How long can the cable from router to computer be?

Please add a comment with your router model number and the type of network service that you have.

Most routers need to be connected to a modem that connects to the outside line. (Depending on your service, this could be a DSL or cable modem or a unit that connects to a phone.)

For a wired incoming network:
You connect your RJ-11 (phone cable) to the appropriate-sized port on the modem. Then connect a RJ-45 cable between the modem and your router. Then connect any wired devices via additional RJ-45 cables (many routers include a four port switch). A few have a USB connection option for one computer; most with USB ports have the other type of USB connection for sharing a hard drive or printer. Use one wired connection to set up the router, including your encryption and password to secure your wireless network. (For some ISPs, you'll need to do some extra setup, including programming your username and password. This is usually not needed for DHCP connections, where the IP address is dynamically generated.) Finally, use the encryption protocol and password to set up the wireless network on your wireless devices. (Under Windows, go to the Windows Network control panel and choose Add New Network. For other wireless devices, you'll need to find a similar setting.)

There are a few modem/router combination units. However, those are less common. They will have both the RJ-11 and RJ-45 ports. This is for wired networks. For the devices that let you share your cell phone's network, you will probably see a USB port of some type on the unit.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Okay, the router "if needed" first. Do you need a router? A router is used mainly to connect multiple devices to one internet connection. The Roku is one, if you have computer(s) also, then yes you need a router. Is the Linksys router wireless?
From the wall the coaxial cable TV/internet cable goes into the cable modem and another coaxial to the Cable box. Wire to the TV as desired. From the cable modem to the router use a RJ 45 cable into the WAN/Internet port. Now use another RJ 45 cable to the Roku and RJ 45's to the other ports marked 1 to 4 as needed for computers. If the Linksys router is wireless you can set up everything wirelessly.
Instructions for setting up the Roku is at the link below.
http://support.roku.com/entries/244199-how-do-i-set-up-my-roku-player
Good luck,
Cullen

you could do that Or GEet a N router that will take your range even further with just one router

If you have a wireless-enabled printer, you can use the printer's configuration to connect it to the router. If you have a wired connection printer (ethernet port) connect it to one of the ports on the back of the router with an Ethernet cable and the printer should sort itself out. If your printer is not network-enabled, you will need to connect it directly to a network-connected computer, then use Windows' sharing settings to share the printer to the network.
Hope this helps, Alistair

The only "outputs" from a DSL-router are:
* RJ-11 telephone-jack, only if the router also supports voice-over-IP,
* RJ-45 Ethernet port (always present)

You need to purchase an internal network-card, to create an RJ-45 port on the computer, and then use the CAT-5e cable to make the connection.

You can set it up with the manual:

http://www.dynexproducts.com/t-product_documentation.aspx

If the modem and router are seperate entities, folow this setup.

Connect the Modem using a RJ-45 network cable to the WAN port on the router.

Connect another RJ-45 network cable from any one of the numbered ports (1 through 4) to your computers network port.

What are you doing? Are we talking about telephones (RJ-11) or are we talking about routers and ethernet cable (RJ-45)?????

RJ-11 will fit into a RJ-45 but a RJ-45 will not fit into a RJ-11. Translation, your telephone wire will plug into your router/computer port but your Ethernet wire will not fit into your telephone jack.

If you are working on a telephone, as long as you have dial tone on the other end, it doesn't make a big difference. You should have a polarity checker to insure proper polarity but even if it is wrong, most phones will work most of the time. Get a polarity checker at Radio Shack for about $10.00

If you are working on a router ... well, it is no wonder your network will not work. You cannot split one RJ-45 port into two "Ports" using a telephone RJ-11 splitter. Never, Never, Never, plug your router cable into a telephone jack (RJ-11). Yea, Yea, Yea, I know, I just said a RJ-45 will not fit into a RJ-11 but if you have a telephone cord pluged into the router, guess what, 60 Volts will smoke it. When the phone rings, it rings with 60+ volts and will smoke any computer device it can smoke looking for ground.

If you need more computer ports, get a bigger router or bigger switch or bigger hub or get a wireless router to accomodate your wireless devices.

I hope I have answered your question.

Thanks for your interest in FixYa.com

Xbox Network Connection using Hub

This is the most common network configuration and is also the easiest to setup.
Step #1: Plug your network cable(RJ-45 cable) that comes from your cable/DSL modem into the uplink port of your hub. (Make sure that your uplink is switched to "on").
Step #2: Take an RJ-45 cable and run it from one of the ports of the hub, directly to the Network Interface Card (NIC) installed in your computer.
Step #3: Take another RJ-45 cable and run it from a different port of your hub directly to your xbox.
**NOTE** A switch may be used in place of a hub with the same basic setup.**

That's it! No other network changes should be needed for this configuration. Your Xbox is now on the same network as your PC.

Xbox Network Connection using Router

This is another common network configuration.
Step #1: Plug your network cable(RJ-45 cable) that comes from your modem into the WAN port of your router.
Step #2: Take an RJ-45 cable and run it from one of the ports of the router, directly to the Network Interface Card (NIC) installed in your computer.
Step #3: Take another RJ-45 cable and run it from a different port of your router directly to your xbox.

**NOTE** In steps #2 and #3, you should not use a port that is directly beside the "uplink" port on your router, if your uplink port is being used to connect to another routing device.** If your router has a built in firewall, you will need to forward ports 8602 both incoming and outgoing to the internal ip address of your pc. Consult your device manaul for port forwarding.

That's it! Your Xbox is now on the same network as your PC

Xbox Network Connection using Crossover Cable

This is the last network configuration. For this setup you need at least one NIC card.
Step #1: Plug your USB cable that comes from your modem into your PC's USB port. This should already be done, if you have a usb modem for your current internet connection.
Step #2: Take an RJ-45 cable and run it from an installed NIC card on your PC, directly to the Xbox.

**NOTE** A crossover cable is only needed if you are connecting the Xbox directly to the second NIC card. If you have a device such as a switch, hub or router in between you should use a standard RJ-45 cable. This type of network setup also requires "Winroute©", a program downloadable from the world wide web. Consult the manual for specific instructions on how to set this up. Also if you have a USB ethernet adapter, you may use any of the setups described herein. USB ethernet adapter basically converts a USB cable into an RJ-45 cable.

That's it! Your Xbox is now on the same network as your PC.

Your wiring the cables yourself?
Its crossover.