Which UK Broadband Provider?

[blondebier]

I'm building a small office network in the UK.
It'll be 3 machines running Windows XP Professional.

I'd like to have the network share a broadband internet connection, but i'm not sure which company to go with in the UK? (I don't really want to pay over the odds for a business connection.)

Also, what do I need on the hardware side to make this work? Just an ADSL Router?

I'm looking at the Netgear RO318 Broadband Router with built in 8 port 10/100Mbps Switch.

If the broadband provider give me a USB modem, how do I connect the router and modem together?

Thanks for your help.
Francis

 

[manarth]

Hi Francis,

unless your transferring huge files, a standard 512kbps connection should do fine.

if you use a cable provider for your broadband, you'll find they'll probably provide an ethernet modem.

if you use an adsl provider, they normally provide a USB modem. I know of one router which plugs directly into a USB modem (only compatible with one of BT's modem), alternatively you could use ICS to share the connection, or purchase an integrated adsl modem router.

I'd recommend Pipex as a sensibly priced and well equipped ADSL outfit, alternatives are BT, Tiscali, Freeserve, Gio, Freedom2Surf, or one of the cable broadbands.

Avoid AOL - it's not designed to be shared amongst more than one PC, so sharing is not particularly easy to setup.

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please give feedback on what works / what doesn't[/li][li]need some help? how to get a better answer: faq581-3339[/li][/ul]

 

[blondebier]

Thanks, that's very helpful.