Do I need a router, switch or neither ??

[the_chang]

I have Synology DS112J NAS drive. I use a Mac Mini, Windows Laptop, PS3, IPad & Smart phone.

At the moment I use a wireless cable modem router provided by my ISP. It is only 10/100.

I want to hard wire my Mac, NAS, PS3 and laptop with cat6 and have wireless access to use my iPad and smart phone.

Am not sure how I go about doing this. As my ISP router is only 10/100, I think I would normally add a 10/100/1000 switch and turn off wireless function on my router. But then I wouldn't get access to internet with my iPad and smart phone ?

So my understanding is that I perhaps need a wireless 10/100/1000 router with 4 ports connected to my ISP router operating in modem mode so that I can function my Mac, Laptop, PS3 all hard wired then use my iPad and smart phone wirelessly.

Hope I've made sense in this post. Basically I want to transfer large files on Mac and Laptop quickly and use smart phone and iPad wireless.

 

[stevech]

I have Synology DS112J NAS drive. I use a Mac Mini, Windows Laptop, PS3, IPad & Smart phone.

At the moment I use a wireless cable modem router provided by my ISP. It is only 10/100.

I want to hard wire my Mac, NAS, PS3 and laptop with cat6 and have wireless access to use my iPad and smart phone.

Am not sure how I go about doing this. As my ISP router is only 10/100, I think I would normally add a 10/100/1000 switch and turn off wireless function on my router. But then I wouldn't get access to internet with my iPad and smart phone ?

So my understanding is that I perhaps need a wireless 10/100/1000 router with 4 ports connected to my ISP router operating in modem mode so that I can function my Mac, Laptop, PS3 all hard wired then use my iPad and smart phone wirelessly.

If you have no heavy inter-PC data, no need for the switch, unless you are out of ports on the router. Nice to have a switch anyway, as you don't have to wonder if the LAN ports on teh ISP's router are really a good switch.


Hope I've made sense in this post. Basically I want to transfer large files on Mac and Laptop quickly and use smart phone and iPad wireless.

Yes, just buy a 5 or 8 port 10/100/1000BT ethernet switch ($25-40). Connect one port to a LAN port on your router using cat5 or cat6 cable (cat5 is fine for other than really long runs). Connect PCs to the switch. Inter-PC data will go through the switch and not the router.

 

[the_chang]

Yes, just buy a 5 or 8 port 10/100/1000BT ethernet switch ($25-40). Connect one port to a LAN port on your router using cat5 or cat6 cable (cat5 is fine for other than really long runs). Connect PCs to the switch. Inter-PC data will go through the switch and not the router.

I was under the impression that if I use a switch through my ISP router, that I would need to turn off the wireless function so that the switch would work which would then unable to use my iPad wirelessly ?

Would buying a better router with 4 port and 10/100/1000 be a better option as there not much more in price or will that make run slower for transferring files ?

 

[stevech]

I was under the impression that if I use a switch through my ISP router, that I would need to turn off the wireless function so that the switch would work which would then unable to use my iPad wirelessly ?

Would buying a better router with 4 port and 10/100/1000 be a better option as there not much more in price or will that make run slower for transferring files ?

No need to turn off wireless.
iPAD accesses internet via the router and WiFi inside router.
PCs wired to either the new switch or router access router and internet.

the ports on the switch are kind of like an AC outlet and a plug strip. No real difference in plugging a lamp into the strip or the wall socket.

Don't buy another router. One network, one router. Routers are for connecting your wired and wireless network to the ISP and the internet.

 

[the_chang]

No need to turn off wireless.
iPAD accesses internet via the router and WiFi inside router.
PCs wired to either the new switch or router access router and internet.

the ports on the switch are kind of like an AC outlet and a plug strip. No real difference in plugging a lamp into the strip or the wall socket.

Don't buy another router. One network, one router. Routers are for connecting your wired and wireless network to the ISP and the internet.

OK. So back to your previous quote. Just buy a switch ?

Am right in thinking that with a switch I'll be able to access my NAS by both my laptop and mac that that I'll be able to view/transfer files between Mac and laptop and vice versa ?

 

[stevech]

Yes.
Think of the switch as wire.

Connect PCs and NAS to switch. Connect switch to router.