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Do I need a router, switch or neither ?

V

vim147

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 14, 2011
236
1
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.
 
leave your router set up as it is now.

run an ethernet cable from your router to a gigabit switch. (10/100/1000)

run ethernet cables to your computers to the new switch.
 
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

Quite a lot more money then I'd wanna spend. Think I'll go the switch route.
 
If all your worried about is high speed transfers between hard wired devices. Just buy a Gbit switch and connect all your systems to it. Then all the hard wire connections are gigabit. You can still use your wireless function off of your supplied ISP combo, and being your only concerned about smart phone and ipad wirelessly, you don't need the extra bandwidth for them.
 
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
Click to expand...

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
 
vim147 said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...

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 .
 
vim147 said:
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 .
Click to expand...

You can do that. However I can guarantee the Extreme even with a switch would look fantastic in your TV cabinet. Let us know what you want to do and we will be more than helpful in finding you some options...
 
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.
 
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