you have $250.

[isus]

catchy title, don't you think?

alright, here's the deal. after years of having to use dial-up, i think i have finally convinced my mother to get cable internet. i can get the self-install package from comcast, and either figure it out for myself, or i can get a friend to help me out.

the problem:
well, i am sure i could figure out how to hook it up to one computer. but we will need to hook up 5 computers, 3 wirelessly.

you have $250. find me the best way to get this done (do not worry about nic's or the little pc card thingys or cables).

thanks :)

[isus]

p.s.: two of the comps are macs, so and they are 2 of the 3 comps i need hooked up wirelessly. oh, and a print server would be nice too.

the best thing i found was a motorola surfboard modem at best buy... 5 port router, print server, and wireless. $250 and then has a $30 mail-in rebate, so it's only $220.

[Wolfie]

When I did my setup with a wireless router (d-link) the router itself came to about 100 or so bucks. What gets bit steep is wireless network cards (50-60$ a pop) for however many computers you want to network.

[Sephiroth]

Youll need a wireless acess point w/ router its all one thing. Hook your cable modem up to the router and the wired computers up to the router.

Make sure that your getting one that supports whatever wireless protocol that you already have on your computers.

Then i guess read the instructions so you create a secured wireless network so no one else but you can use your internet which is the important part.

[isus]

Youll need a wireless acess point w/ router its all one thing. Hook your cable modem up to the router and the wired computers up to the router.

Make sure that your getting one that supports whatever wireless protocol that you already have on your computers.

Then i guess read the instructions so you create a secured wireless network so no one else but you can use your internet which is the important part.
i would secure it, except i am in the middle of nowhere.

if someone is out here, in the back woods in the middle of friggin nowhere, they can do whatever the hell they want for all i care.

but any suggested products, guys?

[Sephiroth]

I hear good things about linksys routers. But if you also have to buy the modem then motorola one that you posted is probably what youd want to get since it has everything that you want. Which i hear motorola makes really good cable modems.

[isus]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051384665531&skuId=5250872&type=product&productCategoryId=cat01029

thanks seph. i'll grab that one and use wep and figure that all out :)

do you use cable internet?
how does it work? i mean, i understand that it comes through the cable line, but i still wanna be able to use my tv, and how the hell does it send anything back UP the line? i understand computers, but not cable tv. lol.

[Sephiroth]

I dunno i have DSL or the college lan.

This site explains it though
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cable-modem1.htm

Even explains how the modem itself works on the next page.

[isus]

i heart you seph.

yea, i found one over at cnet.

thanks :)

[Dswissmiss]

Why Bestbuy though? Check out newegg.com, they have much lower prices, and for any online buying, check with www.resellerratings.com first to make sure it's a legit site.

[isus]

why best buy:
bc i was in best buy yesterday picking up a modem for someone who needs a new one, and i was 50% there convincing my mother to get cable internet, and i was just showing her the choices.

best buy had the modem, with all the features, etc etc.

i just didn't know the model name, so why waste my crappy ass bandwidth (i'm still a 26.4k'er for now) looking for other sites that have it for less?

it was just an example. when i go to buy it, i will most likely look at pricewatch and the rest, but hell, best buy has a $30 rebate on the thing right now, i wouldn't be sure you could find it for less than $220.

[isus]

eww, that made a lot of sense.

the $30 rebate is a mail-in one. so i suppose no matter where i buy it, as long as i have proof of purchase, i can get the form from somewhere and fill it out.

haha.

[SuitablyTwisted]

eww, that made a lot of sense.

the $30 rebate is a mail-in one. so i suppose no matter where i buy it, as long as i have proof of purchase, i can get the form from somewhere and fill it out.

haha.

Rebates are a waste of time and a test of patience. Talk to a store manager and ask for the discount at the register. I've never had BestBuy do this, but Office Max, Staples and Office depot do it regularly. Mostly because they know the competition does it and they want your business.

[isus]

well to me a mail-in rebate is easy. yea, write down your name, toss it in the mail, wait about a week. where does this become complicated/difficult for people?

i found the cable modem from some place i have never heard of before but it's only $176 minus $30 more, and it's less than $150. but then i hafta pay s&h...

[Ken17625]

wait about a week.

How about 8 weeks...................

[Sephiroth]

i found the cable modem from some place i have never heard of before but it's only $176 minus $30 more, and it's less than $150. but then i hafta pay s&h...

Whats the name? Its risky but id check then out on bbb.com at least before. Make sure to read the details so your not getting less.

[Wolfie]

How about 8 weeks...................


In some cases if you are lucky. Few time I had to call the company and scream at a few ppl to get any action.

[isus]

How about 8 weeks...................
lol. it's never taken more than a week for me to get the money.

[Ken17625]

lol. it's never taken more than a week for me to get the money.

Thats an exception, not a commone occurance.

Hell, i'm still having trouble believing that.

[isus]

Whats the name? Its risky but id check then out on bbb.com at least before. Make sure to read the details so your not getting less.
http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?refer=pricewatch.com&id=1000660

http://www.bbbnewyork.org/businessreports/Default.aspx?id=48768
bbb.com shows a lot of problems, but most seem to have been resolved. and for $80 off the stock price, it's at least worth a shot.

[isus]

well, i've had a total of 4...
there was a total of 3 for my pc a few years back... it was a bundle deal from best buy, i didn't have enough $$$ to build my own, so i got a p3 1ghz with a 17" crt and a canon printer. it was like $150 off the bundle, $50 off the printer, and $100 off the monitor.

the 4th was for nav2003...

[Sephiroth]

http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?refer=pricewatch.com&id=1000660

There ok ive ordered from them before although a long time ago.

[nasrules]

Check out Ebuyer's wireless routers. Very cheap. Also their wireless cards, cheap too.

Get an Ebuyer Extra Value (Origo) wireless router and three Ebuyer Extra Value wireless cards. Shove your BB connection into the back of the router, connect two of the PCs via a couple of cables, install the wireless cards, configure the routing and you're off!

Good prices - I got a wireless router and a wireless card for about £80.

[Afn]

catchy title, don't you think?

alright, here's the deal. after years of having to use dial-up, i think i have finally convinced my mother to get cable internet. i can get the self-install package from comcast, and either figure it out for myself, or i can get a friend to help me out.

the problem:
well, i am sure i could figure out how to hook it up to one computer. but we will need to hook up 5 computers, 3 wirelessly.

you have $250. find me the best way to get this done (do not worry about nic's or the little pc card thingys or cables).

thanks :)


Get a linksys WRT54G. That is all you need, plus the NIC cards for the pc's that do not have built in 10/100 connections and etherrnet cables for the wired computers.

www.linksys.com

[isus]

thanks guys, for the help.

i will try the motorola one first, since in the end it is only like $150 (pretty good considering all the features) and if that doesn't pan out, i will look at the linksys and ebuyer.

[Krypt0]

$150 for a motorola cable modem?? you gota be kidding me. I paid $70 for mine (SB4200) a few months ago, and you can get the SB5100 for $55.99 (including shipping)
As for the wireless router, you can get the Dlink DI-514 (2.4GHz) 4-Port Wireless Router for $40 (shipping included and mail-in rebate)

Both of those were found on newegg. You might be able to find them cheaper someplace else, but those are not bad prices considering... plus you have $150 left to buy some beer with.

As for the combo package (cable modem/switch/wireless ap) I would much rather have individual components, so if something goes wrong, I can troubleshoot it easily. (I.E. If something dies or doesn't work right in the combo, your whole network would go down :-( )

-Links-
D-Link DI-514 (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16833127125)
Motorola Surfboard 5100 (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16825122104)

(edit: addition of links & realization that the $150 price was for the combo package)

[isus]

$150 for a motorola cable modem?? you gota be kidding me. I paid $70 for mine (SB4200) a few months ago, and you can get the SB5100 for $55.99 (including shipping)
As for the wireless router, you can get the Dlink DI-514 (2.4GHz) 4-Port Wireless Router for $40 (shipping included and mail-in rebate)

Both of those were found on newegg. You might be able to find them cheaper someplace else, but those are not bad prices considering... plus you have $150 left to buy some beer with.

As for the combo package (cable modem/switch/wireless ap) I would much rather have individual components, so if something goes wrong, I can troubleshoot it easily. (I.E. If something dies or doesn't work right in the combo, your whole network would go down :-( )

-Links-
D-Link DI-514 (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16833127125)
Motorola Surfboard 5100 (http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16825122104)

(edit: addition of links & realization that the $150 price was for the combo package)
considering that i will be leaving next august or thereabouts, having multiple components to troubleshoot problems would only further confuse my parents.

therefore, while it might be an inconvenience for my parents if the network goes down, it's easier for me to help them figure it out over the phone, etc.

besides, i still hafta find reviews for it, so it's not entirely a done deal yet.

[CCSDUDE]

How about 8 weeks...................
How about never actually getting your rebate? I mailed in a load for some software apps (which woud have brought the price down to almost nothing - the software wasn't all that great just a "what the hell" kinda thing) and ya know what? Nothing!

Fuck mail-in-rebates and fuck any store that tries to get sales by waving those rebate banners. If you really want my biz....then don't even bother charging me then giving me cash back in check form.

[Krypt0]

considering that i will be leaving next august or thereabouts, having multiple components to troubleshoot problems would only further confuse my parents.

therefore, while it might be an inconvenience for my parents if the network goes down, it's easier for me to help them figure it out over the phone, etc.

besides, i still hafta find reviews for it, so it's not entirely a done deal yet.

good point...
either way, best of luck to you!

cheers!

[isus]

thanks for the help guys :)