Idiot routing question (may have to turn in my Electrical Engineering degree)

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2008-06-15 1:09 PM

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Champion
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Richmond, VA
Subject: Idiot routing question (may have to turn in my Electrical Engineering degree)

The Mrs. got me a sling media box for Father's Day. For those that don't recognize the name, it is a device you hook up to your TV set top box and connect it to your router - it pushes video out on to the Internet so you can watch live TV from your computer as long as you have an Internet connection. (this is great for traveling and allows me to watch any recorded TV shows while I'm riding on the bike trainer.

Anyway, we have Macs and an Airport Express wireless routers (not the base station) hooked directly to the cable modem.

The Airport Express router has a single Ethernet connection, which is connected to the cable router. In looking online, to purchase the full Apple Airport Express base station with multiple connectors is $180. Ouch!

So would I run into any problems just purchasing Linksys 5-port Ethernet switch box for $20 and hooking my existing Airport Express wireless box and the Sling Media box to the network ports and the cable modem directly to the Linksys box?

seems like an easy way to save $160?

I can't think of any reason why this wouldn't work - but I've been spoiled by years of using Macs and always get nervous integrating PC-based devices (i.e. Linksys) into the network.

Thoughts?



Edited by condorman 2008-06-15 1:10 PM

2008-06-15 1:19 PM
in reply to: #1467580

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Pro
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Subject: RE: Idiot routing question (may have to turn in my Electrical Engineering degree)

The cable modem expects to have one device hooked up to it.  By putting in a switch and attaching the slingbox and airport, you'll have two.

Better option, go get a Dlink or Linksys ethernet router.  It will have one uplink, ( connect the cable modem to that ), and 4 or so network ports.  Attach the Airport to one of the network ports, and the sling box to another.

Here, I just saved you $140:

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-EtherFast-Router-4-Port-BEFSR41/dp/B00004SB92/ 

2008-06-15 1:45 PM
in reply to: #1467580

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Master
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Sachse
Subject: RE: Idiot routing question (may have to turn in my Electrical Engineering degree)
If I you are wireless to the airport and then it is the only device physically cabled to cable modem... then I agree with Chris. Cable / DSL modems typically run as a DHCP server giving out addresses. They usually only pass out 1. So, in that case the dlink router or even a linksys router would be the best bet. Once you go above the ports on it, then you would then get a switch.

Kenny
2008-06-16 12:19 AM
in reply to: #1467580

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Master
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West Jordan, UT
Subject: RE: Idiot routing question (may have to turn in my Electrical Engineering degree)

networking and wireless standards are pretty much universal, mac or PC, or even linux.  Coredump's idea would work well.  For the same money, you could also just replace your ariport with another brands wireless router.  This netgear router is $35 shipped.  It has 4 wired LAN ports and wireless.   You could then sell your airport device on ebay and pretty much pay for the new netgear.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122016

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