Would like to set-up Wireless Broadband

[PeterC]

Hi,
I've been interested in the Mac experience for a while, and took the leep last weekend and bought an i-book G4. Its fantastic !!!! I'm getting Broadband (NTL) connected in a couple of weeks time, and was wondering if anyone could help with the following questions:-

1) Can i simply purchase an 'Airport Express' base station, hook it up, and follow the onscreen prompts to get going?

2) If i want to use my xbox360, will i need to unplug the base station and run a USB lead straight to the NTL Modem (or can i purchase something for the 360 that will also recognise the signal from the AE base station?)

3) By switching from i-book, xbox, i-book.....does this cause connection problems (think i've read some things about IP addresses being retained??)

4) Not a big fan of NTL, but has anyine had any problems with their Broadband service?

Apologies if i've used incorrect terminology. 1st time i've visited a forum of any discription. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

 

[student_trap]

Firstly, congrats on your purchase, your in for some pain-free computing. As for you're questions, i have answered all that i can, but im sure that somone else will know the answers to the others too...

1) Can i simply purchase an 'Airport Express' base station, hook it up, and follow the onscreen prompts to get going?

1. Not quite that simple, you will need some sort of ethernet adsl router (about £30) to then connect to an airport express, then it should be pretty simple (onscreen instructions etc). Another option would be to go for an all in one wireless router, i use the Netgar DG834G (about £60) and it works perfectly as a modem/router/wireless point/firewall.

3) By switching from i-book, xbox, i-book.....does this cause connection problems (think i've read some things about IP addresses being retained??)

pulling cables in and out continuously is never a good idea

 

[garybUK]

Hi,
I've been interested in the Mac experience for a while, and took the leep last weekend and bought an i-book G4. Its fantastic !!!! I'm getting Broadband (NTL) connected in a couple of weeks time, and was wondering if anyone could help with the following questions:-

1) Can i simply purchase an 'Airport Express' base station, hook it up, and follow the onscreen prompts to get going?

2) If i want to use my xbox360, will i need to unplug the base station and run a USB lead straight to the NTL Modem (or can i purchase something for the 360 that will also recognise the signal from the AE base station?)

3) By switching from i-book, xbox, i-book.....does this cause connection problems (think i've read some things about IP addresses being retained??)

4) Not a big fan of NTL, but has anyine had any problems with their Broadband service?

Apologies if i've used incorrect terminology. 1st time i've visited a forum of any discription. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Okay: NTL doesn't use ADSL it uses fibre cables, If you can choose if you have the broadband over the set top box or SACM (Stand Alone Cable Modem) go for the SACM. Both are ethernet and will just work with an airport express out of the box.

Don't use the USB connection, its rubbish.

Basically when you connect your Airport to the NTL modem, that will get the Internet IP then give you a LAN IP. This means you can have more than 1 LAN device e.g. your Laptop, XBOX etc connected at the same time! You'd need a Wireless adaptor for your xbox, you can get these from PC world or the Microsoft ones from Game.

Oh and don't even let the NTL CD go anywhere near your computer it will work without installing anything!!!

NTL isn't too bad if you are not on a student conjested UBR if you can go for the 10mb service, do it, I have it and 99% of the time get download rates of 1.1 / 1.3mbps

 

[PeterC]

garyb UK & student trap,
Cheers for the advce - you've helped loads. FYI - I'll be opting for the SACAM, as I'm getting rid of the set top box (nothing on worth watching!!).
1 more quick question - Although i'n not going to be doing anything too internet intensive on the i-book, I do plan on playing COD2 on the xbox. will 2MB be enough? Again - you have been a great help.

 

[garybUK]

2mb should be fine!!

The SACM's are a lot more reliable and easier to use than the STB's plus the telly is rubbish on NTL, get SKY

My NTL does around 10 / 15ms pings to European servers generally.

Wireless always adds a little lag but nothing majour.

Enjoy!

 

[PeterC]

Your the man. Thanks mate.

 

[Saluki Alex]

I have a question. Seeing as I'm from the US, I'm not sure as to what you all are referring to by "Wireless Broadband." Over here, that term is used in reference to broadband internet that is broadcast from a high area (i.e. water tower, cell tower, etc.) and recieved by an antenna attached to someones house which is connected to a radio transmitter (essentially a modem) which is connected to a router or directly to a pc.

I am probably one of the few people on the forum that recieve the internet this way, in fact, I'm one of the few people in my area that have it since most people still have dial-up. So when I use this term, people often assume I'm talking about WiFi which is wholly different. I have a WiFi network as well, which generally adds to people's confusion

I hope I'm not sounding like the "Terminology Police," especially since in the UK things are referred to differently. I was just interested in what was being discussed. As Socrates said: "The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."

 

[thewhitehart]

They are talking about wifi

 

[student_trap]

They are talking about wifi

indeed we are