Internet sharing/networking on BT (uk) broadband

Hi,
I have been asked by a friend to help him set up a network on his British Telecom broadband account.
He has spoken to BT and they have told him that he must use their (overpriced!) products but I was wondering if there is an alternative.
At the moment his ADSL comes in through a microfilter into a usb modem which connects to his main PC and BT are saying that he must use one of their routers (or wireless access points) as these include the correct modem for their connection.
The PC has a ethernet port in it and I think t should be possible to keep his usb modem as it is and either buy a usb wifi access point (if he decides to go wireless) or run a CAT5 cable out of the ethernet port to a 4port switch which he can then use to connect the other machines.
The only drawback to this I can see is that his main PC must be on for the other PCs to connect to the internet.
Is there another way around this, or does anybody know if any other manufacturers make a router that can accept a ADSL connection from BT broadband?

Many thanks

spotta

 

Thanks for the link Tony


Spotta

 

Nope. You can't just use a standard router.
The key here is in this phrase, "into a usb modem ".
To use a standard router, you will need a standard modem, and a few CAT5 patch cables.
www.homenethelp.com
www.practicallynetworked.com

 

reboot.
read my first post again.

think you misunderstood.

Ta anyway



spotta

 

What I meant was, to avoid sharing a connection, or having one system on all the time for the others to access (sorta like a server), one must get a different modem. THEN you can use a standard router etc.
If you can pry the info out of BT, you'll find that you can use just about any docsis compliant modem. You don't have to use their USB one, and from there everything get's easier.
The reason they want you to buy their stuff, is because that's what they support. If you don't require any support from them, buy whatever you want, just don't expect them to help if anything goes south.

 

Hi Spotta,
Reboot is correct, BT will not support anything other than the usb moden supplied. You just need to buy a 4-port adsl modem, wireless or not as needed (I have here the Netgear DG824M but there are cheaper options) connect this to the micro-filter and you can plug in up to 4 PCs directley by cable or more by incorporating a switch and/or lots by wireless means.

Make sure the original usb modem is kept safe so that it can be re-conneced in the event that BT support/tests need carrying out if a line/connection problem occurs.

Hope this helps

Colin

 

Thanks to all that replied.

I realise that BT's products are only someone else's rebadged and it should be possible to use any ADSL modem with a 4-port switch, but I have heard that not all products by other manufacturers are compatible, hence the question.
We have now ordered a BT voyager 2000 for his network so hopefully we should have no problem

Have you ever tried BT support..!..!??!!

It's good to know netgear products work fine with BT - does anyone know for sure if any products don't like BT broadband? or for future reference should any brand ADSL modem/switch work fine.

Many thanks

spotta