Another Newbie Question

Posts: 24 · Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2003 11:54 pm Post subject: Another Newbie Question

I've had my Cisco 186 for about 4 days now. Works great. My teenage kids use it without any complaints at all so that tells you it's working pretty good. Here's my current question. I've noticed some choppiness when I'm on a call and my kids are downloading stuff using Kazaa on their computer.

I have an SMC wireless router (22mbps) but the Cisco and our desktops are directly wired into the SMC. I only use the wireless 22mbps for a laptop. Is the SMC wireless router a switch which would reduce collisions and improve efficiency in my home network? If it is, there seems to be no solution to the choppiness during calls other than making sure no one is downloading.

Would adding a switch like a D-Link 5 port switch help reduce the choppiness during phone calls while downloading is taking place? If so, should the Cisco and the two desktops all be plugged into the switch or should the Cisco and the switch be plugged into the router with the two desktops plugged into the switch?

Sorry if this is silly. I'm just trying to fine tune my setup. I'm really happy with the Vonage service so far. We're using it all the time.

Posts: 4 · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2003 12:37 am Post subject:

A switch would really only have a major impact when there is heavy traffic from one PC in your home to another PC in your home (in which case the traffic between the two local switch ports would not impede other ports' traffic), but since they are all likely going straight out, they are all hitting the same bottleneck. As far as kazaa goes, you could try restricting the upload speed (which is at more of a premium than d/l speed) and maximum number of simultaneous downloads/uploads. having quite a few transfers going at once creates alot of chatter and takes up alot of overhead, as well as being rather bursty.

Posts: 44 · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2003 10:58 am Post subject:

I'd be inclined to agree.
Kazaa - if left untamed will want to chew up your whole internet connection for sharing files with other users. You'd be wise to cap its uploading capacity to something that'll leave your vonage with enough bandwidth to do its thing.

Posts: 24 · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2003 7:46 pm Post subject:

I'm aware of the spyware that runs with Kazaa but I tolerate it on my kids' computer. However, I did try to download your link to Kazaa lite but it was a nasty experience. The link downloaded a small dialer that tried to dial out to a site that charges 1.50 British pounds per minute. Course, since I have broadband that didn't work. The dialer program also shut down my Netscape. Did you really mean to recommend that link?

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 1:07 pm Post subject:

not that it helps you now, but if you had a cisco router, you could implement QoS (quality of Service). This would give priority to your voice packets. I have a Cisco 1751 and the control you have blows all the netgears, linksys and D-links out of the water. But then you get what you pay for.

Posts: 28 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Nov 18, 2003 Posts: 28

Adding a switch won't help. P2P software will use all available bandwidth unless you tell it not to. I don't use KaZaA because of all the horrible spyware (and it will seriously screw up your PC), but it should have some kind of option to throttle bandwidth.

Most consumer-grade routers don't have the capability to prioritize bandwidth, unfortunately.

If you want Kazaa Lite go here: http://www.kazaalitesite.com/