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"Upgrading to Broadband"

I bet you guys get topics like this all the time, but I'm looking for a bit of advice now my town's getting connected on the 10th December (woo!). I live around 150-300m away from the exchange, and I'm currently with AOL on a fixed monthly rate.

Basically, I'm looking for a broadband service which provides a deal that is compatable with Xbox Live, uses ADSL (so I can be on the phone at the same time) and is 512Kbs or higher. So what are the best deals and what are you guys most pleased with?

I'll be doing my own research too, but nothing beats good old consumer advice/opinion.

Notorious Biggles wrote:
> Look my wireless, 4 port, ADSL router is under £65

Does that have wireless encryption protocol? And how does it work with lots of walls and stuff in the way?

Is there any difference between Xbox Live on a 512kbs/256kbs line and it on a 1mbs/256kbs line? Assuming there is nothing happening with the PC broadband (no downloads, etc).

And does anyone have any idea why Eclipse's 512kbs service is so freakishly cheap at £20.38 per month?

Meh, you hadn't posted your last message when I started writing and then went to double check the price of the USB adaptor.

Maverick42 wrote:
> We considered it, but the fact that it's a very old, 5GB Harddrive
> Windows 95 PC, we just didn't think it was worth the hassle.

Yeah suppose, especially if you didnt use the PC much for internet theres not alot of point. Also means theres more bandwidth for the PC and XBox :D.

Look my wireless, 4 port, ADSL router is under £65, which is only £20 more than the cheapest 4 port, ADSL router I have seen. So £20 extra on the router and another £22 for a USB wireless adaptor and you'll have broadband upstairs.

We considered it, but the fact that it's a very old, 5GB Harddrive Windows 95 PC, we just didn't think it was worth the hassle.

Maverick42 wrote:
> Well, we've decided to scrap the wireless option and just set the
> downstairs PC up with broadband. It's much simpler and much cheaper.
>
> Thanks a lot for all your help - I really appreciate it. adrian
> especially. taka-Q and unknown kernel were useful too.
>
> Cheers :D

No probs :D. So you not having the upstairs on broadband? If not then you should consider it by connecting it through cables. If its easy to do and your allowed you should get the cable laid so that it can run from the Router to the upstairs PC, ethernet cables work up to 100m so unless you live in Buckingham Palace you should have plenty of space to lay some cable.

Well, we've decided to scrap the wireless option and just set the downstairs PC up with broadband. It's much simpler and much cheaper.

Thanks a lot for all your help - I really appreciate it. adrian especially. taka-Q and unknown kernel were useful too.

Cheers :D

Maverick42 wrote:
> Right then, so if I want a broadband connection that can be used on
> two PCs (one upstairs and one downstairs) and an Xbox, with three
> phone sockets able for use at the same time, will I need anything
> other than the following:
>
> 1x ISP Broadband Connection
> 1x ADSL 3-port wireless WEP enabled router/modem
> 2x Cat5 Cable
> 3x Microfilter
> 1x Wireless Card
> 1x Network Card
>
> I really hope that's it, but I've got a nagging feeling it won't be.
> Where do I plug the router/modem in, for example?

Connects to your network cards via your nework cables or wirelessly.

Right then, so if I want a broadband connection that can be used on two PCs (one upstairs and one downstairs) and an Xbox, with three phone sockets able for use at the same time, will I need anything other than the following:

1x ISP Broadband Connection
1x ADSL 3-port wireless WEP enabled router/modem
2x Cat5 Cable
3x Microfilter
1x Wireless Card
1x Network Card

I really hope that's it, but I've got a nagging feeling it won't be. Where do I plug the router/modem in, for example?