Hello, I want to rebuild my network right now. I have drawn up a plan [Sorry for my bad art work] Below.
Can you please tell me what the black device in my image is called and if you see any issues with my plan.
Thank you.

any one?

I believe those would be routers, or the second one in line could possibly be a hub. But couldn't you put the wireless router after the DSL modem and put wireless cards into the desktops and save yourself a lot of grief running cable?

I'm no expert at networking, but I have 3 computers hooked up to one router off the modem..

Well your going to need a router to bridge two networks like that. I recomend moving the wireless router out of the side and use it to bridge the two "Black Things" or you might a problem to have both networks communicate with each other. I like sharing my knowlage so heres a tip for your network: Routers assign ip adresses, you might what to set up both networks under differnt ip ranges Eg. 192.168.1.X and 192.168.74.X Also subnet masks are nice

That "Black Thing" you want is a switch, if you and I are thinking of the same thing. Let me see if I can get a link to a switch from newegg... Aha! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16833122111 Thiers a nice one Good luck!

hi there,

the black box your pertaining to is a switch. just a quick question is your modem a mode/router? if your answer is no definitely you need to attach your wireless router dorectly to the modem in order for the computers on the switch to work properly(you must have a DHCP server for your computer to get a dynamic IP address and also your router will share the internet connection on the from the modem a regular switch does not have that functionality)

so here's the setup that I think is best for your environment;

modem - wireless router - 1st switch(black box) - 2nd switch(black box)

or you could connect the other(computer, printer, network storage) devices to your router since most wireless home routers out on the market has a built in 4 port switch, you can just add a switch to expand the ethernet ports on your network if there are more devices to connect to.

Ok How about this one? Check out the new design:

2wire Wireless Modem with 4 Ports. > Switch #1 > Switch#2 I will have computers plugged into both switches and on the three other ports of the wireless modem. I will also be connecting wirelessly.

Heres an image. Let me know what you think.

Does the new one look good?