Ethernet question

[dima_]

Okay, so I'm upstairs and right below me is our modem. I plan on getting a lengthy ethernet cord and running it out my door and straight down into the modem because I'm sick of 1.5mb/s wireless download speeds. Problem is that our modem has one ethernet port and it's connected to our wireless router. On the modem itself it has TEL1 and TEL2 besides its ethernet port, nothing else. On the wireless router is has similar slots to its port that's connected to the modem just labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4. Are these ports I could plug in to, and would it achieve the desired effect because the router itself is plugged into the modem? Doesn't seem like those would be ethernet ports, though. I don't know jack shit about this stuff and I just need some help. I was at a friend's house last night and we were having a small LAN party. I was closest to their xfinity router so I plugged into it, but it only had ports for me and someone else so everyone else connected to a little white Belkin box they called a switch. All connected via ethernet. Can anyone tell me what that is, if I'll have to get one or if there's something else I could do?

[Jade]

It'd help to know what Modem and Router you have. Their models are somewhere on the physical box, unless it was removed by someone.

[rmac52]

it should work. If you're router has 4 ethernet ports on the back they typically act as a switch

[dima_]

It'd help to know what Modem and Router you have. Their models are somewhere on the physical box, unless it was removed by someone.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190

 

This is the router...

 

http://stores.dontleaseyourmodem.com/ubee-dvm3203b-docsis-3-0-telephone-modem-emta-comcast-xfinity/

 

... and this is the modem, I guess. Can't exactly find an Amazon page on those.

[dima_]

it should work. If you're router has 4 ethernet ports on the back they typically act as a switch

 

Well, it has one port labelled "internet" connected to the modem's ethernet port and then those four ports labelled one through four. Would those be ethernet ports and give the desired effect?

[Jade]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124190

 

This is the router...

 

http://stores.dontleaseyourmodem.com/ubee-dvm3203b-docsis-3-0-telephone-modem-emta-comcast-xfinity/

 

... and this is the modem, I guess. Can't exactly find an Amazon page on those.

That router is ancient. It's no wonder you're getting horrid speeds. As far as the modem goes, you should look into getting Comcast/Xfinity to replace it if you can, but what you can do is modem "Internet" port > switch > both PC & router (that's the nature of a switch.)

[ForsakenLive]

Just plug in to the router. Those 1,2,3,4 ports are for that! Get a Cat 5 cable at least and you are good to go.

[dima_]

That router is ancient. It's no wonder you're getting horrid speeds. As far as the modem goes, you should look into getting Comcast/Xfinity to replace it if you can, but what you can do is modem "Internet" port > switch > both PC & router (that's the nature of a switch.)

 

Well, my situation doesn't give me much room to wiggle around here. Getting Comcast to replace our modem is out of the question (not my decision in the family), and I can't blow a lot of money here. What is a good switch I can get for cheap?

[dima_]

Just plug in to the router. Those 1,2,3,4 ports are for that! Get a Cat 5 cable at least and you are good to go.

 

That's technically ethernet even though it's a wireless router?

[MooCow]

That's technically ethernet even though it's a wireless router?

 

Not exactly. 

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/60693-the-networking-boards-frequently-asked-questions-pre-answered/

 

Read the "What is the difference between a router, a switch and a modem?" section to better understand the difference.

 

A router technically only needs 2 ports on it (1 to each network). in your case having more it also functions as a switch.

 

Hell, you could read the other sections to answer questions you might not have thought of.

 

Does that help?