Homechoice to iMac, Wii & PS3 wired and wireless

[jolyon_russ]

I've had Homechoice now for 2 years and it's great, TV drops out occasionally but it's the only option for my rented flat.

My needs are for the following items to have internet access from my HC box:

• iMac - connection -> wired
• Wii - still trying to find one, connection -> wireless
• PS3 - preordered, connection -> either, wired or wireless, I think
• PS2 - will probably be using this less, see above, connection -> wired
• iBook - connection -> wired

Now from what I've read on this and other sites what I need is a router with NAT as homechoice only allows single IP's. AVForums post (http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297221&highlight=homechoice+wireless)

I guess the first question is, what router would you recommend? It'll need wired ports and wireless and be cheap and easy to install.

The next thing is, I've bought a Netgear DG834G off a friend, it came in a Sky branded box, but as far as I'm concerned a router is a router is a router, no? The DG834G has an integral DSL modem, note sure if this is causing problems. He's fine with me returning it if it's doesn't work, which so far is the case. Is the DG834G up to the job, by my reckoning it's got all the right bits, 4 ports and wireless.

HC supply a Netgear WGR614, the only difference I can see is that the DG834G has 4 ports on the back, which obviously I need. Plus I'm not keen on paying for them to "install" it for £85.

Cheers in advance for any help.

[chachi]

DG834G should work just fine ... might want to factory reset it and then reflash it to most recent Netgear firmware (and then factory reset it again) to clear any possible Sky Broadband setup tweaks/etc.

[jolyon_russ]

Thanks for the reply, do you have any links to tutorials for flashing new firmware?

Cheers.


Jolyon

[chachi]

Just go to the Netgear website support area, the firmware update process (and a tool to revive it should reflashing it go wrong and it bricks) is explained there better than I could summarise really.

You DL the firmware from Netgear, then go to the web admin interface (while direct cabled to the router, not via wifi) and the 'router upgrade' menu choice will walk you through browsing/selecting the firmware and initiating the upload/upgrade process.

[jolyon_russ]

Hey Chachi,

Thanks for the tip, I've downloaded and successfully updated the firmware to the latest version.

I'm still having issues though :-(

How I think it should be working.

Homechoice box gets IP from HC and passes it to Netgear router.
Netgear router uses NAT and sets it's own IP's (starting 192) to route to the IP HC gave it.
My device's connect to the router which, using DCHP, supplies them with 192 IPs.

What's actually happening or as far as I can tell.

HC gives router IP, router forwards IP to device, first device to connect get a connection.

Now I've checked the admin for the router and NAT is enabled, I've tried manually assigning an IP to my iMac and nothing seems to work.

Any help gratefully received.


Jolyon

[chachi]

Jolyon - am on holiday in Cyprus at the moment, back on Thursday morning.

Just rigged a similar setup here in Paphos for a friend ( speedtouch router/DSL with a Netgear DG834g connected elsewhere in the house and being purely used for its wireless abilities) and it is working fine.

Let me go things here and check what I tweaked/etc to get it working -- will email you upon my return at the end of the week to get it sorted.

[jolyon_russ]

Chachi, You're a legend, my address on here should be fine. I can wait, thanks again for your help. Hope you're having a nice time in Cyprus :-)

[chachi]

Unfortunately spent most of the past week rewiring my mate's house and getting all his PC/AV kit going :(

Will be in touch tomorrow at some point