hi
sorry I am new.

I want to build a home network. I have earthlink cable for internet.
They advertize that I can get home networking with them for $7.95 a
month. Do I need to do that or can I just go & but a router?

does anyone make a cable modem/ router all in one?

thanks

A number of companies make combined cable models/routers. You can also
buy a router and plug it in to the cable modem you have. When you use a
router, you usually can have the router manage the ISP connection which
means that you don't need to load the ISP's software on your computers.

My preference is for separate devices. Yours may be different.

Phil Sherman



garyreif@email.com wrote:
> hi
> sorry I am new.
>
> I want to build a home network. I have earthlink cable for internet.
> They advertize that I can get home networking with them for $7.95 a
> month. Do I need to do that or can I just go & but a router?
>
> does anyone make a cable modem/ router all in one?
>
> thanks
>

at 8 dollars a month that comes to 96 dollars a year. You can buy a router
for a lot less than that.
A router is not that hard to install. Any 14 year old can do it.
<garyreif@email.com> wrote in message
news:1169490736.496970.175840@51g2000cwl.googlegro ups.com...
> hi
> sorry I am new.
>
> I want to build a home network. I have earthlink cable for internet.
> They advertize that I can get home networking with them for $7.95 a
> month. Do I need to do that or can I just go & but a router?
>
> does anyone make a cable modem/ router all in one?
>
> thanks
>

Just buy a router. Basically, they are offering to rent you a router
for $7.95 per month (that might also include some additional wired or
wireless cards). It's not a good deal IF you can setup and configure
the system yourself. But if you will need an $80 to $150 house call
from Geek Squad to get everything configured, and if the Earthlink deal
includes that, then it MIGHT be worth considering.


garyreif@email.com wrote:
> hi
> sorry I am new.
>
> I want to build a home network. I have earthlink cable for internet.
> They advertize that I can get home networking with them for $7.95 a
> month. Do I need to do that or can I just go & but a router?
>
> does anyone make a cable modem/ router all in one?
>
> thanks
>

The linksys routers ( WRT54 ) come with a cd that does a good job of
walking you through setting it up.
Onsale this week at CompUSA - ~$30 for wired and ~$60 for wireless

There is a "-GS" model for faster speed - but unless you're doing a lot
of local transfers, not work the extra money since it's not come into
your house that fast.



"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:45b56a94$0$28139$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Just buy a router. Basically, they are offering to rent you a router
> for $7.95 per month (that might also include some additional wired or
> wireless cards). It's not a good deal IF you can setup and configure
> the system yourself. But if you will need an $80 to $150 house call
> from Geek Squad to get everything configured, and if the Earthlink
> deal includes that, then it MIGHT be worth considering.
>
>
> garyreif@email.com wrote:
>> hi
>> sorry I am new.
>>
>> I want to build a home network. I have earthlink cable for internet.
>> They advertize that I can get home networking with them for $7.95 a
>> month. Do I need to do that or can I just go & but a router?
>>
>> does anyone make a cable modem/ router all in one? thanks
>>