Netgear, Linksys, or none of the above?


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Okay guys, I've been having quite a few LAN Parties as of late (just had one this past weekend with seven people) and I was thinking about picking up a hub (presently we use somebody elses but if he can't attend, we're screwed), but I'm not sure what brand to get? I want something good and yet affordable that my parents could buy as a Christmas gift, or I could buy if I had any money.

So do you think I should go with Netgear, Linksys, or a different brand altogether?

Note: Found a nice 24-port Hub by Netgear for $33 or so...

Network Ports:

24 vista 10BASE-T ports (RJ-45), 1 AUI port (DB-15), 1 BNC port (RG 58)

Weight: 2.8 kg (5 lbs)

Standards Compliance

IEEE 802.3i 10BASE-T Ethernet

Status LEDs

UnitPer 10BASE-T port, power, collision link, Rx, partition, AUI port, Rx, partition, BNC port, Rx, partition

Dimensions

W 330 mm (13")

D 202 mm (8")

H 43 mm (1.7")

AC Voltage

15W maximum

Autosensing 100 to 240V, 50/60 Hz

Localized plug for North America, Japan, UK, Europe, Australia

Internal power supply

No bulky transformer.

24 10BASE-T ports

Provide effective information exchange, resource sharing, and client/server or peer-to-peer applications solution with simple UTP (unshielded twisted-pair) wiring.

Easy plug-and-play installation

Once powered on, the unit starts to operate with no configuration required. Compact, 13-inch metal case design enables uncluttered desktop, wall, or rack-mount installation.

vista network port with built-in LEDs

These LEDs provide clear and intuitive information on the operation of the individual port.

BNC/AUI backbone support

Link to other networks using thin coaxial cables connected to the BNC port or with external AUI transceivers. In addition, a 10BASE-T uplink port is available to cascade to other hubs using standard UTP cables to connect additional users.

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I've used Netgear, 3Com and most recently D-Link for switches/routers/hubs/wireless ap's at Home. I rate the D-Link stuff highest since I had one Netgear hub where the power supply died on me, and have a wierd transformer, I haven't been able to find a replacement. The 3Com stuff is OK but nothing special. You should expect to get something that 10/100Mbs, Switched, and can Auto-Sense if a port is being used as a cross-over. The bonuses if they can figure out if they're being used as a crossover are that you don't have to fiddle around with some specific uplink port, and usually multiple/all the ports can be used as uplinks if you want to connect a few switches together (ermmmm, extra large lan games ;) ). Reckon in the not to distant future though that Gigabit switching will become cheap enough for home users since they're already pushing the network cards on higher end Motherboards. But for the minute I think its well too expensive.

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Hubs are a waste of time since each Computer has to wait its turn, where as Switches give each PC its own bit of bandwidth, which means all computers can talk at the same time this is best for games. Think about how many PCs will connect to your network at home and where you can fit them. Because a single large device may be a complete waste of time if you can't power PCs anywhere near it or where you never use those ports. I have an 8 port Netgear switch upstairs which is connected normally to 3 PCs and sometimes my laptop, plus on an occasional basis a few mates bring PCs round - this then connects downstairs where I have a Wireless 802.11g D-Link Router (DI-624) which connects to a D-Link 300G+ (only available in UK, similar device sold in US though) Ethernet ADSL modem. The DLink router also connects normally to my laptop (wireless - if i'm just browsing the web, etc), and has 4 ports (10/100 switched) to connect to anybody that brings something that gets plugged in downstairs - one thing I was thinking of installing was one of those Divx enabled DVD Players from KISS which have an Ethernet Port for playing MP3s off PCs, etc.

It just depends what suits what you're doing. (PS - BNC went out in the dark ages - you find someone using it to play games and you might just want to shoot them :) ).

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well i've always like linksys, but i've had problems with their wireless g products. i'd prolly go with d-link. i think everyone has problems, depending on what you are looking for.

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Okay guys, I've been having quite a few LAN Parties as of late (just had one this past weekend with seven people) and I was thinking about picking up a hub (presently we use somebody elses but if he can't attend, we're screwed), but I'm not sure what brand to get? I want something good and yet affordable that my parents could buy as a Christmas gift, or I could buy if I had any money.

So do you think I should go with Netgear, Linksys, or a different brand altogether?

Note: Found a nice 24-port Hub by Netgear for $33 or so...

Network Ports:

24 vista 10BASE-T ports (RJ-45), 1 AUI port (DB-15), 1 BNC port (RG 58)

Weight: 2.8 kg (5 lbs)

Standards Compliance

IEEE 802.3i 10BASE-T Ethernet

Status LEDs

UnitPer 10BASE-T port, power, collision link, Rx, partition, AUI port, Rx, partition, BNC port, Rx, partition

Dimensions

W 330 mm (13")

D 202 mm (8")

H 43 mm (1.7")

AC Voltage

15W maximum

Autosensing 100 to 240V, 50/60 Hz

Localized plug for North America, Japan, UK, Europe, Australia

Internal power supply

No bulky transformer.

24 10BASE-T ports

Provide effective information exchange, resource sharing, and client/server or peer-to-peer applications solution with simple UTP (unshielded twisted-pair) wiring.

Easy plug-and-play installation

Once powered on, the unit starts to operate with no configuration required. Compact, 13-inch metal case design enables uncluttered desktop, wall, or rack-mount installation.

vista network port with built-in LEDs

These LEDs provide clear and intuitive information on the operation of the individual port.

BNC/AUI backbone support

Link to other networks using thin coaxial cables connected to the BNC port or with external AUI transceivers. In addition, a 10BASE-T uplink port is available to cascade to other hubs using standard UTP cables to connect additional users.

blah blah...

Get a switch, Hubs are crap.

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What's the difference between a hub and a switch, and why should I get a switch?

I'm fairly n00bish to all this kind of LAN stuff....

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What's the difference between a hub and a switch, and why should I get a switch?

I'm fairly n00bish to all this kind of LAN stuff....

womble68 explained it nicely in his 2nd post in this thread. Go back up and read (Y)

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you're better off getting a switch because it'll give each machine it's own bit of bandwidth, rather than each machine having to wait for some. about a month back, i saw a 24 port 3com switch for $40 at the computer fair. i would've picked it up... if i had some extra cash. but my parents were buying me some new goodies for my PC

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