Hello guys.
Now that we know what 123net gives us it makes it a bit easier. It seems there is still a bit of confusion. I'll try to explain for those who are not sure. I'm not going to go into technical details, this is an attempt to simplify.
To start, let's look at how one connects to the internet (3G/dialup/ADSL/fibre/whatever). You need:
- A Modem (To convert "internet signals" to "local signals")
- Something to "Dial" the modem (Think of 56k days) - Let's call this the "Dialer" further in this post
That's the most basic setup. Some devices integrate this. A typical ADSL "router" is actually a modem+router("dialer") in one.
Let's break it down for 123net fibre.
Modem: 123NET provides and installs their modem. So you are set on this front.
Dialer: You have some options here:
- PC: Connect your PC directly* to the modem with the Ethernet (LAN) cable. Your PC acts as the "dialer" which establishes the connection (similar to your 3G dongle or old dialup).
- Router: Connect the modem directly* to a compatible# router. The router acts as the dialer which establishes the connection This is similar to most ADSL setups (also think about ADSL routers which have a USB port for 3G - They "dial" the modem)
*Directly: This does NOT mean a single cable MUST go from the modem into the device. You can have an Ethernet switch in between. (The way a network works, this is acceptable)
#Compatible router: The router needs an ewan port. i.e. One of the "LAN" ports can be used as a "WAN" port so that the router can communicate with the modem (The router needs to know that you want to use an external modem and that it's connected to a certain port). You'll have to check your manual or website to see whether your router supports this.
&Note: An access point is not a router. Access points are used to create a wifi network. In typical "Wifi Routers" the access point is integrated in the router. Stand-alone access points only serve to build or extend the wifi network and do not provide "routing" (dialing) capabilities.
In summary, for most users the following will apply:
- If you have multiple devices you will need a router (Easiest is probably to get a 123net one)
- If you only have one PC, you don't need a router
There are other scenarios which involve ICS or proxy via a PC acting as a router or multiple sessions from different devices (Similar to using an ADSL modem only or using a router in "bridging/modem only" mode). I will not go into this, if you know how to use this or are currently using this then this guide is probably not for you or PM me
I hope this sheds some light on what you need. If you think I missed something post, then I will see if I can still edit my post.