Do I need a router, switch or neither ?

I have Synology DS112J NAS drive. I use a Mac Mini, Windows Laptop, PS3, IPad & Smart phone.

At the moment I use a wireless cable modem router provided by my ISP. It is only 10/100.

I want to hard wire my Mac, NAS, PS3 and laptop with cat6 and have wireless access to use my iPad and smart phone.

Am not sure how I go about doing this. As my ISP router is only 10/100, I think I would normally add a 10/100/1000 switch and turn off wireless function on my router. But then I wouldn't get access to internet with my iPad and smart phone ?

So my understanding is that I perhaps need a wireless 10/100/1000 router with 4 ports connected to my ISP router operating in modem mode so that I can function my Mac, Laptop, PS3 all hard wired then use my iPad and smart phone wirelessly.

Hope I've made sense in this post. Basically I want to transfer large files on Mac and Laptop quickly and use smart phone and iPad wireless.

blueroom said:

See if your ISP's modem/router supports gateway mode. If so then get a nice WiFi router such as the Apple Airport Extreme.

PS that DS112j makes for a great Time Machine backup among other things.

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Quite a lot more money then I'd wanna spend. Think I'll go the switch route.

Altemose said:

You can connect the Gigabit switch to the ISP supplied router and then transfers to and from the NAS to a device on the LAN should be Gigabit. However, if you are interested in a relatively affordable router with Gigabit Ethernet, have a look at a refurbed Extreme!

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FD031LL/A/refurbished-airport-extreme-base-station

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Am quite interesting that refurbished unit. Am in UK and it's seems like a good price here too. But I think it only comes with 3 ports ?

I need it for,
NAS Drive
PS3
Laptop
Mac mini

Altemose said:

However they are Gigabit ports. Also, you can hook up a Gigabit Ethernet switch to it. I am not sure what the cost of a refurbed model is in the United Kingdom though. Ensure that you buy it from Apple directly rather than a third party as generally Apple's refurb standards greatly differ from a third party's.

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I don't see the point of getting the Apple extreme then adding a gigabit switch when I can just use the switch into my isp wireless router.

Altemose said:

The Extreme will also probably benefit your network as most ISP provided gear is cheap and low performing.

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I see your point. But I don't really want to many gadgets cluttering up on my tv cabinet. Maybe I should just a just get a decent wifi router with ethernet port instead of a switch .

I'll start with getting a switch first as they're inexpensive and with the number ethernet ports i need. Then look to getting a router later.