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how do I know which is the right type of router
for my connection?
Your Internet connection may be provided in one of
several forms - ISDN, ADSL, Cable
Modem,
etc. When selecting your router, you must know
the form of connection that you have ... in short,
how your router will connect to the outside world.
The part of the router that deals with this connection
is known
as the WAN (Wide Area Network) connection.
This is not to be confused with the LAN (Local
Area Network) connection which is the other 'side'
of the
router ... where it connects to
your 'local' network.
ISDN Connections (including BT Highway):
Routers with an ISDN interface contain
a built-in ISDN 'terminal adaptor'. Using
the supplied
RJ45 cable, you can connect this socket on the router
directly into an ISDN2e line or a BT Highway linebox
(the blue socket on the front), or an
'S0' interface on an office PBX (office switchboard).
This interface is also known as an 'S/T' type. Note
that this interface uses the same type of plug (RJ45)
as Ethernet, but the two interfaces are not compatible.
| Router with an ISDN Port |
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ISDN2e |
BT Highway |
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suitable
for |
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| eg Draytek 2000 |
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ADSL Connections:
Routers with an ADSL interface contain a built-in
ADSL modem and connect directly into an
ADSL enabled
(analogue)
telephone line. The plug type is RJ11 (smaller than
an RJ45). The lead from the router (supplied) connects
either into an ADSL
MicroFilter (which in turn plugs into a regular BT
phone socket) or into a BT-Adapted ADSL socket which
has an RJ11 socket on the front.
click here to
view our range of Draytek routers
Cable Modem and Ethernet Connections:
Any Internet
feed which comes in via Ethernet (10BaseT or 100BaseT)
and presents a dynamic or static IP address can connect
to a router with an Ethernet interface. The
two most common examples of this type of interface
are
cable
modems
(or 'set
top boxes') and existing routers - ie supplied by
BT. Remember that
the same
type of Interface
(Ethernet / RJ45 socket) is also used on the router's
LAN side, so in this scenario, both sides of the router
are Ethernet-based.
click here to
view our range of Draytek routers
* The BT-supplied router
is normally installed on an ADSL line by BT for your
ISP and provides an Ethernet
output (actually
four, as shown) which can then be connected to the
Ethernet WAN input on a Vigor router. In this scenario
you will have two routers.
It is possible,
however, to remove the existing BT-supplied router
and connect a Draytek 2600 (ADSL) router in its
place.
In this scenario you will only have one router.
now that you know which type of Internet feed you
have and which router type you need, click here for
a router feature comparision chart.
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