Switch or Router?

jsnap

jsnap

Bohemian
I'm using a VoIP phone service over my cable internet connection. I keep loosing the phone serivice though whenever the internet goes down (I use Comcast). I've got an IP address for both but still no dial tone on my phone. The phone company (Vonage) says I need to use a router not a D-Link switch to get the service to work properly. True or false? If true, router suggestions?

The set up: Cable to Motorola SB4200 to D-Link to both Power Mac G4 (running 10.2.8) and Cisco ATA 186 Analog Telephone Adapter.

And while I'm at it, I also want to add wireless networking to my system so my kid can share the internet and my printer/scanner. She's got an iBook G3 with Airport already installed. I don't think I have an Airport card installed and I'm not sure how to find out if I do, which one to get, or how to install one either if I don't.
 
Avoid the switch to connect with your modem. I have a switch and I always have problems when my computers speak with each others... and they other don't see they are on a local area network... prefer a router (I must buy one).
 
Thanks Chevy. I found the set up I've got works fine if I reboot the Cisco phone adapter before I turn on the computer (duh, why did I forget that sequence?). Still gonna git me a router thou so I can put on a wireless internet device and etc.. Keeping up is soooo $$, but I need to for my kids' sake. The one watching the Orca needs to stay connected, and she's just the first born!
 
chevy said:
Avoid the switch to connect with your modem. I have a switch and I always have problems when my computers speak with each others... and they other don't see they are on a local area network... prefer a router (I must buy one).
Click to expand...

A DLink switch is also a router if you are using it to connect a modem to a network. A hub differs from a switch in that the packets from a network on a hub are broadcast to all ports on the hub and on a switch they are directed to the port they are destined for only. The difference between a router with a switch and one without is usually the ones with switches have more than one Ethernet port to connect the computers to. I don't know of any Routers out there today that have hubs instead of switches, so your DLink should be a switched model. You still need a router to get cable modem to network.
On the wireless side, you can do one of two things... add an access point, which just connects to an empty ethernet port on DLink and allows wireless access to network, and therefore to internet, or get a new wireless router with at least 4 port switch and you can use wired or wireless and still route your cable modem.

hope this helps,
Mike
 
macmikey said:
A DLink switch is also a router if you are using it to connect a modem to a network. A hub differs from a switch in that the packets from a network on a hub are broadcast to all ports on the hub and on a switch they are directed to the port they are destined for only. The difference between a router with a switch and one without is usually the ones with switches have more than one Ethernet port to connect the computers to. I don't know of any Routers out there today that have hubs instead of switches, so your DLink should be a switched model. You still need a router to get cable modem to network.
On the wireless side, you can do one of two things... add an access point, which just connects to an empty ethernet port on DLink and allows wireless access to network, and therefore to internet, or get a new wireless router with at least 4 port switch and you can use wired or wireless and still route your cable modem.

hope this helps,
Mike
Click to expand...

I've got it now. However, Mike, my DLink is not a router, only a desktop (or in my case, under the desk) switch. There are 5 ports on this switch (3 in use). One in from the cable modem, two out: computer and phone adapter.

Thanks for your help and advice.
 
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