Author Topic: Question about single LAN port routers (Read 231 times)

beet1e · « **on:** July 15, 2005, 11:57:02 AM »

[wall-o-text] I connect via a SpeedTouch 510 4-port router. When I have house guests, they bring their laptop and plug it into one of the vacant ports on my router.

My mother has a laptop and connects via a BT Voyager USB broadband modem. It's a PITA for reasons I won't go into here, save to say that I decided she'd be happier with a router which would be "always on", and not have to go through the dial up process. I found a SpeedTouch 530 on eBay for £9.99 and bought it. It arrived, and I tested it yesterday - works fine, just the job. It has only a single LAN port, which is all that is needed, but it also has a USB interface, and a USB cable is supplied. [/wall-o-text]

My question: What is the purpose of a router with only one LAN port? OK, I know it's all I need in this instance. But I thought the whole purpose of routers was to provide multiple user access. On this model, which claims to offer multiple user access, how would you cable it to provide multi user access? It seems a bit daft to have to have a USB interface, when a much easier solution would be to have multiple LAN ports.

During my testing, I did not use the USB interface. I simply connected using an ethernet cable, and set up the connection on the generated web page at 10.0.0.138 .

humble · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2005, 12:05:43 PM »

I'm guessing that your expected to add it to a "standard" router. So that someone who needs to add broadband to an existing network simply runs it via the 530 to a second switch or router.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2005, 12:20:36 PM »

Get an Ethernet switch or hub and connect it to the LAN port of the router.

beet1e · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2005, 12:53:21 PM »

OK. Any guesses about the purpose of the USB interface?

I don't need a hub/switch because it's for a single user application. But if for multiple users, I'd get a router with multiple LAN ports like the one I have. I can't see the point of achieving multi user access with a single LAN port router.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2005, 01:01:39 PM »

Single LAN port routers are meant to be used in conjunction with a hub or switch beet1e. Or you can direct connect it to the computer for a single user. If you want muliple user, you invest in the hub/switch and the router can handle it.

Most routers use to not have a built-in hubs and that is how they all had to be connected.

The USB port offers and optional way to connect to your computer if you do not have an Ethernet card. Not the recommended way to do networking as the overhead for the computer to handle the traffic is horrible.