New to wireless questions

After 15 years of 2-3 kbs download speeds we finally have the option of
getting cable internet through Charter in St. Louis and instead of renting
the modem and router for $10 a month I would like to purchase my own but I'm
new to this equipment and looking for any suggestions.

I checked on Newegg and I think the Linksys WRT54GL router along with the
D-link DCM 202 modem will do the trick but not sure?
I plan to have my computer as the main and the wife and daughters pickup
through a network card and not sure which network card to choose from.
Also if it makes any difference on the equipment I would like to play around
with the DirecTV on demand feature sometime in the future.

My system consist of a Asus P3B-F MB, Intel slot 1 P3 1gig CPU, 512 MB PC
133 SDRAM, Win XP

Any input would greatly be appreciated.

Rick

Check with Charter for a list of acceptable modems; some ISPs have a list of
modems known to work with their service.

"rick" <itzmine@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:Df2dnUvZ19rWMRLVnZ2dnUVZ_qfinZ2d@earthlink.co m...
> After 15 years of 2-3 kbs download speeds we finally have the option of
> getting cable internet through Charter in St. Louis and instead of renting
> the modem and router for $10 a month I would like to purchase my own but
> I'm
> new to this equipment and looking for any suggestions.
>
> I checked on Newegg and I think the Linksys WRT54GL router along with the
> D-link DCM 202 modem will do the trick but not sure?
> I plan to have my computer as the main and the wife and daughters pickup
> through a network card and not sure which network card to choose from.
> Also if it makes any difference on the equipment I would like to play
> around
> with the DirecTV on demand feature sometime in the future.
>
> My system consist of a Asus P3B-F MB, Intel slot 1 P3 1gig CPU, 512 MB PC
> 133 SDRAM, Win XP
>
> Any input would greatly be appreciated.
>
> Rick
>
>
>

rick wrote:
> After 15 years of 2-3 kbs download speeds we finally have the option of
> getting cable internet through Charter in St. Louis and instead of renting
> the modem and router for $10 a month I would like to purchase my own but I'm
> new to this equipment and looking for any suggestions.
>
> I checked on Newegg and I think the Linksys WRT54GL router along with the
> D-link DCM 202 modem will do the trick but not sure?
> I plan to have my computer as the main and the wife and daughters pickup
> through a network card and not sure which network card to choose from.
> Also if it makes any difference on the equipment I would like to play around
> with the DirecTV on demand feature sometime in the future.
>
> My system consist of a Asus P3B-F MB, Intel slot 1 P3 1gig CPU, 512 MB PC
> 133 SDRAM, Win XP
>
> Any input would greatly be appreciated.
>
> Rick
>
>
>

Connect all 3 PCs directly to the Linksys router, since that is more robust
and easier to manage than using your PC as a router; as a side benefit, you
won't need a second NIC on your PC. And, using wired connections to the
router is a bit faster and a lot more secure; if you use wireless, then
use the strongest encryption that that (or those) PCs support.
--
Cheers, Bob

"rick" <itzmine@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:Df2dnUvZ19rWMRLVnZ2dnUVZ_qfinZ2d@earthlink.co m...
> After 15 years of 2-3 kbs download speeds we finally have the option of
> getting cable internet through Charter in St. Louis and instead of renting
> the modem and router for $10 a month I would like to purchase my own but
> I'm
> new to this equipment and looking for any suggestions.
>
Is it common for ISPs to rent the modems? I know it's part of the bill one
way or another but I don't know that my cable company would lower my bill if
I had my own modem.
Mike

> Is it common for ISPs to rent the modems? I know it's part of the bill
> one way or another but I don't know that my cable company would lower my
> bill if I had my own modem.

Buy your own gear. Pick 'em up used off fleabay to save money.

It's never a bargain to rent anything this basic from a carrier. Something
more complex, like a DVR, might be but even that has room for debate.

"Bill Kearney" <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:sr2dnfESQv0v6w3VnZ2dnUVZ_jmdnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>> Is it common for ISPs to rent the modems? I know it's part of the bill
>> one way or another but I don't know that my cable company would lower my
>> bill if I had my own modem.
>
> Buy your own gear. Pick 'em up used off fleabay to save money.
>
> It's never a bargain to rent anything this basic from a carrier.
> Something more complex, like a DVR, might be but even that has room for
> debate.

Yes, but,
Is it common for ISPs to rent the modems? I know it's part of the bill
one way or another but I don't know that my cable company would lower my
bill if I had my own modem.

amdx wrote:
> "Bill Kearney" <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:sr2dnfESQv0v6w3VnZ2dnUVZ_jmdnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>
>>> Is it common for ISPs to rent the modems? I know it's part of the bill
>>>one way or another but I don't know that my cable company would lower my
>>>bill if I had my own modem.
>>
>>Buy your own gear. Pick 'em up used off fleabay to save money.
>>
>>It's never a bargain to rent anything this basic from a carrier.
>>Something more complex, like a DVR, might be but even that has room for
>>debate.
>
>
> Yes, but,
> Is it common for ISPs to rent the modems? I know it's part of the bill
> one way or another but I don't know that my cable company would lower my
> bill if I had my own modem.
>
>

Yes it is pretty common. I expect it to be on your itemized monthly bill,
if you get one; if not, ask your ISP.
--
Cheers, Bob

Special Thanks to all for your replies,
I plan on purchasing the Linksys router and stuck between the D-link DCM 202
and the Motorola SB 5101 modem but from what I gather both will serve well.
Yes Charter does have an additional charge for additional equipment, $3 for
modem and $9.99 for modem and router combo which they claim is about $110
retail!

As I stated earlier I'm new to broadband but been cruising computer related
NG's for many years 'junkie' kinda slacked off between Win98 & XP but still
true in heart.

Thanks n Cheers,
Rick




"Bob Willard" <BobwBSGS@TrashThis.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:vtadnYr9eLB9ug_VnZ2dnUVZ_q3inZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> amdx wrote:
>> "Bill Kearney" <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:sr2dnfESQv0v6w3VnZ2dnUVZ_jmdnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
>>
>>>> Is it common for ISPs to rent the modems? I know it's part of the bill
>>>> one way or another but I don't know that my cable company would lower
>>>> my bill if I had my own modem.
>>>
>>>Buy your own gear. Pick 'em up used off fleabay to save money.
>>>
>>>It's never a bargain to rent anything this basic from a carrier.
>>>Something more complex, like a DVR, might be but even that has room for
>>>debate.
>>
>>
>> Yes, but,
>> Is it common for ISPs to rent the modems? I know it's part of the bill
>> one way or another but I don't know that my cable company would lower my
>> bill if I had my own modem.
>>
>>
>
> Yes it is pretty common. I expect it to be on your itemized monthly bill,
> if you get one; if not, ask your ISP.
> --
> Cheers, Bob