other power and maybe a means of configuring it (say via RS232). The router may also include functions such as Network Address Translation and / or a DHCP server (though it may not).

What we buy as a '4-port router' is typically a combination of an ADSL modem, a 2-port router, and a 5-port ethernet switch (and a wireless one adds a wireless access point as well). One port of the 2-port router is connected to the ADSL modem and the other port to the 5th port of the switch. The router routes packets at the IP level and usually does network address translation, the switch switches packets at the ethernet level and does not allow you to configure the ethernet ports as separate interfaces.

The 1-port router we are talking about here is just this without the switch - i.e. it really contains a 2-port router!!! To support multiple PCs you need to provide a switch (or hub or maybe a wireless access point), the box provides the routing capabilities which is one part of what you need to support multiple PCs (which you can't do [easily] with a modem alone). In fact of course it does allow you to use 2 PCs by making use of the USB interface as well as the LAN port - so it really contains a 3-port switch (or hub), one port goes to the router, 1 to the LAN and one to the USB interface.

How the above logical functions are actually achieved is of course up the the manufacturer and maybe all done in one IC and the interfaces between the modem and router and the router and switch could be purely internal, but logically it is several devices.

To make think simpler we have started calling these things a 4 or 1-port routers - but that is a simplification and a 'real' 1-port router is probably a pretty useless device!

You also have to be careful when you look at routers designed to attach to cable modems, these are similar but don't contain the ADSL modem functionality - however I've also see these described as 4-port routers!

So when you see something described as a router be careful - it is commonly a term used to describe a box which Joe Public will use to connect up to 4 PCs to an ADSL phone line. He doesn't care what it really is as long as it works - but if you want to understand what is really going on you have to look a bit deeper!

Nicely put, and thinking it through, is there any function that a genuine single port router could perform?

Of course there is

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Connect computers for a complete wired network

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Although why anyone would want to connect a PC to a router via USB is a mystery to me.
http://www.voyager.bt.com/wired_routers/voyager_210/product_info.htm

Strictly, that isn't a single port router - it contains a three port router. One of the ports is a ethernet port, one a USB port and the last is an internal (probably ethernet) that connects to the inbuilt modem.

I thought Graham explained it pretty well.

Edited by jelv (Sun 16-Dec-07 14:43:03)

There is only a single ethernet port available to the user, I think that's the general understanding of the customer base. Plus, it's generally accepted that ethernet is better/faster than usb.

Although that is the general understanding - it is wrong! That is the point which Graham was making.

You are quite right to say that ethernet is better than usb (or inbuilt modems). You only have to look at what's happened with Vista to see another reason why ethernet is better.

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Although that is the general understanding - it is wrong!

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Technically perhaps. But as a purchaser I want to know how many PC's I can connect to a router. A description applied by the manufacture/retailer, of a one port router tells me that one port is suitable for connection of a PC at optimum speeds.

I have no interest how many ports are utilised by the router, just what is available to me.

My initial opinion, that saying, "Connect computers for a complete wired network", bearing in mind computers, plural, is misleading, still stands.

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er...

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If you connect one via USB and one via ethernet, technically yes

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Given that you can connect two computers and thereby gain a perfectly functioning network between them I really don't see how it's misleading at all.

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Given that you can connect two computers and thereby gain a perfectly functioning network between them I really don't see how it's misleading at all.

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Yeah it functions, but one is faster than the other hardly ideal is it. Obviously when designed the ethernet was intended for a PC, any idea what the USB port was actually intended for?.

Well if you are being strictly accurate again then as ethernet predates the PC it certainly was not intended for the PC. (Ethernet was developed by Xerox in the 70s and 10Mb/s ethernet was first standardised in 1980 - the PC first appeared in 1981).

Also as USB2 is capable of 480Mb/s then it can outstrip 100Mb/s ethernet. Even USB1.1 at 12Mb/s outstrips the ADSL speed of 8Mb/s, hence even if the 2 PCs are using the two ports of the single port router to share an internet connection then USB is quite sufficent, though if only USB1.1 it might not be ideal to use to transfer large files between 2 PCs.

However this is all getting a bit pedantic again - this single port router will allow two PCs to share an internet connection and the addition of a switch will allow you to connect many PCs. A simple modem won't allow you to do that. The description is accurate - it may not lead to a network you would be happy with - but it is accurate.

Edited by smithg (Sun 16-Dec-07 18:54:34)

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The description is accurate - it may not lead to a network you would be happy with - but it is accurate.

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So why not advertise it as a two port router???

Because they didn't! As I tried to describe any title is fairly inaccurate. Maybe 'single ethernet port router' would be closer - but far from complete. Personally I think single and dual port router would both be inaccurate and are both somewhat misleading. However single port router is close enough for most people - if you are interested you have to look at a more detailed description to understand what it really does - many people aren't that interested!

Not really that bothered Graham. It just struck me that the claim of a "single port" router and a wired LAN was misleading. However I suppose two computers connected via the router is a wired LAN, even though it's not made clear one connection is via USB.

Tbh, I'm with Wingco on this one.

Sure, it is technically possible to create a home network, either by adding a switch or by connecting one computer by ethernet and one by usb. however, your average home user probably won't know how to go about setting up a switch, nor will they have two computers close enough to take advantage of the dual connectivity without going out to buy additional ethernet wiring.

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Tbh, I'm with Wingco on this one.

Sure, it is technically possible to create a home network, either by adding a switch or by connecting one computer by ethernet and one by usb. however, your average home user probably won't know how to go about setting up a switch, nor will they have two computers close enough to take advantage of the dual connectivity without going out to buy additional ethernet wiring.

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Slightly OT, but I'm looking with interest at this product. Would appear to solve the problem of computers in separate rooms, without investing in either wiring or wireless.

http://www.solwise.co.uk/net-powerline-pl-85pe.htm

I might pop over to one of the hardware forums and see if anyone is using these.

>I might pop over to one of the hardware forums and see if anyone is using these.

Not sure if you have seen the review.

The reports on here seem to indicate that people find them good. Eliminates the vagaries of wireless and the fact that you can move them room to room is a handy feature.

Yup, I've only seen good feedback on that bit of hardware.

Use the Devolo ones myself, no problems at all.

Make sure you setup the security on them as well.

I've got 5 of them dotted around the house and didn't secure them (yes, I know....)

Am on a new build estate that's got fairly rubbish internal phone wiring, so only really the master socket gets a decent DSL signal, hence using PowerLine adaptors to relay the router connection to the rest of the kit in the house.

Anyhoo, as the neighbours all have pretty much the same problem, they've all gone down the same route and used PowerLine adaptors as well. Now the good thing (or bad thing really) about these bits of kit is that the signal's strong and resilient enough to carry not only around the house, but also pass through my electricity meter, out into the street and into my nearest neighbour's house!

Worked reasonably well enough to do some direct file transfers for testing and we were both able to browse the other's networked storage fine once given an access acount. All tied down now though, so job done.

I'd still recommend them without hesitation though.

Edited by deleted (Sat 22-Dec-07 10:08:33)

I'm determined to buy a couple in the new year, followed probably by one of those new Asus Eee PC 701 linux laptops, as a handy way to get a little bit of internet access into the living room (plus the ability to stream music directly to the hi-fi!). Not bad solution for around

Edited by lorisarvendu (Sun 23-Dec-07 23:08:30)

>EDIT: That review Sadoldman linked to seems to be misleading.

Posted on the 15th Dec.2005 so prices out of date. Andrew should perhaps incorporate the date of review in the text of the item.

Cheapest I have seen cConnect. No idea if they are any good.

Or