Technical Router question

[Xavier_Onassis]

I just bought a nice netbook on Woot!, an Asus with XP and a 160 gig drive.
Naturally, I want to set up a Wi-Fi connection in the house. I had something called a Wireless Access Point and a USB LAN adapter, but it seemed that I needed a router as well, so I let my friend talk me into going to BrandsMart, a place noted for some low prices and really ignorant salespeople.

They only had Belkin routers, which means to me that the $37 I paid for this thing was too much. But I doubt that I could have saved more than $10 or so. At any rate, the BMart salesman tells me that this N150 router is not only faster than the G model, but it is faster than a direct wired connection from the DSL Modem.

I tell him, "I can see how a device might make the datastream SLOWER than what is coming out of the modem, but I cannot comprehend how it could possibly be FASTER: How can a downstream device possibly increase the flow coming out of an upstream device?"

The Salesman, a typical BMart type, says "Technology".

At any rate, the device works. In the event that one buys a Belkin Router, the 877 support number plays bouncy Charlie's Angels-type synthisizer jazz music, and will do so for 45 minutes at least. The 800 number gets you a typical Indian tech support woman who is uncertain of how spell common English first names, but eventually, I did get it to work. The netbook is great, at least a good buy with a six-cell battery that reviers claim will last seven hours for $235 delivered.

Question, is it possible for a router to stream data faster than the DSL modem that is supplying it?
If so, how?

[Amianthus]

Question, is it possible for a router to stream data faster than the DSL modem that is supplying it?
If so, how?

The data link is faster. This means that if you're pulling from multiple sources, it's possible your burst speed will exceed the theoretical max of the upstream provider.

In general, however, the answer is "no". However, you do want your local equipment to exceed the bandwidth of your main pipe, so that the local equipment can use your upstream bandwidth to it's maximum. If your local equipment has lower bandwidth than your incoming pipe, then you'll never be able to use the bandwidth that you're paying for.

[Kramer]

I just bought a nice netbook on Woot!, an Asus with XP and a 160 gig drive.
Naturally, I want to set up a Wi-Fi connection in the house. I had something called a Wireless Access Point and a USB LAN adapter, but it seemed that I needed a router as well, so I let my friend talk me into going to BrandsMart, a place noted for some low prices and really ignorant salespeople.

They only had Belkin routers, which means to me that the $37 I paid for this thing was too much. But I doubt that I could have saved more than $10 or so. At any rate, the BMart salesman tells me that this N150 router is not only faster than the G model, but it is faster than a direct wired connection from the DSL Modem.

I tell him, "I can see how a device might make the datastream SLOWER than what is coming out of the modem, but I cannot comprehend how it could possibly be FASTER: How can a downstream device possibly increase the flow coming out of an upstream device?"

The Salesman, a typical BMart type, says "Technology".

At any rate, the device works. In the event that one buys a Belkin Router, the 877 support number plays bouncy Charlie's Angels-type synthisizer jazz music, and will do so for 45 minutes at least. The 800 number gets you a typical Indian tech support woman who is uncertain of how spell common English first names, but eventually, I did get it to work. The netbook is great, at least a good buy with a six-cell battery that reviers claim will last seven hours for $235 delivered.

Question, is it possible for a router to stream data faster than the DSL modem that is supplying it?
If so, how?

I bought that same Asus from Amazon last September. Upgraded the memory to 2 gigs. Bought the external DVD drive too and a really nice neoprene carry case. Has worked out well for my out of office duties. Bought the White version for 2 reasons, 1. the black one is a fingerprint magnet, and 2. the white one comes with a matte anti-glare screen. XP is a plus too. It's nice and light. Keyboard is great too. Sound sucks but don't care about sound on this unit. Beats my Dell that I paid a lot more for.

[kimba1]

if  understand it right the router will takeover a certain function on your computer so it would seem faster then just using your modem. it will have a small preformance difference. but I just don`t see wireless being faster .

[Xavier_Onassis]

How could I be pulling data from multiple sources when using a router, if I was not doing it previously, without the router.

By the way, it does seem slightly faster, but I do not know how to test this, so I can't be sure. It does not seem to bog down as much as previously.