wireless internet

[suzysu]

Can I just ask .. whats the difference between a hub and a router 

[j-u-l-e-s]

The BT hub is basically a wireless router but has it's own features relating to BT Broadband and WiFi minutes.
Here is a web site explaining all the features of the BT hub and phone which comes with it:
http://www.itreviews.co.uk/hardware/h1085.htm

A hub is typically the least expensive, least intelligent, and least complicated of the three. Its job is very simple: anything that comes in one port is sent out to the others. That's it. Every computer connected to the hub "sees" everything that every other computer on the hub sees. The hub itself is blissfully ignorant of the data being transmitted. For years, simple hubs have been quick and easy ways to connect computers in small networks.

A router is the smartest and most complicated of the bunch. Routers come in all shapes and sizes from the small four-port broadband routers that are very popular right now to the large industrial strength devices that drive the internet itself. A simple way to think of a router is as a computer that can be programmed to understand, possibly manipulate, and route the data its being asked to handle. For example, broadband routers include the ability to "hide" computers behind a type of firewall which involves slightly modifying the packets of network traffic as they traverse the device. All routers include some kind of user interface for configuring how the router will treat traffic. The really large routers include the equivalent of a full-blown programming language to describe how they should operate as well as the ability to communicate with other routers to describe or determine the best way to get network traffic from point A to point B.

A quick note on one other thing that you'll often see mentioned with these devices and that's network speed. Most devices now are capable of both 10mps (10 mega-bits, or million bits, per second) as well as 100mbs and will automatically detect the speed. If the device is labeled with only one speed then it will only be able to communicate with devices that also support that speed. 1000mbs or "gigabit" devices are starting to slowly become more common as well. Similarly many devices now also include 802.11b or 802.11g wireless transmitters that simply act like additional ports to the device.

[suzysu]

...thanks jules 

[j-u-l-e-s]

 Your welcome

[Luvly]

 

[emilyjw]

We have the BT home hub, which I am currently wirelessly connected to and find it easy to use etc. BT also have a great helpdesk system if you have any problems. My parents have just managed to set up theirs and they are a long way from being tech savvy..